Wednesday with Naqvi--Herceptin #27

If you are prepared, you shall not fear.

Surely, I was not prepared to be diagnosed with cancer this year.  We often aren't truly prepared fortragedies  and trials that cross our path because many of them are unforseen and unexpected.  

Beyond the physical preparations of saving money, becoming debt-free, storing food and emergency essentials, and learning basic skills necessary to sustaining life and becoming self-reliant, being prepared for difficult times often begins within.  We can face the challenges of life by having inner strength and stamina, steadfast faith, and a willingness to not give up the fight.  This spiritual self-reliance is often just as important and gathering food and water in being able to weather the storms without fear.       

It is human nature to be selfish, lazy, and desire someone else to take care of our needs.  We come about it naturally, born as helpless, weak, incapable creatures, totally reliant on others for survival.  In what other species would it be acceptable to be waited on, hand and foot, carried, cleaned, not moving about on our own for months?  There comes a point in life when we must learn to walk, even when it means falling down.  We must start to work and learn to clean up our own messes.  We start to become self-reliant.  

Spritual self-reliance is harder to identify than physical self-reliance and can be more difficult to develop.  It's not quite as measureable as learning to finally tie our own shoes or drive a stick-shift.  It can't always be taught like multipliying fractions or baking bread, although we can begin our spiritual self-reliance by leaning on the faith and testimony of others.  There comes a point in life when each person must find that light within, that desire to do good contiually, and work to keep that flame alive, regardless of the difficulties he or she faces.  

Spiritual self-reliance includes developing faith, independence, motivation, and energy to endure and to even thrive, inspite of trials.  It is getting up and doing the good things you know you should do by your own free-will.  It is having integrity, even when it's not popular.  It is, as James 1:22-27 says, being "doers of the word, and not hearers only."  Religion is vain when it is only a way of life for a few hours a week.  The spiritually prepared are those whose light is bright and thankful when blessed, but also whose faith is not shaken in the storms.  When we are motivated to be doers, fear of the unknown is replaced with faith.    

Even though I was not completely prepared for a cancer diagnosis, small drops of oil in my lamp over the years have helped me keep moving forward, able to see the light of blessings and the hand of The Lord still in my life.  I am not afraid and can find happiness and gratitude, even though these trying times.