“When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house…” Okay, so it wasn’t a movie house but that famous book/movie line from S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders popped into my head as I remembered the scene. Actually I stepped out from a Stanford Hospital Clinic but I noticed the sunlight and the warmth on my face. I had just seen my specialist for a six-month check up appointment, and I was emotional. Not because of any new or upsetting information, but just because the specific questions the doctor asked me triggered a very real confirmation that I am right in the middle of the lane in which God wants me.
This is where in the telling of my stories my friends say “You see God in everything.” And I answer “Yes, because He is.” If we just open our eyes, and our hearts, we can see His hand on our lives. Even in the tiniest details.
Several years ago I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s Syndrome. It is a fairly common condition which is essentially a hyper-sensitivity to cold. A year ago I had a bad episode that ended in a very painful ulcer on my little finger. As a strong woman I was so frustrated that my pinky was taking me down (“I’ve run marathons, I’ve taken the Bar exam, I’ve had TWINS for goodness sake – why is this stupid pinky so painful?!”). Blowing through the medical specifics, I’ll fast forward to say, I ended up at Stanford Hospital to see their top rheumatologist. I found out I have an underlying autoimmune disorder – CREST syndrome. Okay. I had to process through that.
As the doctor explained the condition she talked a lot about concern for digestive health, high blood pressure and shortness of breath. These were the things she wanted me to watch for.
I may actually have laughed out loud as she spoke.
You see, in the month before my first visit with this doctor I had just been getting back to my daily exercise routine and I was feeling stronger after being derailed by my pinky for a couple of months. And then my life-long love for fitness took a totally new course when I, seemingly out-of-the-blue to many, decided to partner up with a dear friend and launch a coaching business. Together we were committing to our own health and nutrition while reaching out to others to teach them habits for a healthy lifestyle. What started as a very personal passion had now become something more. I wasn’t even sure where the road was headed but I “felt” like I was going in the right direction.
And then the doctor asked about my health – my heart, my lungs. I told her about my new role as a coach. And I asked her, “You mean the focus I currently have on health and fitness is not just about helping others. It’s also a very real component of me fighting the potential symptoms of this CREST syndrome?” Yes, that is what she was saying.
I had a conversation with God about it on the ride home. “God, you knew. You just knew.” Tying together my passion for fitness with my desire to help others was about more than just my clients, it was every bit as much about me and my need to stay extremely healthy to combat potential symptoms.
So last week I returned to Stanford for my follow up appointment. Thankfully I am still symptom-free. But my doctor is very serious about monitoring my heart and lungs. There was another young doctor there who wanted to do all kinds of testing. My doctor looked me in the eyes and asked me again about my daily exercise. Was I still as committed? I assured her I was – and that I was not experiencing any shortness of breath and that I think I would notice, right? She said yes, because of my “unique” commitment to my own personal health, I have best positioned myself to be aware of any changes, immediately as they arise. She wants to run a few tests but for now we are relying on my workouts to be the test for my lungs.
So as I stepped out of the clinic into the bright winter afternoon sun, a tear rolled down my cheek. I was again overwhelmed by God’s goodness in setting me on a path where my daily commitment to exercise and health are not just for fun. They are not just a little hobby where I get to workout and eat well and post on Facebook and encourage others to do the same. This is VERY real for me. Staying focused on my health and wellness is critical to prolonging the onset of not-so-great symptoms.
But isn’t that true for all of us? No matter whether we have a known “condition” or not?
God has a plan for each of our lives. To walk in His calling, to achieve the purpose He has for us, we each must be the best we can be – healthy in mind, body and spirit. Are you there? Are you focusing on you? It doesn’t take a lot of time, but it is critical. And you are worth it. God needs you in the game. Only YOU can do what He put YOU on Earth to do.
Recent Comments