God Is Good (Diagnosis:MS)

Easter 2011

Hi!  It's been so long since I've posted, you might not even know that I had been sick and we returned to the US at the end of March for some medical testing.

Last Friday my neurologist called to inform us that I have multiple sclerosis (MS). At this point, the disease does not appear to have done much damage, thankfully, and I feel well. We are still very much hoping to return to Paraguay, though we do need to remain in the US for now since I need to have some follow up testing in 6-9 months.

We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we process this information, work to educate ourselves about MS, and explore my options for treatment and prevention of future damage. There is currently no cure for MS, but it is very treatable and we have hope that I will be able to function well and manage the symptoms successfully for many years to come.

Now, if that was all that needed said, you would have seen this post three days ago when I started it.  However, I knew you would be concerned about how we are doing emotionally having received this news. And that's the part that's a bit more difficult to put into words. I would say we are grieving hopefully. Grieving because we are human and we fear the potential implications of having a debilitating disease. And hopeful because we wholeheartedly trust our Creator and Sustainer to be near and give us victory in this situation! Remember how the apostle Paul described it? "We are troubled, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair...Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed day by day."

Our heart's desire is to actively proclaim God's goodness, even in this. Maybe especially in this. He is good, only does good and works out all things for our good. MS=good? Crazy! It's a debilitating disease! But if a debilitating disease causes us to know Him more fully, it is. If it causes us to live more purposefully, more passionately, it is. If it brings Him honor in some way that we still can't foresee, it is. May you also taste and see His goodness today, no matter what you are facing in your own life!

Love,

Shilo

P.S. If you have a few minutes, I encourage you to read John Piper's excellent article "Don't Waste Your Cancer".  Obviously I don't have cancer, but I think the truths are transferable and it encouraged me!

Why it's My Place of Peace

I haven't waxed eloquent about world peace.

photo courtesy of time.com

Or blown you away with glamorous photos of my peaceful home (though I would love to do that someday).

photo courtesy of BH&G

So maybe you're wondering why this is My Place of Peace. Well, it all started with this guy named Neil.

Yeah, he's kind of famous. And he writes songs. And one of them is titled Shilo. Which is where I got my name. But that doesn't get us too far, seeing how the blog isn't named Shilo.

Well, it turns out Shiloh was a town in ancient Israel. Yeah, I know. Neil lost an "H" somewhere. You don't have to tell me. I've been living with his mistake my entire life. But don't worry. I'll get over it if you spell my name with an "H" at the end. Really, I promise! I'm over it already. :)

In Hebrew, Shiloh means place of rest or tranquility. And applied to a person it means peaceable one. I know I don't always live up to my name, but I'm growing. And I hope that's the essence of My Place of Peace.