Changes in the changes . . .

After weeks of deliberation on my part, I had decided to eliminate Riches in Glory because of all my sites, this is the one with very few readers—whereas the other four webpages are frequently visited.   I figured the other sites would be a place to say whatever I need to say.   I went through the hoops to delete a webpage, and nothing ever happened.  Maybe I missed a “hoop”; I am still a bit cyber-clueless.  But Riches in Glory is still here.

Since then I’ve had input from Riches in Glory readers (I only know of three who consistently hit this page—and two of these are out-of-state readers), and now I’m pondering something I’ve always realized:  that if even one person is impacted by a piece of writing, that writing has a purpose. 

I’m not “letting off steam” in this blog.  I’m sharing things that have greatly inspired, seriously disturbed, or spiritually imprinted me at a special time when my husband and I live with unique daily challenges.  Countless others experience these challenges in one form or another.  Those of us who cope with a chronic illness or pain all know what it’s like to be bombarded by misunderstandings, presumptions, and declarations of what we should or should not do. 

Frequently the misunderstandings come from people who’ve never had to realize that an ailment is simply not going to go away.  Undoubtedly, they have had bouts of acute illness or pain—but it has never dawned on them that they would not recover, or that the challenge would never go away.  Thus the word “chronic” has no meaning for them.  They’ve never been dissolved to a jelly, by physical issues that just won’t quit; thus they believe they can make proclamations and pontifications about a lifestyle they’ve never even considered. 

Sometimes the chronically healthy folks believe that we want to have issues, and that we could just “think them away” if we so desired.  These well meaning folks forget (or never knew) that we live on a fallen planet, and that bodies as well as souls are flawed due to man’s fall.  We have a way back to GRACE through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary.  He heals our souls, but occasionally His wisdom allows us to continue our lives in compromised physical bodies.  God has promised “Riches in Glory” for His children, and spiritual riches now—but He has not promised material blessings or prime health in this dispensation of time on planet earth.

Physical challenges require discipline in both the treatment of our bodies and the maintenance of our souls.  Simply treating the body and learning to live with a health issue can consume just about all we have.  Living with the insuing “people challenges” may shove us over the cliff, if we are not God focused and supportive of each other.

People who are challenged tend to sometimes feel that they are alone.  But we are not alone!  We have each other, and most importantly God is here for us when we know Him and cry out to him.  If only three or five people per week read this blog and realize that they are not alone, that’s reason enough to continue sharing the experiences God brings me through—and the Riches in Glory available to all who trust in Him.

So now I’m making changes in the changes.  The book may be forthcoming someday.  Meanwhile, I’m still on board at http://richesinglory.wordpress.com/  .   And remember, we are never alone! 

Margaret L. Been