The Unwanted Sabbatical: A personal post

Image via Angelia Phillips

​Try as we might, we can’t plan for everything. Life comes at us in unexpected directions and we find ourselves in events we’d rather not be a part of.

That’s the case with me and as of late November, 2021, life as I knew it came to a stop and since, I’ve been largely inactive, even to the point of keeping up with writing and web-work.

December delivered a diagnosis of cancer. It’s been deemed treatable and operable, if I’m in  agreement to receiving an irreversible colostomy. I wasn’t thrilled with the news about the perma-stoma but, it is what it is. If God wants otherwise, He’ll have to intervene to change it. He can. I've been praying for exactly that  but whatever He wills is what I want.

In this whole series of events, there’s been far more good news than bad.

​I’ve had time to read some amazing books that have lifted my faith and kept me in bright spirits. Bless you, author Linda J. White. Your amazing faith-based thrillers provided some wonderful soul-food to keep my head and heart in the right place and remind me of Who’s actually running this show.

For the two weeks I spent post emergency surgery at Deaconess Midtown in Evansville, Indiana, I had the best of care, personally, professionally and spiritually. I got to pray with my nurses. My nurses prayed for me. We exchanged testimonies of the goodness of the Lord and encouraged each other daily.

When I was moved to spend the next two weeks at Park Terrace Rehab, I was blessed again with a wonderful care team, whose company was as beneficial on a personal and spiritual level as it was professional.

I’ve had more down time than I want, in regards to my usual schedule--working away on the web, collaborating with my close friend and colleague, Vicki Warner of WarnerWords. I've been spent lots of  in bed, unable to sit at my desk. But, it's been a blessing in that I've been able to get in some some excellent Bible study and prayer time.

My family has blessed me with doing most of the cooking for whatever meals I need, as well as providing food for a specialized diet. They’ve carted me to every appointment, because I’ve had to have someone with me for most procedures, and haven't been well enough to drive, most days. My cousin Denise, of our Kentucky Tribe, checks on me nearly every day, whether she's at home in Maysville, or down in the little mountain holler, we all call home (collectively).

Team Maumee (of Maumee General Baptist Church), Kathy Morton, Pastor Kevin and Dr. Tam Miley and the awesome congregation there praying for me. Kathy, Kevin and Tam are my standby chauffeurs, and once, pretty sure Tam beat me (in an ambulance) to the hospital, when I had emergency surgery. I was so thankful to have here there. Her steady confidence, caring nature and the comforting presence of God that is always evident, wherever she is, was of great comfort to me and helped me stay calm when I was in pain and my life was in more danger than I was aware of.

Our friends in the village, as well as the local church congregation, as well as my own, check on me regularly and always remind me they’re lifting me in prayer daily. 

Beyond this village, there are many others around the globe, that have blessed me with consistent encouragement and prayer cover.

An FYI regarding Vicki Warner, in event you'd like to know more about her work... 

We were working on a large project, and had started a second one, when I got sick. For several weeks, work was halted. 

Vicki stepped out of her comfort zone and began picking up as much of the tech-load as she could. Tech-work is not something she enjoys much, and tends to find it stressful, yet, she did it without complaint. She pushed herself to learn how to do new tasks and all the while, checking on me daily, via our messenger workhorse, WhatsApp. 

Vicki is an excellent chef and has been consistently coming up with healthy , inexpensive and easy-to-prep, diabetic-friendly recipes.

Not only is she a semi-retired professor, she’s also a multi-talented, long-time entrepreneur. Much of her time is devoted to being an author, an organic farmer (click here to learn about her organic micro-farming and saffron business) and serving as editor for her husbands books, Prof. Bob Scott. 

There's more...

I’m blessed with nurses, always available to provide me with info on procedures, prognosis and the possible side-effects I may encounter as we move forward with treatment. ShoutOut to Demaris Silva and Maria Jordan.

​If the Lord never blessed me with another thing, I have a mountain of treasure to enjoy and give thanks for, the rest of my days.

The presence of the Lord Yeshua has blanketed me in a more profound way since this whole rigmarole began. I can testify that the “joy of the Lord is my strength.” It’s true. 

The world is filled with real heroes, but the greatest Hero of all, is Yeshua my Messiah. Through Him, I win, no matter what. I am eternally blessed and kept in His perfect care. 

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

​Shalom