DAY 2 OF SARCOIDOSIS AWARENESS MONTH:

It is also Maunday Thursday, and when I looked outside and saw it is overcast and the sun is up there, but hidden, I thought it about par for what folks who share my faith will commemorate today. It is a day of shadows and darkness.

For many Sarcoid sufferers, most days are filled with shadows and darkness. Because the disease is so misunderstood and in most cases unknown, it is not uncommon for Sarcoid patients to feel isolated and suffer tremendous bouts of depression. Because the disease often goes misdiagnosed, people are often told things like "You're just lazy. You'd feel better if you got up and exercised." A woman's doctor said that to her. She went improperly diagnosed for more than ten years. The problem is, most have difficult just getting up!

In my "pre-Sarcoid" years I weighed about 140 pounds and walked several times a week, generally about 15 miles. There was a weight bench in my bedroom, and I could bench press 175 pounds. Indeed, that's all history. I have learned not to dwell on what "I used to do" and be grateful for what I can do. Sometimes, however, those pesky imps rear their ugly heads and try to plant all kinds of ugly stuff in my mind. Get thee behind me!!!!!

As you can see from the picture, I am wearing all black, the uniform of the day for our sanctuary choir members serving in this evening's "Service of Shadows." [I confess the last time I wore this suit it was not so snugfrown emoticon I really have to toe the line because I don't get much exercise, and I have all but left the line.] I'm not much on smiling, but considering the overcast sky and the Christian theme of the day, I tried to do a little contrast. And there are lots of things for which to smile and be thankful, including that I got up this morning.