Rest Ministries Chronic Illness Pain Support» Attitude http://restministries.com Joyfully serving the chronically ill with Christian resources and support Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:02:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Finger Splints – How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day http://restministries.com/2010/08/22/finger-splints-how-i-became-crafty-trendy-and-got-street-cred-all-in-one-day/ http://restministries.com/2010/08/22/finger-splints-how-i-became-crafty-trendy-and-got-street-cred-all-in-one-day/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:54:23 +0000 Rest Ministries http://restministries.com/?p=6227 Illness and Crafts. That is the ChronicBabe.com topic of the blog carnival this week and so it motivated me to write about my finger splint. After all, to the critics in Hollywood I am now officially trendy and have some street cred. No, that’s not a typo. It’s “street cred” not “street creed.” But I regress.

I had joint replacement surgery on four fingers in November 2009 and was feeling a bit bummed out that after months of therapy, I was leaving the office with something on my hand now called a “finger splint” that never should have been there.

My therapist was trying to downplay it but it felt like someone had wrapped a big piece of duct tape around my fingers.

finger splint 250 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

What I currently wear every day

The surgery had not been as successful as surgeon, rheumatologist, or hand therapist had hoped. My range of movement was much less than they had anticipated, despite my wearing the large outrigger splint 12 weeks instead of 6 and doing all of my exercises.

In the end one finger, my “ring finger,” was crooked. It sticks up too far. It pops in and out of place. It is a silicone joint that is permanently in the wrong location. It won’t “slip back into place.” And yes, it drives me nutty.

To most people, my finger just appears slightly curved–no big deal, right? But I can’t really bend it down, which means I don’t really have a grasp with my hand. My other fingers get lost when the ring finger muscle it constantly determined to ride an invisible wave. I can’t grasp the steering wheel of the car or pick up something.

And it’s as though my hand gets tired, the ring finger always wanting all the attention. It sends little signals to my brain like a hyper poodle in her puppy years: “It’s me, pick me up, look at me, can we play? Come on, please, please?”

All through months of therapy I had jokingly said, “I just need a bigger diamond for my wedding band, right? Can you write a prescription for my husband for that?” I didn’t even care if it was a real stone. I just wanted weight.

So, this is how I ended up with what they call a “finger splint,” a long piece of medical material (that my husband would love to get his hands on to use for models). They heat it and then wrap it around your fingers to form a splint.

“Just think of it like a girdle” the therapist smiled. “This is a FOREVER kind of thing.”

“There is a REASON I don’t wear girdles!” I insisted (also with a smile.)

So, that’s where my head was as I left. Annoyed at the botched surgery.

The week previously I had seen the surgeon’s x-rays. In the surgery room the x-ray looked fine. A week later, it was crooked. It was why I had signed on the dotted line before surgery I understood there was no guarantee. It is what it is.

So I drove over to Michael’s craft store and found a sticky strip of fake tiny rhinestones. I trimmed it down and put it on the splint. Much improved. And since the medical material tends to turn an ugly dark ivory, toasted marshmallow color, it would help people see the glitz and not the “dirt.”

A few hours later I went to Walmart and as I walked by a girl about twelve she exclaimed, “Oh! I love your ring!” I paused and looked down and then did a quick explanation that was totally confusing and unnecessary. But in the end I told her, “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

cast 3 300x225 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

The Outrigger Splint - worn 12 weeks 24/7

I updated the photo of my outrigger splint on Facebook to my finger splint and people said I had “pimped” my assistive device. I had never thought anything I did would be described as “pimping” but there ya go. Life is odd.

I’m still wearing it. I’m on my second one now. I have ordered a sterling silver finger ring splint that didn’t fit, got re-measured by my therapist, and have sent it back now to be melted down and get a different kind of ring and size. To the right you can see what my first one looked like. The black and white photos down below shoes what the next one will look like that I will try.

The other option is to go see a different surgeon and see what is involved in re-doing surgery on this finger. That is my plan (after dental work and cataract surgery).

One day my husband said, “Did you see People magazine? There is a ring in there like yours!” Yep, leave it to Rihanna to make a 2-finger ring popular. I was hip, right? Wrong. The article stated:

“. . . two years ago, you couldn’t watch an episode of The Hills without catching a glimpse of Lauren Conrad’s knuckle-duster name ring. Well, now TV stars and singers alike just can’t get enough of the two-finger accessory. Thin and feminine designs work best—and keep it to just two fingers. A row full of knuckles guarantees you a Fashion DUI.”

Fashion DUI. Now I was pimping and had a fashion DUI. I wonder what the people on “What Not To Wear” would think of my black, bulky, diabetic Mary Jane shoes?

And some of you may even agree. Hating my puffy prednisone face, I had temporarily made my Facebook profile photo a picture of this amazing crafty finger splint. When I changed it back to a photo of my face you said, “Oh good, I was so tired of looking at your fingers and that painful splint!”

multi finger ring Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

It's trendy! 1 star for each joint replaced, maybe?

Little did you know you were seeing art in action, though, huh? Because as I was writing this article, I found a new Hollywood attitude. Here is the article with some photos if you are interested in joining my fad, Multi Finger Rings That Pack A Punch!

Fashion Allure says:

“Flaunt your street cred with an extravagant hip hop style. With celebrity clientele including Rihanna, Megan Fox, Alicia Keys and Fergie, a two-finger, three-finger and four-finger ring is all the craze right now! Meant to be worn simultaneously on multiple fingers, the multi-finger ring is providing for a flashy and a truly dramatic look.”

So, now, with just a click of a mouse, I can define myself as flashy and dramatic. But what on earth is my street cred? What actually is a street cred? I had to look that up. Urban dictionary says, “Commanding a level of respect in an urban environment due to experience in or knowledge of issues affecting those environments; imaginary ‘points’ you get when you do something cool.”

Hmmm. . . don’t know if I qualify in the sense they mean. I suppose in the patient community, however, I’ve got me some “street cred”–if you can get “points” for joint replacement surgery. Can I have one for each finger I had replaced?

The article also says, “This playful and trendy ring type will get you maximum of desired attention. Hurry up and get one before it’s gone!”

silver ring splint 3 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One DayWell, who knew? Do I really want that kind of attention? I’m asking myself, do I really want to look like the kind of person who wears brass knuckles? And do they mean, “hurry” because the rings will be gone? Or the trend? Probably the trend.

And I will once again be committing a fashion faux pa.

The bummer part is all these fashionistas get to take it the rings off when they start to feel uncomfortable. I imagine I feel a bit like how people with migraines don’t want to hear about how someone’s head band or pony tail is giving them a headache.

Overall, am looking forward to receiving my next ring in the mail and seeing what it feels like. With rheumatoid arthritis, any ring is hard to fit, when your hands swell and knuckles flare. But I am getting weary of having to clean my little medical ring with toothpaste to get rid of the stink. . . I mean scent.

Sterling silver will be a huge improvement and who knows? Maybe I will just look like a 40-something mom who is hip enough to wear what somebody from some show called “The Mountains” is wearing–I mean “The Hills.”

Whatever!

lisa-copen-signature

___________________________________

Looking for a splint for some kind of deformation of your hands? The story behind Silver Ring Splint company is interesting! The web site states:

In 1974, occupational therapist Cynthia Garris was forced to take a new look at splint therapy – in that year, she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. She had long believed in the value of splinting, but soon realized that none of the existing technologies addressed the long-term use of splints. While plastic splints were fine for treating short-term trauma, no one would willingly use this cumbersome and embarrassing solution for the remainder of their lifetime. In 1985, she set out to design and manufacture a new series of splints that were both more effective and far more attractive than the splints then in use. In the process, she revolutionized every aspect of splint therapy.

facebook profile 80x80 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and is in the process of getting ready for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week!

]]> Illness and Crafts. That is the ChronicBabe.com topic of the blog carnival this week and so it motivated me to write about my finger splint. After all, to the critics in Hollywood I am now officially trendy and have some street cred. No, that’s not a typo. It’s “street cred” not “street creed.” But I regress.

I had joint replacement surgery on four fingers in November 2009 and was feeling a bit bummed out that after months of therapy, I was leaving the office with something on my hand now called a “finger splint” that never should have been there.

My therapist was trying to downplay it but it felt like someone had wrapped a big piece of duct tape around my fingers.

finger splint 250 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

What I currently wear every day

The surgery had not been as successful as surgeon, rheumatologist, or hand therapist had hoped. My range of movement was much less than they had anticipated, despite my wearing the large outrigger splint 12 weeks instead of 6 and doing all of my exercises.

In the end one finger, my “ring finger,” was crooked. It sticks up too far. It pops in and out of place. It is a silicone joint that is permanently in the wrong location. It won’t “slip back into place.” And yes, it drives me nutty.

To most people, my finger just appears slightly curved–no big deal, right? But I can’t really bend it down, which means I don’t really have a grasp with my hand. My other fingers get lost when the ring finger muscle it constantly determined to ride an invisible wave. I can’t grasp the steering wheel of the car or pick up something.

And it’s as though my hand gets tired, the ring finger always wanting all the attention. It sends little signals to my brain like a hyper poodle in her puppy years: “It’s me, pick me up, look at me, can we play? Come on, please, please?”

All through months of therapy I had jokingly said, “I just need a bigger diamond for my wedding band, right? Can you write a prescription for my husband for that?” I didn’t even care if it was a real stone. I just wanted weight.

So, this is how I ended up with what they call a “finger splint,” a long piece of medical material (that my husband would love to get his hands on to use for models). They heat it and then wrap it around your fingers to form a splint.

“Just think of it like a girdle” the therapist smiled. “This is a FOREVER kind of thing.”

“There is a REASON I don’t wear girdles!” I insisted (also with a smile.)

So, that’s where my head was as I left. Annoyed at the botched surgery.

The week previously I had seen the surgeon’s x-rays. In the surgery room the x-ray looked fine. A week later, it was crooked. It was why I had signed on the dotted line before surgery I understood there was no guarantee. It is what it is.

So I drove over to Michael’s craft store and found a sticky strip of fake tiny rhinestones. I trimmed it down and put it on the splint. Much improved. And since the medical material tends to turn an ugly dark ivory, toasted marshmallow color, it would help people see the glitz and not the “dirt.”

A few hours later I went to Walmart and as I walked by a girl about twelve she exclaimed, “Oh! I love your ring!” I paused and looked down and then did a quick explanation that was totally confusing and unnecessary. But in the end I told her, “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

cast 3 300x225 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

The Outrigger Splint - worn 12 weeks 24/7

I updated the photo of my outrigger splint on Facebook to my finger splint and people said I had “pimped” my assistive device. I had never thought anything I did would be described as “pimping” but there ya go. Life is odd.

I’m still wearing it. I’m on my second one now. I have ordered a sterling silver finger ring splint that didn’t fit, got re-measured by my therapist, and have sent it back now to be melted down and get a different kind of ring and size. To the right you can see what my first one looked like. The black and white photos down below shoes what the next one will look like that I will try.

The other option is to go see a different surgeon and see what is involved in re-doing surgery on this finger. That is my plan (after dental work and cataract surgery).

One day my husband said, “Did you see People magazine? There is a ring in there like yours!” Yep, leave it to Rihanna to make a 2-finger ring popular. I was hip, right? Wrong. The article stated:

“. . . two years ago, you couldn’t watch an episode of The Hills without catching a glimpse of Lauren Conrad’s knuckle-duster name ring. Well, now TV stars and singers alike just can’t get enough of the two-finger accessory. Thin and feminine designs work best—and keep it to just two fingers. A row full of knuckles guarantees you a Fashion DUI.”

Fashion DUI. Now I was pimping and had a fashion DUI. I wonder what the people on “What Not To Wear” would think of my black, bulky, diabetic Mary Jane shoes?

And some of you may even agree. Hating my puffy prednisone face, I had temporarily made my Facebook profile photo a picture of this amazing crafty finger splint. When I changed it back to a photo of my face you said, “Oh good, I was so tired of looking at your fingers and that painful splint!”

multi finger ring Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

It's trendy! 1 star for each joint replaced, maybe?

Little did you know you were seeing art in action, though, huh? Because as I was writing this article, I found a new Hollywood attitude. Here is the article with some photos if you are interested in joining my fad, Multi Finger Rings That Pack A Punch!

Fashion Allure says:

“Flaunt your street cred with an extravagant hip hop style. With celebrity clientele including Rihanna, Megan Fox, Alicia Keys and Fergie, a two-finger, three-finger and four-finger ring is all the craze right now! Meant to be worn simultaneously on multiple fingers, the multi-finger ring is providing for a flashy and a truly dramatic look.”

So, now, with just a click of a mouse, I can define myself as flashy and dramatic. But what on earth is my street cred? What actually is a street cred? I had to look that up. Urban dictionary says, “Commanding a level of respect in an urban environment due to experience in or knowledge of issues affecting those environments; imaginary ‘points’ you get when you do something cool.”

Hmmm. . . don’t know if I qualify in the sense they mean. I suppose in the patient community, however, I’ve got me some “street cred”–if you can get “points” for joint replacement surgery. Can I have one for each finger I had replaced?

The article also says, “This playful and trendy ring type will get you maximum of desired attention. Hurry up and get one before it’s gone!”

silver ring splint 3 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One DayWell, who knew? Do I really want that kind of attention? I’m asking myself, do I really want to look like the kind of person who wears brass knuckles? And do they mean, “hurry” because the rings will be gone? Or the trend? Probably the trend.

And I will once again be committing a fashion faux pa.

The bummer part is all these fashionistas get to take it the rings off when they start to feel uncomfortable. I imagine I feel a bit like how people with migraines don’t want to hear about how someone’s head band or pony tail is giving them a headache.

Overall, am looking forward to receiving my next ring in the mail and seeing what it feels like. With rheumatoid arthritis, any ring is hard to fit, when your hands swell and knuckles flare. But I am getting weary of having to clean my little medical ring with toothpaste to get rid of the stink. . . I mean scent.

Sterling silver will be a huge improvement and who knows? Maybe I will just look like a 40-something mom who is hip enough to wear what somebody from some show called “The Mountains” is wearing–I mean “The Hills.”

Whatever!

lisa-copen-signature

___________________________________

Looking for a splint for some kind of deformation of your hands? The story behind Silver Ring Splint company is interesting! The web site states:

In 1974, occupational therapist Cynthia Garris was forced to take a new look at splint therapy – in that year, she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. She had long believed in the value of splinting, but soon realized that none of the existing technologies addressed the long-term use of splints. While plastic splints were fine for treating short-term trauma, no one would willingly use this cumbersome and embarrassing solution for the remainder of their lifetime. In 1985, she set out to design and manufacture a new series of splints that were both more effective and far more attractive than the splints then in use. In the process, she revolutionized every aspect of splint therapy.

facebook profile 80x80 Finger Splints How I Became Crafty, Trendy, and Got Street Cred All In One Day

Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and is in the process of getting ready for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week!

]]> http://restministries.com/2010/08/22/finger-splints-how-i-became-crafty-trendy-and-got-street-cred-all-in-one-day/feed/ 5 Our Stories – It May Sound Cheesy But I Am Happy http://restministries.com/2010/08/13/our-stories-it-may-sound-cheesy-but-i-am-happy/ http://restministries.com/2010/08/13/our-stories-it-may-sound-cheesy-but-i-am-happy/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:00:45 +0000 Rest Ministries http://restministries.com/?p=4850 By Stephany

woman diabetes Our Stories It May Sound Cheesy But I Am HappyI have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 2 years old, so 22 years I’ve lived with this “illness.” Growing up it was hard to be different and not be able to share in the birthday treats and have “fun” food for lunches. Sometimes, I had to go to the nurses office to take shots. A very embarrassing thing when you’re 8 years old.

As I got older and more mature, I was able to take control and be responsible for checking my blood sugars and taking my insulin shots. As I hit high school I let it all go and had terrible control of my diabetes.

As a girl having a blind dad with many ailments because of his inability to care for his diabetes, you would think I would have learned a lesson. My dad was at peace with his diabetes but I being inexperienced in my faith, didn’t think it was worth praying about. Why would I? I’d had it before I came to know the Lord, why would it change?

I saw the diabetes as controlling my life. It took me several years after my dad died and trying to find the answers to my life in other places, and even worse control of my diabetes, to see that I needed to make some changes. It wasn’t until I got married to a wonderful man who had this amazing outlook on life that I finally decided to get an insulin pump. (The point of my story)

It was a scary thing, as I had not had good experiences with a pump and my dad. But I tried it and it was amazing. It totally changed my life. I thought my life wasn’t so bad before, but not having to take shots and having this amazing tool just blew me away.

It was the first time in my life that I finally realized that my diabetes did NOT control me, but I controlled it.

Life was so great. It might sound cheezy, but I was so happy. Then in August of last year, I was introduced to a new product to help make my life even easier. It was called a glucose sensor. It was a little device that checks my blood sugars for me and then sends the data to my insulin pump! It’s not a hundred percent fool proof, but it’s enough of a new technology that it’s amazing. I can sing its praises from here to next week.

It had greatly changed my A1c so much, that I have added so many years to my life. On top of all that, it came to me only a month before I became pregnant. A very signifigant tool when you’re a diabetic and pregnant. My biggest fear in being pregnant was that I would cause harm to the baby because of my diabetes. Turns out, the only problem I will have with my pregnancy is not because of my diabetes but a shorting cervix.

All I can say, even at this stressful time is, Praise God for the new technology He has created to help people like me get through the tough times.

I am a 24 year old, (now) stay at home wife, growing a baby. I have been married for 2 1/2 years to a wonderful man that only God could have created for me. I enjoy reading, scrapbooking and being outside. I have 2 wonderful energetic beagles named Boston and Montgomery. I have now been a diabetic for 22 years and will tell anyone who will listen about the insulin pump, glucose sensor and what it was like to be a child diabetic. If anyone has questions, please feel free to email. StephanyVassar@yahoo.com

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
]]> By Stephany

woman diabetes Our Stories It May Sound Cheesy But I Am HappyI have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 2 years old, so 22 years I’ve lived with this “illness.” Growing up it was hard to be different and not be able to share in the birthday treats and have “fun” food for lunches. Sometimes, I had to go to the nurses office to take shots. A very embarrassing thing when you’re 8 years old.

As I got older and more mature, I was able to take control and be responsible for checking my blood sugars and taking my insulin shots. As I hit high school I let it all go and had terrible control of my diabetes.

As a girl having a blind dad with many ailments because of his inability to care for his diabetes, you would think I would have learned a lesson. My dad was at peace with his diabetes but I being inexperienced in my faith, didn’t think it was worth praying about. Why would I? I’d had it before I came to know the Lord, why would it change?

I saw the diabetes as controlling my life. It took me several years after my dad died and trying to find the answers to my life in other places, and even worse control of my diabetes, to see that I needed to make some changes. It wasn’t until I got married to a wonderful man who had this amazing outlook on life that I finally decided to get an insulin pump. (The point of my story)

It was a scary thing, as I had not had good experiences with a pump and my dad. But I tried it and it was amazing. It totally changed my life. I thought my life wasn’t so bad before, but not having to take shots and having this amazing tool just blew me away.

It was the first time in my life that I finally realized that my diabetes did NOT control me, but I controlled it.

Life was so great. It might sound cheezy, but I was so happy. Then in August of last year, I was introduced to a new product to help make my life even easier. It was called a glucose sensor. It was a little device that checks my blood sugars for me and then sends the data to my insulin pump! It’s not a hundred percent fool proof, but it’s enough of a new technology that it’s amazing. I can sing its praises from here to next week.

It had greatly changed my A1c so much, that I have added so many years to my life. On top of all that, it came to me only a month before I became pregnant. A very signifigant tool when you’re a diabetic and pregnant. My biggest fear in being pregnant was that I would cause harm to the baby because of my diabetes. Turns out, the only problem I will have with my pregnancy is not because of my diabetes but a shorting cervix.

All I can say, even at this stressful time is, Praise God for the new technology He has created to help people like me get through the tough times.

I am a 24 year old, (now) stay at home wife, growing a baby. I have been married for 2 1/2 years to a wonderful man that only God could have created for me. I enjoy reading, scrapbooking and being outside. I have 2 wonderful energetic beagles named Boston and Montgomery. I have now been a diabetic for 22 years and will tell anyone who will listen about the insulin pump, glucose sensor and what it was like to be a child diabetic. If anyone has questions, please feel free to email. StephanyVassar@yahoo.com

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
]]> http://restministries.com/2010/08/13/our-stories-it-may-sound-cheesy-but-i-am-happy/feed/ 1 Movie Being Made About Inspirational Surfer Attacked By Shark http://restministries.com/2010/06/26/movie-being-made-about-inspirational-surfer-attacked-shark/ http://restministries.com/2010/06/26/movie-being-made-about-inspirational-surfer-attacked-shark/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:00:42 +0000 Rest Ministries http://restministries.com/?p=4899 bethany hamilton shark attack2 Movie Being Made About Inspirational Surfer Attacked By SharkWe watched with horror in 2003 as newscasters explained that a 13-year-old young woman who was already a surfer champion was attacked by a shark. Now, year later, Bethany Hamilton’s story is being filmed in Hawaii, based on her autobiography she wrote at 19 years old, “Soul Surfer.”

This young gal is a Christian and not afraid to share what is was that has gotten her through those tragic moments. The movie was being filmed in February 2010 and rumors say it will be out Summer 2010. This will be a wonderful family flick and a great youth outreach event for churches as well. You can read more about this remarkable woman and get updates on the film’s status at her web site BethanyHamilton.com .

And watch a video about Bethany Hamilton from the TODAY show here. (A new window will open if you click that.)

Here is some of the highlights from the information we received:

Transporting a real-life tale of adventure, tragedy, courage, and a story as impressive as Hawaii’s most famous waves, principal photography began in Februar 2010 on the North Shores of Oahu and Kauai, on Soul Surfer. The inspirational film is based on the champion surfer Bethany Hamilton, who, for over six years, has defied all odds to compete and win professional championships after losing her arm in a shark attack at age thirteen.

Chronicling the rise of a promising young athlete, a debilitating tragedy and one of the greatest sports comebacks ever, Soul Surfer is a poignant story about the heart and soul of a champion. Hawaiian native Bethany Hamilton entered her first major surfing competition at age eight, going on to win contests such as the 1999 Haleiwa Menehune Championships and competing in the National Scholastic Surfing Association circuit. By thirteen she was well-respected in the surfing world, but her dream of becoming a pro surfer was interrupted, on October 31, 2003, when she was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore.

bethany hamilton shark attack3 Movie Being Made About Inspirational Surfer Attacked By SharkLosing more than half her blood, yet miraculously surviving, Bethany was now living without a left arm. The determination to pursue her dream, however, had not been taken away. She was back in the water a month later, learning to paddle with one arm and to find her balance on the surfboard. Rip Curl, her surf sponsor and supporter of the film, never gave up on her dreams either. In fact, two summers later Bethany Hamilton took first place in the NSSA National Championships, a goal she had sought to achieve since before the shark attack. In 2008, Bethany began competing full-time in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series and recently competed at the ASP World Junior Championships.

In 2008 and 2009, Bethany finished in the finals numerous times including second place in the World Junior Pro in Portugal in 2009 to propel her into the top 12 world rankings. She won the Nickelodeon 2004 “Teen Choice” award and the 2004 “ESPY” award and 2005 USA Today “Free Spirit Award.”

Bethany Hamilton has become an inspirational icon to people around the world, transcending the sport of surfing by overcoming adversity, achieving her dreams, and encouraging others to do the same.

Soul Surfer stars Golden Globe nominee Dennis Quaid (as Bethany’s father Tom), Academy Award winner Helen Hunt (as Bethany’s mother Cheri), Young Artist Award winner AnnaSophia Robb (as Bethany Hamilton) and four-time Grammy winner and platinum-selling music artist Carrie Underwood (as Church Youth Leader Sarah Hill) in her film debut. The cast also includes Lorraine Nicholson (as Alana Blanchard) and Kevin Sorbo (as Holt Blanchard).

“I’ve been a writer and producer for the past 32 years, and I’ve never encountered a more inspiring true story than Bethany Hamilton’s” stated Doug Schwartz (Baywatch co-creator). “The movie will encourage people worldwide to rise above adversity.”

“Watching her surf is like an optical illusion. She does things that your mind can’t immediately comprehend,” offered executive producer David Zelon.

“Witnessing Bethany’s historical sports comeback and inspirational effect on people 8 to 80 years old has been a privilege” added Hamilton’s manager and producer Roy Dutcher Hofstetter.

Hamilton’s autobiography, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board (Simon & Schuster) has sold nearly 1.5 million copies since its publication in 2004. A sequel, “Soul Surfer-Now a Movie,” is planned in conjunction with the movie’s theatrical release.

The newspaper Pasadena Weekly also shares the impact the family’s Christian faith has had on those around them during the filming:

bethany hamilton shark attack1 Movie Being Made About Inspirational Surfer Attacked By SharkBethany explains, “[Youth minister Sarah Hill] came and visited me in the hospital, and gave me the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, which means, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’” recalls Hamilton. “That gave me peace because it told me God is in control. He’s going turn this into something, and it ended up being something amazing and good. Of course I can’t say I didn’t ever get frustrated because, yes, I did. But eventually I moved on. And I hope this movie can show people the way to do that in their lives.”

Depicting Bethany’s dad — a former teenage surfer turned born-again Christian named Tom — also had a profound personal effect on Quaid. The 52-year-old with a 30-year career as a leading-man is also the father of 2-year-old twins who were given what should have been a lethal dose of Heparin after their birth.

Speaking to [Pasadena Weekly] while sitting between takes in a house serving as the set for the Hamilton home, Quaid poignantly noted two factors that drove him to agree to play the role of Tom without even reading the script. First, he believes that the “millions of prayers worldwide” for his babies saved their lives. Second, he noted that watching the real-life Tom Hamilton day after day, “walking his faith,” finally compelled him to embrace God himself.

“When I read a script is the only time I can see a story like the audience itself. This really got me. It was uplifting, and I hope people see that,” says Quaid, who accepted the offer immediately after Hamilton’s story recounted on a December episode of NBC’s “Today” show reduced him to tears. “We all have problems that we live with in life that are so huge to us on a daily basis, in our daily grind. Seeing this film and hearing this story makes you want to let go and let God. There aren’t any big problems in life, really — just a bunch of little details.”

This will be a great movie to take teenagers to see and part of me cannot help but wonder if this young lady will create a stir among young people for faith in the midst of tragedy as Joni Eareckson Tada did for my generation in the seventies.

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]]> bethany hamilton shark attack2 Movie Being Made About Inspirational Surfer Attacked By SharkWe watched with horror in 2003 as newscasters explained that a 13-year-old young woman who was already a surfer champion was attacked by a shark. Now, year later, Bethany Hamilton’s story is being filmed in Hawaii, based on her autobiography she wrote at 19 years old, “Soul Surfer.”

This young gal is a Christian and not afraid to share what is was that has gotten her through those tragic moments. The movie was being filmed in February 2010 and rumors say it will be out Summer 2010. This will be a wonderful family flick and a great youth outreach event for churches as well. You can read more about this remarkable woman and get updates on the film’s status at her web site BethanyHamilton.com .

And watch a video about Bethany Hamilton from the TODAY show here. (A new window will open if you click that.)

Here is some of the highlights from the information we received:

Transporting a real-life tale of adventure, tragedy, courage, and a story as impressive as Hawaii’s most famous waves, principal photography began in Februar 2010 on the North Shores of Oahu and Kauai, on Soul Surfer. The inspirational film is based on the champion surfer Bethany Hamilton, who, for over six years, has defied all odds to compete and win professional championships after losing her arm in a shark attack at age thirteen.

Chronicling the rise of a promising young athlete, a debilitating tragedy and one of the greatest sports comebacks ever, Soul Surfer is a poignant story about the heart and soul of a champion. Hawaiian native Bethany Hamilton entered her first major surfing competition at age eight, going on to win contests such as the 1999 Haleiwa Menehune Championships and competing in the National Scholastic Surfing Association circuit. By thirteen she was well-respected in the surfing world, but her dream of becoming a pro surfer was interrupted, on October 31, 2003, when she was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore.

bethany hamilton shark attack3 Movie Being Made About Inspirational Surfer Attacked By SharkLosing more than half her blood, yet miraculously surviving, Bethany was now living without a left arm. The determination to pursue her dream, however, had not been taken away. She was back in the water a month later, learning to paddle with one arm and to find her balance on the surfboard. Rip Curl, her surf sponsor and supporter of the film, never gave up on her dreams either. In fact, two summers later Bethany Hamilton took first place in the NSSA National Championships, a goal she had sought to achieve since before the shark attack. In 2008, Bethany began competing full-time in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series and recently competed at the ASP World Junior Championships.

In 2008 and 2009, Bethany finished in the finals numerous times including second place in the World Junior Pro in Portugal in 2009 to propel her into the top 12 world rankings. She won the Nickelodeon 2004 “Teen Choice” award and the 2004 “ESPY” award and 2005 USA Today “Free Spirit Award.”

Bethany Hamilton has become an inspirational icon to people around the world, transcending the sport of surfing by overcoming adversity, achieving her dreams, and encouraging others to do the same.

Soul Surfer stars Golden Globe nominee Dennis Quaid (as Bethany’s father Tom), Academy Award winner Helen Hunt (as Bethany’s mother Cheri), Young Artist Award winner AnnaSophia Robb (as Bethany Hamilton) and four-time Grammy winner and platinum-selling music artist Carrie Underwood (as Church Youth Leader Sarah Hill) in her film debut. The cast also includes Lorraine Nicholson (as Alana Blanchard) and Kevin Sorbo (as Holt Blanchard).

“I’ve been a writer and producer for the past 32 years, and I’ve never encountered a more inspiring true story than Bethany Hamilton’s” stated Doug Schwartz (Baywatch co-creator). “The movie will encourage people worldwide to rise above adversity.”

“Watching her surf is like an optical illusion. She does things that your mind can’t immediately comprehend,” offered executive producer David Zelon.

“Witnessing Bethany’s historical sports comeback and inspirational effect on people 8 to 80 years old has been a privilege” added Hamilton’s manager and producer Roy Dutcher Hofstetter.

Hamilton’s autobiography, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board (Simon & Schuster) has sold nearly 1.5 million copies since its publication in 2004. A sequel, “Soul Surfer-Now a Movie,” is planned in conjunction with the movie’s theatrical release.

The newspaper Pasadena Weekly also shares the impact the family’s Christian faith has had on those around them during the filming:

bethany hamilton shark attack1 Movie Being Made About Inspirational Surfer Attacked By SharkBethany explains, “[Youth minister Sarah Hill] came and visited me in the hospital, and gave me the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, which means, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’” recalls Hamilton. “That gave me peace because it told me God is in control. He’s going turn this into something, and it ended up being something amazing and good. Of course I can’t say I didn’t ever get frustrated because, yes, I did. But eventually I moved on. And I hope this movie can show people the way to do that in their lives.”

Depicting Bethany’s dad — a former teenage surfer turned born-again Christian named Tom — also had a profound personal effect on Quaid. The 52-year-old with a 30-year career as a leading-man is also the father of 2-year-old twins who were given what should have been a lethal dose of Heparin after their birth.

Speaking to [Pasadena Weekly] while sitting between takes in a house serving as the set for the Hamilton home, Quaid poignantly noted two factors that drove him to agree to play the role of Tom without even reading the script. First, he believes that the “millions of prayers worldwide” for his babies saved their lives. Second, he noted that watching the real-life Tom Hamilton day after day, “walking his faith,” finally compelled him to embrace God himself.

“When I read a script is the only time I can see a story like the audience itself. This really got me. It was uplifting, and I hope people see that,” says Quaid, who accepted the offer immediately after Hamilton’s story recounted on a December episode of NBC’s “Today” show reduced him to tears. “We all have problems that we live with in life that are so huge to us on a daily basis, in our daily grind. Seeing this film and hearing this story makes you want to let go and let God. There aren’t any big problems in life, really — just a bunch of little details.”

This will be a great movie to take teenagers to see and part of me cannot help but wonder if this young lady will create a stir among young people for faith in the midst of tragedy as Joni Eareckson Tada did for my generation in the seventies.

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]]> http://restministries.com/2010/06/26/movie-being-made-about-inspirational-surfer-attacked-shark/feed/ 0 My Damascus Road http://restministries.com/2010/06/23/my-damascus-road/ http://restministries.com/2010/06/23/my-damascus-road/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:00:26 +0000 Rest Ministries http://restministries.com/?p=5002 By Diane Buckness

Dianebukness illness testimonial 300x215 My Damascus Road
It was 38 years ago today

The day started out beautifully

Lovely warm spring weather…

Following a two month stay in Mayberry-esque Vinita, Oklahoma

Two young women from California, friends since childhood

Traveling around the country working odd jobs and moving on

Time to hit the road again…destination: New Orleans

Beer

Enthralled with all the hedonistic pleasures birthed by the 60’s revolution

More Beer

Leon Russel playing on the 8 track cassette player

A long day’s drive through the winding roads of the Missouri Ozarks

A case of beer

A trucker warned us to stop because we were weaving

I continued driving anyway… it was dusk

And then…the sight of that red clay dirt as the van began to roll

The sound of crushing metal, and… darkness.

When I awoke Vickie was frantic. The VW bus had rolled four times before being stopped by a tree. Teetering on its side the van was being held up only by an old storage trunk that had flown out in the accident. I was lying beneath that teetering wheel, unconscious, my neck broken. Vickie pulled me out. We were in a remote part of the Ozark Mountains and it would be 30 minutes before a passerby called for help.

I couldn’t feel anything and knew I would die. The music was still playing on the cassette deck in spite of the horrific crash and rollover. The song was Billy Preston’s, “That’s The Way God Planned It, That’s The Way God Wants It To Be”.

Vickie began praying some memorized prayers from her Lutheran catechism. I knew no prayers but I had heard the Gospel. I knew John 3:16. I knew I was guilty, deeply guilty and that I needed to change. But I had been putting that off for another time. A time when I was done having fun. A time when I would decide to get serious about life.

Now I realized that it may be too late. I pled with God. I promised to change my ways if He would let me live.

A hearse and driver came to get me, but no paramedics. He placed me on a gurney, intended for the dead, and drove me to the tiny hospital in Cabool where I lapsed in and out of consciousness. My neck was broken on the 2nd vertebrae. Some time that night I awoke to a startling bright flash of light. I still don’t know what it was but at that moment I raised the white flag of surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is entirely of God. I did not choose Him of my own accord. He had pity on my wretched, wanton, rebellious soul and rescued me from an eternity in Hell that I dangled so perilously close to. At that moment I passed from spiritual death to life.

The Lord had mercy on Vickie that night as well. A young nurse had just been praying on her knees in the restroom that God would bring her someone to minister to. As she came out they were bringing us into the emergency room. Vickie was uninjured and had no place to go and the nurse took her home and led her to the Saviour. To this day, my dear friend still follows Christ…for He will never let go of His sheep whom He has called.

I became a new person that night. I understood very little except that I had changed instantaneously and dramatically and that I now had Jesus Christ as my constant companion. I had no one to teach me the Scriptures; only a little white pocket New Testament that a nurse gave to me. I read it voraciously.

But I would be passing through even deeper waters very soon. I was flown back to Sacramento, my home, and admitted to the hospital where I was placed in a full body halo cast. The doctor from UC Davis told me that my survival was a miracle.

My intended, my high school sweetheart of 4 years, was a heroin addict and came to visit me in the hospital. He bent over the bed and declared that he could no longer go on in this life. The next day he took a rifle to his chest and he was no more.

There is no sorrow that Christ cannot comfort. There is no burden too heavy from Him bear. There is no sin that He will not forgive. But we must respond to His gentle wooing now and receive His free offer of forgiveness and mercy while it is still available to us. We can do nothing to earn it for there is no goodness in us capable of meriting a place in Heaven.

hearts hand My Damascus RoadThis Gift of Eternal Life came at an unspeakable cost. The cost of the Holy, innocent Son of God who died in our place, paying for crimes He did not commit. Our crimes against a Holy God. And it will cost us everything in a sense. Because to truly follow Christ, It will cost us our lives. We must turn from all of our sins and surrender completely to Him. And we must do it TODAY, because tomorrow may never come.

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross,
so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;
for by His wounds you were healed.
For you were continually straying like sheep,
but now you have returned to the
Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
I Peter 2:24-25

Diane Bucknell came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 20. She resides in Carson City, Nevada with her husband Robert. They been married for 36 years and have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. They own Bucknell Arts, a fine art and mural painting business.

]]> By Diane Buckness

Dianebukness illness testimonial 300x215 My Damascus Road
It was 38 years ago today

The day started out beautifully

Lovely warm spring weather…

Following a two month stay in Mayberry-esque Vinita, Oklahoma

Two young women from California, friends since childhood

Traveling around the country working odd jobs and moving on

Time to hit the road again…destination: New Orleans

Beer

Enthralled with all the hedonistic pleasures birthed by the 60’s revolution

More Beer

Leon Russel playing on the 8 track cassette player

A long day’s drive through the winding roads of the Missouri Ozarks

A case of beer

A trucker warned us to stop because we were weaving

I continued driving anyway… it was dusk

And then…the sight of that red clay dirt as the van began to roll

The sound of crushing metal, and… darkness.

When I awoke Vickie was frantic. The VW bus had rolled four times before being stopped by a tree. Teetering on its side the van was being held up only by an old storage trunk that had flown out in the accident. I was lying beneath that teetering wheel, unconscious, my neck broken. Vickie pulled me out. We were in a remote part of the Ozark Mountains and it would be 30 minutes before a passerby called for help.

I couldn’t feel anything and knew I would die. The music was still playing on the cassette deck in spite of the horrific crash and rollover. The song was Billy Preston’s, “That’s The Way God Planned It, That’s The Way God Wants It To Be”.

Vickie began praying some memorized prayers from her Lutheran catechism. I knew no prayers but I had heard the Gospel. I knew John 3:16. I knew I was guilty, deeply guilty and that I needed to change. But I had been putting that off for another time. A time when I was done having fun. A time when I would decide to get serious about life.

Now I realized that it may be too late. I pled with God. I promised to change my ways if He would let me live.

A hearse and driver came to get me, but no paramedics. He placed me on a gurney, intended for the dead, and drove me to the tiny hospital in Cabool where I lapsed in and out of consciousness. My neck was broken on the 2nd vertebrae. Some time that night I awoke to a startling bright flash of light. I still don’t know what it was but at that moment I raised the white flag of surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is entirely of God. I did not choose Him of my own accord. He had pity on my wretched, wanton, rebellious soul and rescued me from an eternity in Hell that I dangled so perilously close to. At that moment I passed from spiritual death to life.

The Lord had mercy on Vickie that night as well. A young nurse had just been praying on her knees in the restroom that God would bring her someone to minister to. As she came out they were bringing us into the emergency room. Vickie was uninjured and had no place to go and the nurse took her home and led her to the Saviour. To this day, my dear friend still follows Christ…for He will never let go of His sheep whom He has called.

I became a new person that night. I understood very little except that I had changed instantaneously and dramatically and that I now had Jesus Christ as my constant companion. I had no one to teach me the Scriptures; only a little white pocket New Testament that a nurse gave to me. I read it voraciously.

But I would be passing through even deeper waters very soon. I was flown back to Sacramento, my home, and admitted to the hospital where I was placed in a full body halo cast. The doctor from UC Davis told me that my survival was a miracle.

My intended, my high school sweetheart of 4 years, was a heroin addict and came to visit me in the hospital. He bent over the bed and declared that he could no longer go on in this life. The next day he took a rifle to his chest and he was no more.

There is no sorrow that Christ cannot comfort. There is no burden too heavy from Him bear. There is no sin that He will not forgive. But we must respond to His gentle wooing now and receive His free offer of forgiveness and mercy while it is still available to us. We can do nothing to earn it for there is no goodness in us capable of meriting a place in Heaven.

hearts hand My Damascus RoadThis Gift of Eternal Life came at an unspeakable cost. The cost of the Holy, innocent Son of God who died in our place, paying for crimes He did not commit. Our crimes against a Holy God. And it will cost us everything in a sense. Because to truly follow Christ, It will cost us our lives. We must turn from all of our sins and surrender completely to Him. And we must do it TODAY, because tomorrow may never come.

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross,
so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;
for by His wounds you were healed.
For you were continually straying like sheep,
but now you have returned to the
Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
I Peter 2:24-25

Diane Bucknell came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 20. She resides in Carson City, Nevada with her husband Robert. They been married for 36 years and have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. They own Bucknell Arts, a fine art and mural painting business.

]]> http://restministries.com/2010/06/23/my-damascus-road/feed/ 0 The Impact of Our Attitude – Part 2 of 2 http://restministries.com/2010/06/22/impact-of-our-attitude-part-2-of-2/ http://restministries.com/2010/06/22/impact-of-our-attitude-part-2-of-2/#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:00:52 +0000 Rest Ministries http://restministries.com/?p=4795 This is the rest of the article “The Impact of Our Attitude” (Click to read part 1)

By Sandy Mayle

impact of attitude with illness2 The Impact of Our Attitude Part 2 of 23. Glad Expectation for the Future
“I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as you pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me, this is all going to turn out for my good. For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that will cause me to be ashamed of myself, but that I will always be ready to speak out boldly for Christ while I am going through all these trials here, just as I have in the past; and that I will always be an honor to Christ, whether I live, or whether I must die” (1:19-20 LB).

Glad. Eager. Expectant. Hopeful. Ready. These are the words Paul used to describe his attitude toward the future. What a challenge to me! Paul’s testimony assures me that I don’t have to be intimidated by the unknowns that lie ahead.

No matter the condition of my body, I can step into the tomorrows with boldness and gladness and hope.
And through prayer and the power of the Spirit, I can confidently expect to be an honor – not a shame – to Christ through it all.

  • As I’ve looked into the future, have I anticipated disaster … or do I believe that through the prayers of others and the help of the Holy Spirit, my chronic illness is going to turn out for my good? Am I often afraid I’m handling challenges and making decisions in a way I’ll later regret… or do I expect that God will help me handle them in a way that I’ll never have to be ashamed of? Do I feel unprepared for what’s around the next bend… or ready and able, because of the Spirit’s presence?
  • Do I realize that You really want me to live in “eager expectation and hope,” not in uncertainty and dread? That You’ve provided Your presence and promises for just that purpose?
  • Will I bring to You just now all my fears for the future, my insufficiency, my confusion, my dread, and exchange them for Your expectant joy, agreeing with Paul: “I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency” (Phil. 4:13 AV)?

If so, then my testimony can become, “I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as my brothers and sisters in Christ pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me through the challenges of each day, this experience with chronic illness is all going to turn out for my good.

For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never respond to doctors or caregivers or my family members or the strangers who cross my path in a way that will cause me to be ashamed of myself, but that I will always be ready to speak out boldly for Christ while I am going through all these trials (imperfectly but getting better at it each day!); and that I will always be an honor to Christ in life and in death” (1:19-20 LB, paraphrased for chronic illness).

Embracing the past… contentment in the present… glad expectation for the future. Because of Paul’s example, I know these attitudes are possible for me – and for you, too. I’m learning and changing, although I’m still God’s work-in-progress. But how willing His Spirit is to help me, and how pleased He is with every baby step I take toward acceptance, contentment, and hope. And with every step you take, as well.

the impact of attitude sandy The Impact of Our Attitude Part 2 of 2Sandy Mayle lives in Erie, Pa.with her husband, Dave. Sandy is a free-lance writer and also leads a HopeKeepers group at her local church. Her chronic illness is yet-undiagnosed.

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]]> This is the rest of the article “The Impact of Our Attitude” (Click to read part 1)

By Sandy Mayle

impact of attitude with illness2 The Impact of Our Attitude Part 2 of 23. Glad Expectation for the Future
“I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as you pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me, this is all going to turn out for my good. For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that will cause me to be ashamed of myself, but that I will always be ready to speak out boldly for Christ while I am going through all these trials here, just as I have in the past; and that I will always be an honor to Christ, whether I live, or whether I must die” (1:19-20 LB).

Glad. Eager. Expectant. Hopeful. Ready. These are the words Paul used to describe his attitude toward the future. What a challenge to me! Paul’s testimony assures me that I don’t have to be intimidated by the unknowns that lie ahead.

No matter the condition of my body, I can step into the tomorrows with boldness and gladness and hope.
And through prayer and the power of the Spirit, I can confidently expect to be an honor – not a shame – to Christ through it all.

  • As I’ve looked into the future, have I anticipated disaster … or do I believe that through the prayers of others and the help of the Holy Spirit, my chronic illness is going to turn out for my good? Am I often afraid I’m handling challenges and making decisions in a way I’ll later regret… or do I expect that God will help me handle them in a way that I’ll never have to be ashamed of? Do I feel unprepared for what’s around the next bend… or ready and able, because of the Spirit’s presence?
  • Do I realize that You really want me to live in “eager expectation and hope,” not in uncertainty and dread? That You’ve provided Your presence and promises for just that purpose?
  • Will I bring to You just now all my fears for the future, my insufficiency, my confusion, my dread, and exchange them for Your expectant joy, agreeing with Paul: “I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency” (Phil. 4:13 AV)?

If so, then my testimony can become, “I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as my brothers and sisters in Christ pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me through the challenges of each day, this experience with chronic illness is all going to turn out for my good.

For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never respond to doctors or caregivers or my family members or the strangers who cross my path in a way that will cause me to be ashamed of myself, but that I will always be ready to speak out boldly for Christ while I am going through all these trials (imperfectly but getting better at it each day!); and that I will always be an honor to Christ in life and in death” (1:19-20 LB, paraphrased for chronic illness).

Embracing the past… contentment in the present… glad expectation for the future. Because of Paul’s example, I know these attitudes are possible for me – and for you, too. I’m learning and changing, although I’m still God’s work-in-progress. But how willing His Spirit is to help me, and how pleased He is with every baby step I take toward acceptance, contentment, and hope. And with every step you take, as well.

the impact of attitude sandy The Impact of Our Attitude Part 2 of 2Sandy Mayle lives in Erie, Pa.with her husband, Dave. Sandy is a free-lance writer and also leads a HopeKeepers group at her local church. Her chronic illness is yet-undiagnosed.

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]]> http://restministries.com/2010/06/22/impact-of-our-attitude-part-2-of-2/feed/ 1 The Impact of Our Attitude – Part 1 of 2 http://restministries.com/2010/06/21/impact-of-our-attitude-part-1-of-2/ http://restministries.com/2010/06/21/impact-of-our-attitude-part-1-of-2/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:00:18 +0000 Rest Ministries http://restministries.com/?p=4786 impact of attitude with illness The Impact of Our Attitude Part 1 of 2By Sandy Mayle

The longer I live with my disease, the more I realize the impact of attitude on chronic illness. Attitude, to me, is more important than test results. It is more important than medical history, than financial resources, than competent and compassionate doctors, than promising surgeries, than helpful medications, than how my loved ones respond to my struggles.

It is more important than my appearance, than the skills I no longer use or the activities I’ve had to give up. My attitude, not these other things, will make or break me.

The remarkable thing is, I have a choice every day regarding the attitude I will embrace for the day. I cannot go back and rewrite my medical chart. I cannot change the fact that people will sometimes respond to my illness in negative ways.

I cannot predict the course of this disease. The only thing I can do is play on the one string I have, and that is my attitude.

“I am convinced that my life with chronic illness is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.” – Pastor Chuck Swindoll’s quote on attitude, adapted to life with chronic illness

Six months into a yet-undiagnosed chronic illness, I went on a personal retreat at a nearby monastery. There I prayed and read the Word and grappled with this unexpected turn in my life. Somewhere in the course of those quiet days, the Lord directed me to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

When Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi, he was no novice to suffering in both its acute and chronic forms. Paul knew all about a chronic “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7-9), and acute torment and opposition as he preached the gospel. Now he was confined to a jail and facing death.

From that background and setting Paul poured out his heart to his beloved Philippians. As I read that letter in those secluded days with Christ, it was as though He tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the sacred page and said, There. There is the attitude you need to imitate. Not instantaneously and never even perfectly. Not even wholeheartedly, at first.

It would take some time and a lot of God’s grace for me to get my head around some of these truths. Still, here was a simple set of guidelines jumping out at me from the pages of the living and powerful Word of God. Maybe they will help you, too, to better understand and adopt the attitude that honors God as you live out your chronic illness.

1. Embracing the Past
“And I want you to know this, dear brothers: Everything that has happened to me here has been a great boost in getting out the Good News concerning Christ… because of my imprisonment many of the Christians here seem to have lost their fear of chains! Somehow my patience has encouraged them and they have become more and more bold in telling others about Christ” (Phil. 1:12-14 LB).

Paul recognized that although the thorn and the beatings and the prison bars sometimes prevented him from doing what he’d planned, they didn’t ultimately get in the way of his relationship with Christ or his ministry for Him – they pushed it in new directions and opened new doors and allowed him to display God’s grace in ways that gave fresh courage and inspiration to those around him.

In addition, the way he was handling his struggles spurred others on to bolder ministry. Paul knew his example mattered, freed and encouraged others, and made a difference in getting out the Gospel.

  • What has been my overall attitude toward my chronic illness? Have I been tempted to view it as a hindrance, not a boost, to what I wanted to do with my life? Will I agree with Paul that You, Lord, have intended it for good, not only for myself but for Your Kingdom?
  • Have I understood the potential of my illness – that it’s not just about me, that others are watching how I handle it, and that what they see will impact them, perhaps for eternity?
  • Am I willing to, with Your help, start viewing my illness in this new light? Will I begin to embrace what has happened to me, growing in the conviction that through my story and ministry to others, God will encourage believers and point unbelievers to Him?

If so, then I, too, can say, “And I want you to know, dear family and friends and fellow HopeKeepers and medical world: Everything that has happened to my body has been a great boost in getting out the good news concerning Christ… because of my own journey with chronic illness, many of the Christians around me seem to have lost their doubts and fears about their own limitations!

Somehow my patience has encouraged them and they have become more and more bold in telling others about how Christ gives grace in every trial…” (Phil. 1:12-14 LB, adapted for chronic illness).

2. Contentment in the Present
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power” (Phil. 4:11-13 LB).

At first Paul sounds just too “holy” to be realistic. Could even he be content with my pain, my exhaustion, my limitations? If I could ask him, I believe he’d explain, from his prison cell, “‘Content’ doesn’t mean I’d pick this imprisonment as my personal preference, yet I’m not agitated or unsettled about the bars and the guards and the chains.

I’m not disturbed by a desire for something more or different. I’m okay with it because it’s God’s call for me right now, and I trust Him… and because I know I can do this “with the help of Christ who gives me strength and power. Leaning on Him, I am able to experience the holy joy of contentment.”

What about me?

  • Do I feel like a ping-pong ball, bouncing first high, then low, absorbing blow after blow, totally at the mercy of the medical world, my bank account, and a body gone haywire? Can it be that in You there is strength that will give me an inner steadiness, that will be a solid rock beneath me and strong arms around me no matter my circumstances?
  • “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). If this illness were gone today, I would not have a trouble-free life. Because I live in a fallen world, it would still come to me in some form. This illness, then, is the shape trouble is taking for me, and in this You are calling me to take heart, to feel Your grace lifting me, to trust that You will carry me through the hard times.
  • Instead of asking for a change of circumstances today, then, am I willing to ask for that grace? To tell You that I trust You with my trouble? To pursue contentment in the here and now?
If so, I believe God will do a work in me that will enable me to say, “I have learned holy gladness whether I have much energy or none at all. Whether I am distracted by pain or am having one of my best days. Whether my best friend understands or still clearly doesn’t grasp my limitations.

“For chronic illness is full of ups and downs. I know what it is to have no one to lean on, no viable options for treatment, no hope of regaining a normal life… and I know what it is to have many hands offer to lift the load, to experience blessed relief through surgery or medications, to resume doing an activity I’d feared was gone forever.

“And I’ve finally learned the secret of contentment in all those situations: I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me strength and power” (Phil. 4:11-13 LB, paraphrased for chronic illness).

Check back tomorrow for the rest of this article!

Sandy Mayle lives in Erie, Pa.with her husband, Dave. Sandy is a free-lance writer and also leads a HopeKeepers group at her local church. Her chronic illness is yet-undiagnosed.

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]]> impact of attitude with illness The Impact of Our Attitude Part 1 of 2By Sandy Mayle

The longer I live with my disease, the more I realize the impact of attitude on chronic illness. Attitude, to me, is more important than test results. It is more important than medical history, than financial resources, than competent and compassionate doctors, than promising surgeries, than helpful medications, than how my loved ones respond to my struggles.

It is more important than my appearance, than the skills I no longer use or the activities I’ve had to give up. My attitude, not these other things, will make or break me.

The remarkable thing is, I have a choice every day regarding the attitude I will embrace for the day. I cannot go back and rewrite my medical chart. I cannot change the fact that people will sometimes respond to my illness in negative ways.

I cannot predict the course of this disease. The only thing I can do is play on the one string I have, and that is my attitude.

“I am convinced that my life with chronic illness is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.” – Pastor Chuck Swindoll’s quote on attitude, adapted to life with chronic illness

Six months into a yet-undiagnosed chronic illness, I went on a personal retreat at a nearby monastery. There I prayed and read the Word and grappled with this unexpected turn in my life. Somewhere in the course of those quiet days, the Lord directed me to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

When Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi, he was no novice to suffering in both its acute and chronic forms. Paul knew all about a chronic “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7-9), and acute torment and opposition as he preached the gospel. Now he was confined to a jail and facing death.

From that background and setting Paul poured out his heart to his beloved Philippians. As I read that letter in those secluded days with Christ, it was as though He tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the sacred page and said, There. There is the attitude you need to imitate. Not instantaneously and never even perfectly. Not even wholeheartedly, at first.

It would take some time and a lot of God’s grace for me to get my head around some of these truths. Still, here was a simple set of guidelines jumping out at me from the pages of the living and powerful Word of God. Maybe they will help you, too, to better understand and adopt the attitude that honors God as you live out your chronic illness.

1. Embracing the Past
“And I want you to know this, dear brothers: Everything that has happened to me here has been a great boost in getting out the Good News concerning Christ… because of my imprisonment many of the Christians here seem to have lost their fear of chains! Somehow my patience has encouraged them and they have become more and more bold in telling others about Christ” (Phil. 1:12-14 LB).

Paul recognized that although the thorn and the beatings and the prison bars sometimes prevented him from doing what he’d planned, they didn’t ultimately get in the way of his relationship with Christ or his ministry for Him – they pushed it in new directions and opened new doors and allowed him to display God’s grace in ways that gave fresh courage and inspiration to those around him.

In addition, the way he was handling his struggles spurred others on to bolder ministry. Paul knew his example mattered, freed and encouraged others, and made a difference in getting out the Gospel.

  • What has been my overall attitude toward my chronic illness? Have I been tempted to view it as a hindrance, not a boost, to what I wanted to do with my life? Will I agree with Paul that You, Lord, have intended it for good, not only for myself but for Your Kingdom?
  • Have I understood the potential of my illness – that it’s not just about me, that others are watching how I handle it, and that what they see will impact them, perhaps for eternity?
  • Am I willing to, with Your help, start viewing my illness in this new light? Will I begin to embrace what has happened to me, growing in the conviction that through my story and ministry to others, God will encourage believers and point unbelievers to Him?

If so, then I, too, can say, “And I want you to know, dear family and friends and fellow HopeKeepers and medical world: Everything that has happened to my body has been a great boost in getting out the good news concerning Christ… because of my own journey with chronic illness, many of the Christians around me seem to have lost their doubts and fears about their own limitations!

Somehow my patience has encouraged them and they have become more and more bold in telling others about how Christ gives grace in every trial…” (Phil. 1:12-14 LB, adapted for chronic illness).

2. Contentment in the Present
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power” (Phil. 4:11-13 LB).

At first Paul sounds just too “holy” to be realistic. Could even he be content with my pain, my exhaustion, my limitations? If I could ask him, I believe he’d explain, from his prison cell, “‘Content’ doesn’t mean I’d pick this imprisonment as my personal preference, yet I’m not agitated or unsettled about the bars and the guards and the chains.

I’m not disturbed by a desire for something more or different. I’m okay with it because it’s God’s call for me right now, and I trust Him… and because I know I can do this “with the help of Christ who gives me strength and power. Leaning on Him, I am able to experience the holy joy of contentment.”

What about me?

  • Do I feel like a ping-pong ball, bouncing first high, then low, absorbing blow after blow, totally at the mercy of the medical world, my bank account, and a body gone haywire? Can it be that in You there is strength that will give me an inner steadiness, that will be a solid rock beneath me and strong arms around me no matter my circumstances?
  • “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). If this illness were gone today, I would not have a trouble-free life. Because I live in a fallen world, it would still come to me in some form. This illness, then, is the shape trouble is taking for me, and in this You are calling me to take heart, to feel Your grace lifting me, to trust that You will carry me through the hard times.
  • Instead of asking for a change of circumstances today, then, am I willing to ask for that grace? To tell You that I trust You with my trouble? To pursue contentment in the here and now?
If so, I believe God will do a work in me that will enable me to say, “I have learned holy gladness whether I have much energy or none at all. Whether I am distracted by pain or am having one of my best days. Whether my best friend understands or still clearly doesn’t grasp my limitations.

“For chronic illness is full of ups and downs. I know what it is to have no one to lean on, no viable options for treatment, no hope of regaining a normal life… and I know what it is to have many hands offer to lift the load, to experience blessed relief through surgery or medications, to resume doing an activity I’d feared was gone forever.

“And I’ve finally learned the secret of contentment in all those situations: I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me strength and power” (Phil. 4:11-13 LB, paraphrased for chronic illness).

Check back tomorrow for the rest of this article!

Sandy Mayle lives in Erie, Pa.with her husband, Dave. Sandy is a free-lance writer and also leads a HopeKeepers group at her local church. Her chronic illness is yet-undiagnosed.

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