Medicine

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10).

Saint Francis de Sales (Unknown)

I have recently been quite unwell.  I had some very serious surgery and as a result of that surgery, I entered into a period of long and slow recovery.  During this period of my recovery, it appeared to many people that I was perfectly healthy – in fact it had appeared that way prior to the surgery as well.  The reality was that I was not healthy at all and in fact I was seriously unwell.  Thank God, I am recovering now and can no longer say that I am extremely unwell.  Rather, I am on the mend – so to speak.  However, this period of illness has allowed me to reflect on many things.

One of the consequences of the medical procedure that I underwent was that I was required to take some rather disgusting medicine for a period of time after the surgery.  Initially I tried to avoid this medication – not only because it was terribly strong and tasted absolutely awful and gave some uncomfortable side effects, but also because I was trying to see if my own body would mend itself without further intervention.  This was a particularly unwise way to approach things – I have discovered with hindsight.  I caused, through this experiment, lots of other issues that delayed my recovery.  And I have been thinking about this today.

You see, Saint Francis de Sales wrote in “Finding God’s Will for You” at page 20, “Many men keep the commandments in the way sick men take medicine: more from fear of dying in damnation than for joy of living according to our Savior’s will. Just as some persons dislike taking medicine, no matter how pleasant it is, simply because it is called medicine, so there are some souls who hold in horror things commanded simply because they are commanded . . . On the contrary, a loving heart loves the commandments. The more difficult they are, the sweeter and more agreeable it finds them, since this more perfectly pleases the Beloved and gives Him greater honour.”

And I have been thinking about the medicine of suffering and sacrifice.  You see, the suffering is a side effect of the medicine of sacrifice.  Saint Francis of Assisi said, “What are the servants of God if not his minstrels, who must move people's hearts and lift them up to spiritual joy?”

And I have been thinking about that as well.  You see, it is my responsibility to not only accept that I am required to take medicine – and very strong medicine of sacrifice – in my spiritual life, but it is also my responsibility to accept that such a medicine as that has side effects, like suffering, and those side effects are the things that I need to trust in God about.  Because if I try to self-medicate or avoid the medication, then all I am doing is making myself sicker…  “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10).

And I have been thinking about that today – since medicine is exactly what I really need…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.