The weight of pain and illness, and the limitations these bring to daily life, can become excruciating, oppressive. But beneath the heavy burden of physical challenges is, often, a glimmer of light. Even if the door to wholeness and health doesn’t open for us, won’t there be a window? One, brief window leading to freedom, feeling fit, and more ease than anxiety?

The short answer to this question is, “yes.” Inevitably, there is a time when we’re hurting less than usual, or when a new approach in treatment or change in meds offers more hope than hurt. Even in the darkest of situations, there is the possibility of a lifted spirit through the presence of God and the Holy Spirit working within us. And there is, too, the experience of others in similar circumstances that can lead us by the hand, teach us, and help us to understand that life does contain joy, humor, and warmth-giving light.

The trick is, of course, how well we prepare ourselves to recognize and take advantage of the window when it occurs. For, sometimes, stubbornness or denial can cloud our vision and make us impervious to the moments when they come before us. If we’re sure that life will never be better, we can be assured that we’ll be immune to an uplift, an open window, when it comes.

Faith is a powerful weapon against denial, for if we believe, we cannot deny the presence and existence of that which we cannot immediately see. It’s with this in mind that we can face each day and night and, like the brides’ maids of Scripture, keep our candles lit and our souls awake so that, when the window opens, we won’t miss a thing.

Blessings for the day,

Maureen