Job

Life is grand when you’re on the mountaintop, but so much of life is spent in the lowland! Missing one of my prescriptions for fibromyalgia for a couple weeks now has caused my energy level to drop more than usual. The prolonged winter does not help, either. Today Birmingham Bible Institute was cancelled because of weather conditions that made driving unsafe, an important consideration because many of our students (and instructors) come from a distance. It seems strange to have an “empty” Tuesday evening.

More than that has put me in the lowland this evening. There are indications that my life is about to change again, and I may no longer be needed in a position I have enjoyed for more than ten years. With few exceptions, I am not a big fan of change, and this change–if it comes to pass–is one I dread. I know I must trust that God has a plan for me, and that His plan for me is best (Jeremiah 29:11). I just wish that trusting Him was easier right now.

The night before my teaching responsibilities at Birmingham Bible Institute began, my throat became quite sore. “Rats!” I thought. “This is the worst possible timing.” I nevertheless did my three hours of teaching and briefly introduced my classes during the Chapel period. The sore throat lasted a little over two days before it turned into a heavy-duty upper respiratory infection.

By the following Tuesday my sinuses were working overtime, and I was coughing endlessly. Sleep was difficult. Thanks to one of my students, I was able to get a cough syrup that really helped. It dried up my system very well, which led to a really awful sinus infection. Thank heavens I had recently had an appointment with my allergist, so I was able to get a five-day course of azithromycin. That was effective in eliminating the sinus infection, but the drainage and coughing returned, although to a lesser extent than before.

It has now been seventeen days, and I think I am finally on the mend. It has been hard to let co-workers and family members down by not being there to do my jobs as I desire to do them. For much of the time, I spent hours in bed, drifting in and out of sleep. I missed church services and being on campus on the deadline date for submission of financial documents for fiscal year 2014 at Wayne State. At home I did my twice-daily cat chores and not much else.

I am a person who values her “down time.” I like spending time at home with family and felines. To live my entire life that way, however, would be the ultimate waste of the time God has given me here on earth. It is important to make some sort of meaningful contribution(s) to others. I am glad to be feeling better and am praying that I will continue to heal so I can soon resume my “normal” schedule of work and worship.