October 17, 2004
As we all make our way through life, we are familiar with the
phenomenon of recovery. We recover from shocks and disappointments, financial
crises, failures, illness, and accidents. It is part of human life. If we did
not have the ability to recover, we would soon perish. God has given human beings
great resilience so that when challenges are faced or losses are sustained,
recovery is possible.
I have been thinking a lot about recovery lately because that is the process
I am going through. I am very busy at the Burke Foundation doing different kinds
of therapy, as well as going to different doctors to check on various functions
that don’t seem to be recovering fast enough. Recovery requires patience,
persistence, and even humility.
I recently had the experience, for the first time in many months, of being able
to dress myself entirely. A number of people helped me get to that point, and
it was a very significant part of recovery. When I analyze how I got there,
I realize it was by persistence, by not giving up when things looked impossible.
Lord knows they often do. In order to get dressed, I had to do some seemingly
impossible tasks, like putting on heavy black elastic stockings that go all
the way to the thigh. I thought I would never be able to do it. Someone who
had had a stroke, however, showed me how to do it, and I was able to follow
along. This lady with the stroke had incredible bravery, which inspired me to
go on and try to recover.
You may be in a process of recovering right now. If not, you will be in the
future. Remember that prayer, trusting in God, and determination to use whatever
gifts He has given you will help you recover. Penance for sins is a form of
recovery. All around us we see recovery going on, and we want to be sure that
with God’s help it is a significant part of our lives. We want also to
help those who are struggling to recover, and encourage others to begin the
process.
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comments:
father benedict @
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