{"id":1349,"date":"2014-09-16T01:27:45","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T01:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1349"},"modified":"2014-09-13T18:37:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-13T18:37:00","slug":"tlc-tuesday-look-for-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2014\/09\/tlc-tuesday-look-for-light.html","title":{"rendered":"TLC Tuesday: Look for Light"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>
Image courtesy of bigjom\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“One more doctor visit” bringing you down?<\/p>\n

Last week, I had two doc visits in one day, both of which were delayed and difficult. But, at the second one, a “God thing” happened –<\/p>\n

An older woman, using a walker, sat down beside me in the waiting room. She was carefully and nicely dressed, but clearly worn and tired. After a few moments, she asked me,<\/p>\n

“Have you been waiting long?”<\/p>\n

“About forty-five minutes.”<\/p>\n

She grimaced. “When was your appointment?<\/p>\n

I sighed. “Forty-five minutes ago. The doctor is running late.”<\/p>\n

The woman grimaced again, rearranged herself in the chair, and started to talk about how “This isn’t right.” “No doctor should make you wait that long.” “I can’t believe this…”<\/p>\n

I was not thrilled with waiting, either, but complaining was not bound to speed things up. How to turn this situation around?<\/p>\n

I prayed up. And looked down.<\/p>\n

First, at my blue and white slip-on shoes. And then at my neighbors…very same, blue and white slip-on shoes!<\/p>\n

I caught her eye. I smiled. I pointed down at her feet. She looked down, her grimace turning to a puzzled look. I pointed at my feet. She looked.<\/p>\n

And she recognized the shoes and broke into a big grin.<\/p>\n

“At least we both have excellent taste,” I said, smiling.<\/p>\n

“Why, yes. Yes we do.”<\/p>\n

And we began to talk about how comfortable the shoes are and other things – lighter and of light.<\/p>\n

When the nurse called me into the inner office, my neighbor, still smiling, said, “God bless you.”<\/p>\n

Today, TLC Tuesday, look for even the slimmest glimmer of light in a dark place. Fan that flame into true Light, until even the darkness cannot compete!<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“One more doctor visit” bringing you down? Last week, I had two doc visits in one day, both of which were delayed and difficult. But, at the second one, a “God thing” happened – An older woman, using a walker, sat down beside me in the waiting room. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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