This month, many people will be preparing for "back to school." A chance comment from a visiting priest at my church last week sparked a thought about quality learning and what it means to "learn from the best."
The priest happened to have known one of my writing mentors, who passed away earlier this year. "You learned from the best," said the priest of Walter J. Burghardt, S.J., a noted theologian, homilist and author of numerous books and articles. I met Fr. Burghardt when I was a student at Georgetown University and he was the editor of Theological Studies. In our conversations through the years, I learned so very much from him about the writing process, the role of faith in every part of life and writing, and the necessity of a sense of humor to lift the spirit and attract the attention of readers. As our friendship continued across the miles, I also learned about longevity -- in faith, writing, and life. Truly, from Fr. Burghardt, I learned from the best!
Another mentor, whom I met later, also passed away this year. Rabbi Levi Meier was the Jewish Chaplain at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an accomplished author. He was especially interested and involved in building bridges between the worlds of religion and spirituality and medicine and health. It was on this subject that we first spoke, when I was writing "Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your Life." Rabbi Meier encouraged me to delve deeply into this subject in subsequent work, and for his insight and appreciation, I am very grateful. Again, I learned from the best!
As we continue to learn, whether in school or outside of it, I think it's important that we find and nurture the best -- in ourselves and others. We need to "learn what is true," and use that knowledge in our work and in our mentoring of others who will carry on after us.
To "learn from the best" is wonderful, but it is also challenging and can be confounding. As we stretch our capabilities and strive for deeper levels of achievement, we will undoubtedly wonder if we can get to greater understanding and accomlishment. But when we doubt, wonder, and fear, we need to keep in mind that "All things are possible through God who strengthens me."
Encouraged in faith and by "the best," this phrase was never truer, never more splendid!
Amen!
Maureen
The special week, sponsored by Rest Ministries, Inc., will include free workshops, blogs, prize giveaways and more! I'll be giving an on-line workshop on September 8 at 6 p.m. Easter/3 p.m. Pacific called, "Stress-busters that work." For more information on the workshop and the rest of the week's activities, go to: www.invisibleillness.com.
New copies of "Peace in the Storm" are now available at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and www.christianbook.com. More should be reaching www.parable.com soon. Also, the book will be available for purchase at each of my speaking engagements, beginning this month. If you have trouble finding copies, please email me. Thank you!
The episode of The Word in the World, on which I was interviewed, is now available for viewing online at www.wordnet.tv. In this almost half-hour show, I talk about life with lupus and other chronic illnesses and pain, and how our faith can help us overcome isolation, sadness, and hopelessness -- and how we can help others, too.
I'm honored and delighted to say that "Peace in the Storm" has been picked up by Global Ministries (www.new.gbgm-umc.org). What a wonderful way to bring "Peace" to more places where, I pray, it can be of service!
My new community group, "The Spirit of Lupus" is upa nd running on Beliefnet.com. It's an email-chat format, where you can post praises, prayers, and pleas and get feedback from other lupies, including me, especially for spiritual support. To join, go to www.beliefnet.com, register (if you haven't already -- it's free!) and send me a request to join "The Spirit of Lupus!"
Also, three other articles continue to be posted on Beliefnet.com. The addresses are:
www.beliefnet.com/gallery/energizeyourprayerlife.html
www.beliefnet.com/gallery/chronicpaintools.html
and
www.beliefnet.com/gallery/makeyourhomeprayer-friendly.html
I'm thrilled to announce that the second edition of my book, "THE FIRST YEAR: HYPOTHYROIDISM" will be available any day now!!! Advance orders may be placed with Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. I'll post updates on interviews and other book promos on this site as the info becomes available.
The interview I did on blogtalkradio at the end of June 2007 is archived on: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=29936
It was a wonderful experience, and the questions were some of the most enjoyable to answer that I've had. Hope you can check it out!
The segment featuring me on the Hallmark Channel's show "New Morning" was repeated in March. Both airings are now posted for viewing at www.newmorningtv.tv. When you go to that site, click on "Past Shows," then go to "February 2007" or "March 2007." Specific air dates are February 5, 2007, and March 1, 2007.
In my bi-weekly column, "Living Well," I explore topics related to spirituality and health -- all designed to encourage readers to take charge of as much of their health as they can and deepen their spiritual lives, too. Columns are posted on Catholic News Service's subscriber page and have so far been picked up by newspapers in Brooklyn, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Nashville, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Texas, Florida, and Australia (to name a few). If your diocesan publication doesn't run "Living Well," encourage them to do so -- and let me know what you think!
The folks at beliefnet.com have asked to excerpt some of the prayers from PEACE IN THE STORM for their section on prayer. Beliefnet.com is a very interesting site devoted to introducing people to all faiths, as well as providing spiritual support to the faiths' followers.
The first few prayers are posted now at:
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3405
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3407
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3408
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3409
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3410
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3411
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3412
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3413
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3414
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3415
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3416
http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/prayer_one.asp?pid=3417
Other prayers will follow!
Tu companero catolico, a nationally syndicated Catholic radio program, did an interview with me in Spanish a few months ago -- and it aired in late October! The link to the program is on my website; you can listen on the web. (I apologize for the lack of accents in my Spanish here -- I'm just figuring out a new keyboard and hope to add them soon!)
Let me know what you think! Gracias.
Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system turns on its own organs and tissues. It is much like being allergic to oneself.
The diagnosis of lupus is complicated, and involves a comprehensive physical and hemotological examination of the patient, as well as an extensive look at a patient's past medical history. The American College of Rheumatology has established a list of criterion, and a patient needs to fulfill several of the criterion in order to be diagnosed with lupus.
Because there is no one "lupus test," or easy way to diagnose the disease, patients often go years between flares and before they are diagnosed. Lupus patients with internal manifestations of the disease often look very healthy, and can be subject to discrimination on that basis.
There are no definitive numbers of how many people in the United States actually have lupus, but recent studies indicate that there might be as many as 1.5 to 2 million women, men and children with the disease in the U.S. Lupus can strike at any age, but most of the diagnoses are made to women in their childbearing years.
Lupus symptoms can vary from fevers, joint pain, extreme fatigue, brain fog, and photosensitivity to kidney, lung, heart, and central nervous system involvement. There is not cure for lupus; doctors try to treat the symptoms with various medications, some of which have short- and long-term side effects that can also be debilitating. Disease progression and severity are different in each patient; approximately 50 percent of lupus patients will have major organ involvement. Each year, lupus patients die from the disease or from complications such as infection or cardiovascular involvement.
The psychological toll of life with lupus is immense. Because of its unpredictability, the hopes and dreams of many lupus patients are shattered, and their personal relationships, career aspirations, and spiritual wellbeing can be severely eroded, if not destroyed. The divorce rate among lupus patients is above the national average, and many lupus patients are, at one time or another during the course of the disease, treated for depression and anxiety. Lupus patients must avoid exposure to sunlight, so even normal daily activities can be impacted and in some cases done away with completely. Outdoor sports, trips to the beach, hikes, and even shopping expeditions are all questionable at best. We sometimes feel like moles!
But although lupus patients must live with lifelong, daunting physical and emotional challenges, many are very resilient and develop coping skills within the parameters of their disease involvement. Lupus patients can be everyone's heroines and heroes!
There is a great need for more research into the causes of and treatments for lupus. There is also a huge need for more public awareness of the disease, both because it will enable people to be diagnosed more rapidly and because it will help others understand what lupus patients struggle with on a daily basis.
For further information, please see my book, TAKING CHARGE OF LUPUS: HOW TO MANAGE THE DISEASE AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR LIFE, and Dr. Daniel Wallace's book THE LUPUS BOOK. Also, contact the Lupus Foundation of America: www.lupus.org
Thank you!
