Wonder Women

Scientists are People, Too

Last night Dr. Carl Werner presented his evolution research at my church. Please check out his website! His writing and video production are superb. If you click on the video in the teacher/curriculum section, you'll see my testimonial about his books. One of the best lessons Carl taught me is that scientists are people, too.

I continue to be surprised by the number of people who have complete faith in science. It's as though science is fact, devoid of human error. I confess to sharing that viewpoint at one time, especially since I was trained in the sciences. Yet that very training should have convinced me that science is not immune to humanity.

We can all laugh about the people who thought the earth was flat, that the earth was the center of the universe, and that blood-letting cured disease. But for some reason, we readily believe that the days of scientific error are over. We comfort ourselves with the notion that if the majority of scientists are convinced of the veracity of something, it must be true. I direct you to the aforementioned scientific "truths" and countless others like them which the majority of scientists believed at one time.

Scientists may be smarter than most of us, but they aren't less human. Scientists have opinions about their area of study, the origins of the universe, and politics. Try though they might to remain neutral, it simply isn't possible. And neither are scientists immune to the desire for money, fame, and power that plagues the rest of us. We've sadly decided within my lifetime that clergy are not completely trustworthy, yet we continue to cling to the idea that scientists are.

Having worked with scientists, I can tell you that they are fully human. They can be lazy, foolish, disorganized, selfish, biased, and prideful just like you and me. Of course, they can also be hard-working, wise, orderly, generous, open-minded and humble just like you and me. I understand this longing we have to find at least one kind of person we can really trust. Sadly, there is no one on earth worthy of that kind of faith. As a Christian, I am so thankful that I can trust God without reservation. If you don't share my faith in God, at least consider the idea that scientists aren't worthy of your faith either. Remain skeptical, even when you hear that 'all leading scientists' believe thus and so. Be willing, as I am, to be called a fool for refusing to trust something just because a scientist says it's so. If we are fools in this, we are certainly in good company as many of the greatest advances were made by men and women courageous enough to say, "I am willing to stand alone in my beliefs."

Malnourished

               
Some of you may remember my post on diving for pearls this summer in which I alluded to some health problems I was having. I have been blessed to have many people inquire about how I’m feeling now that it’s Fall. I struggle to answer that question succinctly—a problem that isn’t new to me! But the simplest answer I can give is that I was malnourished , but am now well fed by the grace of God.  I want to tell you more in the hope that God will use my experience to help you or someone you love.

At the age of 17, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I wasn’t put on medication, but was told to avoid milk products and alcohol. I dealt with what were actually mild symptoms compared to most UC sufferers until I was 34. That was when I had yet another week-long episode of abdominal pain and a complete inability to eat. The symptoms of the disease weren’t anything I relished sharing with others, but on one Fall Sunday, I shared my burden with two dear sisters in the Lord at church. They prayed for me and I returned home certain that I would have to go to the hospital and submit to either medication or surgery. I had seen the devastating effects of drugs on a friend who had UC and greatly feared having a colostomy.

When I returned home from church, I prayed fervently and told the Lord that if He didn’t do something, I would go to the hospital. I was lying down and felt a warm tingling sensation go through my whole body. I fell asleep and when I woke up, the pain was gone. Not long after, an online friend told me about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). It was an incredibly stringent diet, promoted by Elaine Gottschall, a woman who I do not believe was a Christian. I assumed that God’s healing was only for my current crisis and started the SCD. My symptoms went into complete remission and I gave the glory for my healing to my diet.

The abdominal pain came back a few times during that eight-year period. At one point, I appeared to be developing more food allergies. My husband and I were in Cancun and I had no idea what to eat between the restrictive SCD and the new allergies. I prayed and then read Matthew 6:25 in my Bible, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" I knew the Lord had given me freedom to eat while in Cancun and I enjoyed eating what I was served. But I assumed that this freedom was only for my vacation. When I came home, I continued to eat according to the SCD.

A year ago last spring, a new troubling symptom cropped up. I was having numbness and weakness in my right leg. My mother has MS so I knew what it was. I was certain that the chocolate I had been eating (that was prohibited by the SCD) was responsible. I was stringent about my diet and the symptom became less and less noticeable until last May. The numbness spread to the entire right side of my body. At the same time, GI symptoms I hadn’t had for eight years returned with a vengeance. I also began experiencing severe heartburn, indigestion, and nasal allergy symptoms. The heartburn was so bad that at times I was unable to speak or swallow.  I was determined to find the solution.

Why didn’t I just go to a doctor, you may ask? I hadn’t had good experiences with doctors up to that point. I won’t detail them here, but suffice to say I didn’t trust them. Instead of seeking medical attention, I sought answers from the world of natural health. What I read convinced me that I had food allergies. I drastically changed my diet in order to determine what was at the root of my symptoms. As a result, some of my symptoms disappeared. Suddenly, I no longer needed Zyrtec for nasal allergies—something I’d suffered with for decades. My year-long battle with increasingly severe hormonal symptoms was also over. I felt I was on the right track!

But the heartburn, indigestion, and neurological symptoms continued. In addition to trying different stringent diets, I added a huge number of expensive natural supplements to my regimen. I learned about nutrition and the dangers of eating chemically and genetically altered foods as well as too much sugar. I told everyone who would listen about the health I’d regained as a result of my diet change and what I believed diet and supplements could do for me and for them.

After several months, I had lost more than 20 pounds and the digestive and neurological symptoms were no better. I finally saw a gastroenterologist. Her initial prescription did not stop the heartburn and her second prescription of a med that had serious neurological side effects gave me no hope that she could help me. Despite the love and prayer support of so many, I was depressed and terrified. It was at that time that I found a book on Amazon called A More Excellent Way.

When I received A More Excellent Way, I had read at least a dozen books on health and nutrition. None had been the definitive answer for me. I prayed and asked the Lord to show me whether this was what He wanted me to read. I’m sure He thought, “Finally!” The daily devotional I was reading (and continue to read) for that day actually used the phrase, “A More Excellent Way.” I wonder sometimes if I get these dramatic answers to prayer because I am too dense to pick up more subtle answers! I began reading the book and become convinced that the Lord wanted me to fast for three days (I should note that this conviction I should fast had nothing to do with the book). I was afraid to fast because of the amount of weight I’d lost up to that point, but my dh agreed that I should do it.

I spent three days being purged. I learned that there was a good chance my illness had spiritual and emotional roots. I shed a lot of tears and let go of unforgiveness, hurt, and fear. I learned that I hadn’t been trusting God. Instead, I felt I was responsible to heal myself and fix everyone and everything around me. I had also been trusting in everything BUT God. I didn’t give Him the glory for the healing I’d already experienced. As I read about people who had been healed of multiple allergies, autoimmune disorders, and cancer, I believed that God wanted to heal me, too. When the fast was over, I began eating normally. Not only did I eat normally, but I began eating foods I hadn’t eaten for eight years. Then I began eating foods I hadn’t had since I was 17. And I was okay!

At first, nearly every meal required that I repeat Scripture and God’s promises so I wouldn’t panic. At times, I felt that I would have to run to the bathroom and could feel mouth sores developing, but as I prayed and trusted God, the symptoms disappeared. My children and husband rejoice with me that I can now eat anything! I no longer feel like an outsider with my family. I can eat popcorn with them while we watch a movie! I can eat the daily bread I pray for in the Lord’s Prayer!

I have waited all this time to share what is an absolute miracle in my life because I am not 100% healed. I still have mild heartburn and mild neurological symptoms. I have had a return of a few hormonal symptoms and even a return of the desire to overeat—something I haven’t had for more than a decade. But these symptoms and the fear they generate drive me to pray and to read His Word as I’ve never done before. I’ve experienced miraculous physical healing, but even more, I have experienced  spiritual and emotional healing. The spirit of anger and fear that I’ve lived with all my life have been overcome by the Holy Spirit. I have peace and joy and my faith in God has grown by leaps and bounds.

This spring I was certain I was malnourished. I believed the food allergies I had gave rise to damage to my digestive tract which in turn gave rise to malnutrition. That malnutrition was responsible for the many physical symptoms I was experiencing. You wouldn’t think that a person who was eating every day could be malnourished, but I learned that it was very possible. Whether I was physically malnourished or not, I don’t know. But I know I was spiritually malnourished. Though I prayed and read God’s Word most days, I rarely had a full meal. I now understand that I “picked at” my spiritual food because I had a problem in my relationship with God. Deep down, I felt He was the hard master described in Luke 19:21, not a loving Father who longed to care for me.

Of course, I would like to have complete physical healing. I would love your prayers for this. But more importantly, pray that I will continue to be spiritually healthy. If the symptoms I have are what is necessary to keep me hungry for God, let me keep them forever.

I am very sorrowful that I have not given God the glory for health and healing He’s given me and sorrier still that I have encouraged others to look to anything other than Him for help. I cannot tell you not to see a doctor, not to take a medication, or not to change your diet. But I can tell you not to neglect your spiritual nourishment. Spend time with Him today in prayer and reading His Word. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Keep on Shining

This morning began another dreary, cold weather day. Despite the long period of similar weather, my spirits have been sunny. This morning, though, I began to feel discouraged. It wasn’t the weather that threatened to spoil my day, but a darkness inside of me. Doubts and fear crept into my mind like thick clouds. I sat on my love seat, where I usually go to meet with God, and asked Him for encouragement. I opened my favorite devotional that has become daily medicine for what ails me, Streams in the Desert. After completing today’s reading on treating doubt and discouragement as the enemy—something to be avoided as much as sin itself—I found my spirits soaring. I was praising God for giving me just what I needed to take on the day with the right attitude. At that moment, the thick dark clouds behind me parted and I was enveloped in the bright warmth of the sun shining through my window. I was astonished as I realized that the light had come right as I was giving thanks and it only illuminated the place where I was sitting.

As I gazed toward that bright light, I noticed that except for that one opening, the sky remained shrouded in darkness. After a few minutes, the light was obscured by the cold, gray clouds once again. But the light kept shining in me. I have been smiling all day. Though we are living in dark times, the light of His hope still remains.

One of my favorite songs is Natalie Grant’s Keep on Shining. The chorus is:

Keep on shining
Let Love light up the darkest sky
And you'll be flying
Rise above all the hardest times
So hold on (Hold On)
Be strong (Be Strong)
Come on (Come on, come on)
Keep on shining.

Keep on shining, girl. If it’s dark where you are, may 2 Corinthians 4:6 brighten your day:

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Why is Simple Living So Complicated?

As I’ve continued to enjoy living without a to-do list, I keep looking for others online who share my practice. I’ve been able to find precious few people who’ve discovered the peace that is possible when you toss out your to-do list.

At first I thought this paucity of like-minded souls suggested that I had such a novel idea that I should write a book about it. It took me about a minute to determine that the book would be rather short. “Just do stuff. No list.” When I Google the subject, I pull up countless websites that tell me that what I am experiencing just isn’t possible; success requires a to-do list, say the experts.  As I read through many simple living blogs, I have to wonder why it takes so long to explain how to do things “simply.”

If I sound mocking, know that I mock myself as well. How many hours have I spent reading and researching how to simplify my life? I would be horrified to know how much of that time has been devoted to reading about cleaning and organizing rather than cleaning and organizing. Does a woman with a Ph.D. really have to be told:

If you don’t use it, need it, or love it, get rid of it.

Yet, I continue to read this advice repackaged in numerous books and websites and act like it’s news to me. “Oooooohhhhh, I see. That’s what I need to do.” All my list-making, software searching, and reading hasn’t helped me live simply, but has certainly convinced me that I’m a simpleton. Why do so many of us behave this way? Why do we have to invest so much of our time and money into learning to do things we already know how to do? Are we really a bunch of people who are so slow that we need to endlessly be instructed about parenting, health, and productivity? Apparently.

So why are we so learning disabled when it comes to simple living and life change for that matter? In A Thomas Jefferson Education, Oliver DeMille argues that all education is self-education. In other words, unless you WANT to learn something, you won’t. And when you DO want to learn something, you won’t even need an instructor. You’ll just learn it. If you don’t really want to declutter your house, you won’t—even if FLYLady makes a personal visit. If you really DO want to declutter, you will. You won’t waste any time waiting for your special FLYLady timer to arrive before you get started.

Don’t get me wrong. Some of us really do need an instructor. But when it comes to most of the changes we need to make, what we really need is the want-to. Here are some signs that you might not have the want-to you need:

·         You’ll get started after some future event (the wedding, the baby, the retirement)

·         You often talk about why something didn’t work (FLYLady, GTD, Love & Logic)

·         You can produce lots of great reasons why you can’t do it (health problem, family member, money, too tired)

·         You’d much rather spend time reading about or researching that which you should be doing

·         If you suddenly had a free day, you wouldn’t spend time on whatever you “want” to do

·         If you knew you were going to be dead in six months, you still wouldn’t do it

 

If any of those statements sound like you, you aren’t ready to learn and do. Because you aren’t, you’ll make things that are very simple very complicated. But, you may ask, why would any reasonable person behave this way? Here are some reasons to consider:

 

You are trying to live up to someone else’s standard. It isn’t your standard. Deep down you just don’t care, but you keep thinking you “should.”

 

You feel guilty when you aren’t doing. Guilt makes you spend more time doing nothing, not less.

 

You’re afraid of the consequences of doing. Will people expect more of you than you can deliver? Will you lose a relationship or gain one? Will your opinion of yourself change for the worse?

 

You’re angry at someone or at God. You don’t feel you should have to do something or subconsciously you get back at someone by not doing it.

 

You’ve believed lies. You think perfection is possible or that you’re hopeless.

 

If any of these reasons apply to you, how then can you find the want-to you need to get things done? First, be brutally honest with yourself. Second, confess any guilt, fear, apathy, or willingness to believe lies to God and receive His forgiveness. Third, ask Him to give you the want-to. Philippians 2:13 says “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Fourth, tell someone you trust why you don’t have the want-to and check in with them regularly to talk about how you’re doing. Finally, memorize  Scriptures related to the reasons behind your unwillingness and meditate on them as often as necessary.

 

As each day goes by without the use of a to-do list, I have found that I wonder when my life will fall apart. This simple living just seems too...simple. I sometimes don’t know what to do with all my free time (that’s why I decided to write this post). I miss some of the people I met while trying to make my life more complicated. But simple living works. Try it! If you want to…