Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to give up pain for Lent? To begin on Ash Wednesday with not a twinge, not a cramp, not a creaky, cranky feeling of hurt? Then Easter would be a true celebration of joy, wouldn't it? Yes, it would be awesome...but, alas, it's just not possible, especially for those of us with ongoing, serious pain and illness. Oh, there are moments when we feel "better." There might even be entire days when movement is easy, well, easier. But chronic is just that - ongoing and seemingly never-ending.
So, does the wishful thinking do us any good?
No, but yes!
Clinging to a wish that we know is unreasonable can sap our energy, strength and spirit. It's a bit like setting ourselves up for diappointment - and it perpetuates a terrible cycle of that same disappointment when we experience the "better" times and think "this is it! No more pain!"
But the wishful thinking can also be good for us, if we take it to another level. What if, instead of focusing on our own pain this Lent, we prayed for others who are suffering? What if we made an effort to learn about another ailment, not our own, and did something to advocate for someone who suffers and does not have nearly the energy we do? What if Lent was not about "giving up" the pain, but rather about "making something positive happen" in the life of another person?
One of the most challenging things about living with pain is the feeling of helplessness that can creep up upon us. What if, this Lent, we consciously decided to do something positive and, in so doing, turned that helplessness into something wonderful-ly effective?
Oh, what an Easter that will be! Read More
So, does the wishful thinking do us any good?
No, but yes!
Clinging to a wish that we know is unreasonable can sap our energy, strength and spirit. It's a bit like setting ourselves up for diappointment - and it perpetuates a terrible cycle of that same disappointment when we experience the "better" times and think "this is it! No more pain!"
But the wishful thinking can also be good for us, if we take it to another level. What if, instead of focusing on our own pain this Lent, we prayed for others who are suffering? What if we made an effort to learn about another ailment, not our own, and did something to advocate for someone who suffers and does not have nearly the energy we do? What if Lent was not about "giving up" the pain, but rather about "making something positive happen" in the life of another person?
One of the most challenging things about living with pain is the feeling of helplessness that can creep up upon us. What if, this Lent, we consciously decided to do something positive and, in so doing, turned that helplessness into something wonderful-ly effective?
Oh, what an Easter that will be! Read More