A Setback...

Sorry about the lag in blog posts.  I (Ryan) got home from my travels and teacher recruitment activities in Australia and Thailand and was just settling back into the swing of things at work when I experienced a setback, a health setback.

I will spare you the gory details and just tell you that I recently spent three nights and four days in a hospital in South Korea.  My diagnosis was pericarditis.  In late December, just before we left for India, I had an "episode" that was related to pericarditis, but the doctors didn't diagnose it as such.  I took some tests, took some meds and went on my merry way.

Last week I had a similar "episode" (they happen in the middle of the night and are a bit unsettling).  Because this episode was identical to the earlier incident it was obvious that there was a problem.  After many tests the doctors diagnosed my problem as "pericarditis" which is a big word for "inflammation around the heart."

I went into the hospital on January 15.  As I sat in my hospital room on the morning of January 16 I read from Proverbs 16 (I like to try to read a chapter of Proverbs every day).    In Proverbs 16 I read verses like this:

vs. 1   "We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer."

vs. 9   "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."

vs. 33  "We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall."

I had big plans for the weekend--important plans and good plans like watching my daughter play in two basketball games, hanging out with friends and playing in the worship band in church on Sunday...but, you never know.  I didn't get to do any of those things last weekend and I was bummed, but the Lord was with me.

I am thankful for God's presence with me in the hospital.  I had a lot of time to reflect upon His goodness in my life and upon what a privilege it is to be a player/participant in what He is doing in the world.  Both God and the doctor reminded me that burning the candle at both ends gives off a bright light, but only lasts for awhile.

I want to do all that I can to be a present and steady light for the Lord.  I am trusting the Lord to determine my steps and I am following the doctor's orders to eat three healthy meals a day, get regular and adequate sleep and work out on a regular basis.

I want to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (health).  I am thankful to be out of the hospital and back at home, at work and and back to blogging.

Comments

[Judy Levrets]

hi ryan,
this is judy levrets. i love reading your blog...it is such a great way to keep up with your family and some of the going ons of wonderful tcis. i'm so sorry you have been under the weather...take care of yourself.

[Dana]

holy cow rye!!! where were you in the hospital? Is everything good now?

[julie]

hi ryan.
we just heard about your time in the hospital.
so glad you are feeling better and have a diagnosis to learn about and some guidance for getting healthy.
we are praying for you in montana!