Isolation

This summer I granted myself a sabbatical- time alone to study, pray and think. I did my best to avoid interaction with people. I wanted to be like Jesus and go alone to the mountains. I didn’t have a mountain handy so I went to Nashville. I didn’t feel well in any way- I was depleted. I’m so thankful my sweet husband allows me the freedom to be who God made me to be. He is always supportive of my, sometimes, unconventional ways. It was such a fruitful time for me being alone with God. He began to deal with my heart. I could hear Him in the stillness. Jesus modeled this for us- time alone with Him. I think a great plan when you honestly don’t know what to do is all in the bracelet – What Would Jesus Do? I needed that. We all need that regularly. Isolation.

After an official two and a half weeks of sickness. I’m about ready to get back out there. I was literally in isolation at the hospital last week- the nurse walked in after I had been there for a day all gowned up, gloves, mask, the whole bit. I believe I may have had a skull and crossbones ghost-busters type sign on my door announcing this fact. I looked at her rather speechless from the hospital bed- always a very vulnerable place to be at best. I’ve never been put in isolation before. I’ve put myself in isolation before, but never forced isolation from an outside source. I had absolutely no say in the matter either. Speechless! All of a sudden all I wanted to do was talk to people. One night around 3:00 a.m. a sweet nurse and I discussed all the places we’d been and would like to go someday- not necessarily together but each to our own places. I enjoyed our visit and welcomed her kind touch as she took my arm in her gloved hands and stuck me with a needle. I felt like a leper. It was really a weird experience. Everyone at the hospital couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful, God bless them all, but the fact remained, I was still contagious. I’d apologize and try to think what to do to make this situation a little easier for everyone but I was completely and totally helpless and alone in my isolation.

When I came home from the hospital I was again in isolation in our bedroom. My friends and family blessed me with flowers, notes of encouragement, gifts, and with food. I felt very loved and cared for. “Thank you” seems trite when people are serving you in profound ways. But it is in the thank you that you recognize and honor the source of the blessing and not just the blessing alone. So I say thank you to everyone who blessed me in any way. I feel quite humble and unworthy.   Our church is so giving and gracious and I indeed have a grateful heart.

Luke 17:15-16 is the story of the healing of the 10 lepers…”but one of them seeing that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.” – Viewed as an outcast even without leprosy! Did you get that? So, out of the ten, one was on the bottom of their cast system, yet, he is the one who came back to say thank you to Jesus for giving him his life back.   It is unimaginable to think a person who was once so sick and contagious, so isolated, and lonely could forget to thank the one who made the healing possible. They had to be thankful!! Seriously, think about it…these guys were literally falling apart like zombies. Jesus instantly heals them and they are whole. They are clean. A second chance at life with the people they love. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to do anything but look in a mirror and run a brush through my hair as I talked endlessly about what had just had happened to me, about the man who made my life possible- grateful. Who was this guy? What can I do for Him? Grateful! This is just my take on it as a casual observer of humanity…. they were grateful for the healing but they didn’t think to thank the source of the healing, the great Healer- Jehovah Rapha- the Lord our healer. Back to their life, they don’t need Him anymore cause now they are whole. Selfish.

Be grateful and in everything give thanks. Praise God He saved you. You aren’t in isolation anymore! You are free in Christ. Have you said thank you to Jesus lately?

Matthew 8: 14 “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me of Lord, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for you are my praise.”

Just Jesus,

Sheri