{"id":837,"date":"2013-09-18T19:24:43","date_gmt":"2013-09-18T19:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=837"},"modified":"2013-09-14T19:36:00","modified_gmt":"2013-09-14T19:36:00","slug":"on-the-inside-looking-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/09\/on-the-inside-looking-out.html","title":{"rendered":"On the Inside Looking Out"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>
Image Courtesy of dan\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just as churches seem to be placing even greater emphasis on “community,” I and many of my fellow chronic illness and pain sufferers are gearing up and going inside before colder weather and cold and flu season. Indeed, for some of us, the sniffles can turn very ugly very quickly, especially if we are taking immunosuppressive drugs, which make us even more susceptible to infections.<\/p>\n

But, wouldn’t you know it, we’re also moving into a spiritually potent time – ramping up celebrations and services of thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas.<\/p>\n

How do we handle the seeming divergence of “community” and the individual constraints put upon us by our illnesses?<\/p>\n

I think that, first, we have to be both trusting (in God) and realistic (about our unique situations). \u00a0 In other words, God does want me to deepen my relationship with Him and do His work. He also expects me to be \u00a0responsible when it comes to health matters, even if it means “staying inside and looking out.”<\/p>\n

Yes, sometimes, people in church might view this as being aloof, or not trusting enough. But I must listen to the small voice inside, not to the louder voices outside that fundamentally do not understand the whole picture. And, I feel it’s important to help others understand that within “community,” there are individuals who might not all be able to “go with the general flow.”<\/p>\n

Of course, staying inside and away from “community” activities does not mean twiddling my thumbs! \u00a0The time is still to be used to grow spiritually and reach out in other ways (like this blog and other writing).<\/p>\n

Yes, being “on the inside looking out,” is not optimal, but it is what it is. And, along with our more active and mobile brothers and sisters in Christ, \u00a0we can still spiritually grow, contribute, and thrive…just in our own unique way!<\/p>\n

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

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

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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. Through the blog, she hopes to bring issues of health, wellness, and spirit into focus and, especially, inspire others that, no matter what health challenges, illness, or hardships they endure, each person can find a good way to realize the wonderful potential God has placed within each heart and soul.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maureenpratt.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/author\/mpratt"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=837"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":841,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837\/revisions\/841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}