"I ask the sick that in everything you give thanks to the Creator. And whatever it might be that the Lord wants for you, whether it be health or sickness, let that be what you want also. For all those the Lord has "destined for eternal life" (Acts 13:49) he teaches by using the allurement of trials and sickness and compunction of spirit. As the Lord himself says, "I reprove and train those whom I love" (Rv 3:19). And if you become upset or angry either against God or against others, or are overly insistent on medicines to free the flesh which is soon to die anyway and is the enemy of the soul, that kind of behavior comes from the evil one. It is carnal and is not seemly because it shows that you love your body more than your soul." --St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Chapter XThis one is a hard one to understand if you are seriously ill, especially if you don't feel well. I find being in pain terribly distracting even if I am able to bear it. I am sure some will say, "But doesn't God want us to be well? Can't we serve Him better in good health?" The answer, of course, is "Yes to the first and not necessarily to the second." But that isn't the point Francis is making. For whatever reason there comes a time when we are all sick--whether it's just a cold, something life threatening, or a life-long disease. It's not that we shouldn't try to become well, by taking care of ourselves and using medical help that might make a difference. The point is we mustn't let this be more important than learning what God has to show us in our illness. This is why I cringe at the term "fight" used by organizations to raise funds for research on diseases. That is placing our focus on the body. Instead, how much better it would be to lay our illness in God's Hands, asking first to be made aware of His Presence in it so we can put our trust in His Healing, if that is what He intends. Then ask what He wants you to learn from this experience. It may just be to bring you to an awareness of His Presence and teach you how to walk with Him on a daily basis. If you are a Christian, dying is NOT the worst thing that could happen to you. In fact, when it is time, it will be your reward. Embrace your illness, and see what God does through you and for you in it.
