Lou Gehrig's Disease and the Body of Christ

Most of you know that my mom died from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) 9 years ago.  (ALS is a fatal neuro-muscular disease that breaks down the communication in the nerves between the muscles and the brain.  It causes complete paralisis and eventual death.  You basically become trapped in your own body).

I have written about many of the lessons that I learned while caring for her and the ones I am still learning today.  God has used the entire experience greatly in my life and I can honestly say that I am thankful for that.

I was on Facebook today, checking in with my ApParent Project friends to find out any further information about Makensia and I found this post by Corrigan Clay (Shelley's husband). It totally rocked my world today and I thought I would share with you.

"What must it be like to be a brilliant mind stuck in a body that doesn't lift it's hand when you want it to poor a cup of water, doesn't lift a foot when you want it to walk, won't smile when you're happy, or frown when you are sad, won't hug those you want to hug, won't speak the words you want to say, won't weep for what makes you sad... When people talk about God's failure to heal, help, or redeem any given situation, I want to take it personally. I want to blame it on the fact that God's Body has something like Lou Gehrig's disease: the Kingdom does not come if the Body is not connected to and agreeing with the Head. Father forgive us."

He went on to say.....

"I hesitated to post this because I don't want it to come off as one of those guilt trips about people not doing enough.. That's not so much the point as just taking it truely to heart that the arrangement God has made is to leave his spirit here to inhabit his people to continue to do the work of Jesus. We too often think of this God who is above and beyond rather than working his way in and out of us... and this causes us to blame him for not acting when He really is a good father... one who teaches and equips us, builds dignity and action in us, so that we have the double redemption of not only seeing our world healed but seeing it healed through the same hands that wounded it... our own."

 I have had many analogy's and lessons about ALS - but never anything like this.  I just wept as I read it.  I get it.  We are God's body.  If we are born again then the Holy Spirit lives in us.  I have to stop and look at myself and wonder how many times I have grieved the Holy Spirit because I have been the hand or the foot that hasn't followed through.  Hasn't been obedient to what the Head is telling me to do.  And then - have I questioned God and His sovereignty?

He has a purpose for ALL of us.  Only when that purpose is complete or we become ineffective (I pray that is NEVER the case!) does He call us home.  I sit here and just keep reading it over and over. It's so deep - on so many levels. God has awesome things for all of us if we would only take our focus off of ourselves.  


Oh how I am thankful for God's grace.  For His patience - His loving kindness - His mercy.  For others in my own life who have been connected to the Head and followed through.  For God's great plan for my life and the lives of those around me.  That He uses me in spite of my selfishness - my sin.  That He doesn't NEED me to accomplish His plan - but that He has chosen me to be a part of it.  What an honor and privilege. 

I pray for the protection from Lou Gehrig's disease - both physically AND spiritually.