The Blood Tests

It’s amazing how a simple, routine medical test can change things. Hi again, it’s been longer than my goal to write. Instead of a new writing in three weeks, it’s been six and a half long weeks – all of which passed very quickly in hindsight.

And it’s been 4 years, 11 months since I had emergency back surgery for Cauda Equina Syndrome. I see my primary care doctor at least every six months. When I went in April, we discussed how my residual back pain seemed a bit more intense over the winter months. We discussed getting some PT, and I’ve started doing just that. But she wanted to see me again in May because she didn’t like a few trends in the blood tests.

Now, a few years ago, I found out that I had become really anemic (almost needing a transfusion, but thankfully, my body responded to iron pills). In High School, I became ill with a very bad case of mononucleosis-like virus. Several students and friends from my church also caught it, or I caught it from them, or something of the sort.

Mono, Cauda Equina Syndrome, Anemia, and most recently, some not-so-great blood tests. God will often get my attention through illness. I recognize that illness is a reminder that we live in a fallen world, but somehow illness has been a way in which I slow down, and I tend to hear from God in unique ways. I have a type ‘A’ mind and goals, and sometimes God really does have to make me ‘rest’ in pastures that don’t initially look green, but they come to look green.

I kick-started this newer blog by writing about how I’ve studied and read widely, seeking to determine my theology of politics, what Christians have thought and believed about politics through the ages, and the role of the Church and the State. You can read that blog post here.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a Proximity Event with Women of Welcome. It was great to meet with other women, including some pastors’ wives, who are also horrified about how immigrants are being treated in the USA. I have a strong desire to be more active in such a community, and as I explore these ideas, I suddenly find myself in a waiting period, pondering what the next set of blood tests will reveal. What does God want me to do with this uncertainty? How is He guiding?

A month passed. I went for more blood tests. As for the overall results? All of the numbers show a trend that my kidney function might be slowing down a tad. It’s nothing to be super alarmed about – it’s not a sign of cancer or even pre-diabetes. It might help explain an increase in fatigue – but so could a lot of other things. It is, however, a gift. God has given me the privilege of living in a country with good health care, and He’s granted me the means to access that health care. It’s an opportunity to make the best possible health decisions now. At present, I’m seeking to return to a more Mediterranean diet and am researching which foods are ‘kidney-friendly’. I already feel a bit better and have lost a few pounds in the past month.

I remember listening to a podcast within the past few months, and the question was raised about why those of us Christians in North America don’t see as many divine healings as Christians in other parts of the world. It was suggested on this podcast that we don’t need the healings because God has given us doctors. In short, we do get the healings too – it just comes differently.

Today, I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR) in my car as I went out around lunchtime. NPR will play classical music, which I really enjoy. Anyway, I was enjoying the music when I recognized the tune as a church hymn, but I couldn’t quite remember the name. But I knew it was a church hymn. When the song concluded, the announcer mentioned that the name of the tune was Finlandia. The composer wanted to pay homage to his homeland of Finland. I immediately knew that a hymn or two was set to Finlandia, but I had to wait to look up the hymn and the lyrics I couldn’t readily recall.

The hymn is Be Still My Soul and some of the lyrics are as follows:

The full lyrics can be found here. And if you want to listen to Finlandia in an orchestral arrangement, click here. The portion that the above hymn uses starts at 4:54 in the video. It’s a longer piece, but very pretty.

And I close my day with hope – the Lord of all reached down through the car radio to have me hear the tune Finlandia, which caused me to be reminded that He is still always in control and that He sees me where I am. Until next time, hopefully in three weeks or less.