Pain and sickness are our bodies speaking to us.
Healthy means whole, and whole means harmony—body, mind, heart, soul. (Shalom—peace, harmony)
I was sick again recently. It had been awhile, but this one knocked me out for a couple days. However, I’m proud to say that I feel like I leaned into it more than usual. You could say that I even smiled in my sickness. By that I mean I was less grouchy and more embracing of discomfort and lack of energy, inviting the rest and possible insight.
Not that I pretend to know “why” I was sick, but it’s clear to me that a recurring theme in this past year has been God’s desire for me to slow down, accept my present circumstances, and listen for his voice and direction. It’s still a challenge, but I allowed this sickness to slow me down without bitterness.
The debilitating head and chest cold also brought to my attention that if I consistently get sick when I’m traveling, I might not be traveling the right way. Sometimes, it’s unavoidable, but other times I over-schedule, under-prepare, and allow anxiousness about unknowns to wear me down. But at least I’m paying more attention and learning from my sickness. Next time… we’ll prepare a little better.