What's the point?

I asked myself for several years, with all this pain and suffering, what's the point? What is the point to all this? You live, learn, love, hurt, die and then there's nothing left. As a child, I believed in God. As an adult I had become estranged to God in many respects. But the reality is, after my suicide attempts I was left looking at everything and wondering, What's the point?

Yes, I was having an existential crisis. A lot of people do. Some go out and buy expensive cars. Others, well I guess we finally find the truth.

Helping the Homeless Honors God

 Going through my daily life, and with Christ, one thing that continually bugs me is that I live in supposedly one of the wealthiest nations on earth, and yet homelessness is a major problem. 

Sure, some people choose to be homeless (it's complicated) and that kind of works for them for part of the year, but unless they're migrating during the seasons, many of these perpetually homeless people are waiting for the next extreme weather event. By extreme, we're talking hypothermic or hyperthermic conditions. Freezing or cooking. Some people don't choose to be homeless. It takes one significant medical emergency and aftercare that sees them lose their job / career, their house and then they're either in a car, or straight on the street. Some folk lose it all in a disaster. Be that natural or man made. And many don't have family members who they can call upon for one reason or another.

The Devil Isn't Superstition

Image (pxfuel.com)

Many Christians aren't aware, or try to ignore the ongoing war raging on in the unseen realm and in our daily lives. But Jesus didn't tell us to ignore or disbelieve Satan's existence. He told us to “Resist the devil and he will flee” (James 4:7).

After recommitting my life, I have had both the taste of healing, but also the wrath of the enemy as he has used a household member to attack me in non-physical and subtle ways, but ways I can see (I'm not that sensitive and will at first try to give an earthly explanation to unusual behaviour). Satan doesn't like to lose a soul (in this case, it was me) and I now pose a threat to other claims he has likely made. I didn't realize that when I recommitted my life to Christ, I'd be entering the spiritual battlefield so soon.

A Continuation Of World Without a Filter

It's been a couple of days or four since I first wrote about my experience without my 'prescription sunglasses'. In truth, there was nothing prescription about them, except that I have light sensitivities related to epilepsy, migraines and headaches. I've gone three days at work (outside) without sunglasses, except when I'm driving on the highway. I can honestly say that a few days ago when I first experienced no pain without shades, was not a once off. God has done something in me. 

I also neglected to mention I have what I suspect is Occipital neuralgia. I get shooting pains that start in the back of my skull and travel up to the top of my head. It's an intense pain. It doesn't last a long time, but it can be pretty powerful. I've since looked up some of the associated side-effects. Light sensitivity is one of them. And yes, I still get the sensations. I had one earlier today. It causes one to grab at their head to try and stop the pain. It's pressure and pain rolled into one and I can feel it moving as it travels north on my skull. I've had this for about eight months. I neglected to tell my neurologist, but will.

People think miracles don't happen, can't happen. But the next time I see my neurologist and tell him about the suspected Occipital neuralgia, I'm going to tell him that my light sensitivity is gone and my headaches are reduced (how's that for a weird dichotomy?) and he's probably going to smile and say "that's nice", "I'm happy for you", etc etc, but the reality is, nobody can explain this. I'm pretty sure you don't grow out of light sensitivity at my age when your eyesight is still 100% and you're still taking the same 'light-enhancing' medication!  

 Praise God!

World Without A Filter

I've been totally reliant on sunglasses to make being outdoors more bearable. In late 2016, I was diagnosed with status migranosis (a perpetual migraine). That went on for a couple of years. It was rough. That has since settled down and I'm receiving a monthly injection, but I still get chronic headaches and the odd migraine pops through. It's resulted in what I call a reverse panda face. My complexion is two-tone due to constant eye wear usage outdoors.

With the pandemic going on, I've been pulling my mask up any time I enter a business and in winter time, I'm wearing a hat, so it's hard to just move my sunglasses on to my head and some days I've left them on my face, only to have my shades fog up. I don't like not removing my glasses in most circumstances (I don't wish to appear rude), but I'm usually carrying something also, so I'm trying to be efficient.

Today, I went into a business, put my shades on my hat and pulled my mask up and then decided, I'll see how I go. It's bright. The sun is shining. It's only a few places today that I'll have to keep shades off my eyes. Maybe I can manage for a few minutes without winding up in pain.

And then I noticed I was able to keep them off. And they stayed off. 

Pilgrim's Progress: 3 Water your Faith

 

Image courtesy of Freepik.com

I have almost come to the end of the first part of Pilgrim's Progress and am in the chapter known as the Ninth Stage. It has been an interesting dream, or allegory to read on the topic of faith and being a disciple in Christ. It is a good illustration on the many, many trials us humans endure. Some which test our faith, some which strengthen them and some which show us how easy it is to fall prey to the things and ideas of this world, including our own minds. 

The Days of Noah is Flawed

Image courtesy of Pictures.4ever.eu - original artist unknown. 

 

I started to watch something on Amazon titled, The Days of Noah, and it seemed interesting and more or less on point from what I recall. Remember, it's been a time since I have read the Bible. In the first episode, I was wondering about some of the detail they added to the Biblical account, but dismissed it. Perhaps it was something I missed. But I have read Genesis more than once. 

Then I got to the second part, which was regarding Judgement and as soon as they started talking about 1844, my radar went off (that is to say the Holy Spirit urged me to check this out).