Take This Drink Plenty Of Fluids And Pray To JESUS

I am going to broach a topic that in everyday discourse exemplifies a complex irony. To hopefully keep your attention, I will state the irony later. I also want to say that it is not my intent to offend anybody.

In the past when reflecting on my paralysis, though not having any real acumen for writing, the words at times would come easily. There is so much I have to say and I don't have the words to say it. I have been kicking this around for a couple of days and the problem has been finding a way to not offend anybody, but at the same time saying what I want to say. The hard part was trying to come up with a title and I came up with 3 possibilities. The first was BELIEFS. Now I felt this was a little too low key. Of course the concept of a BELIEF is very germane to what I am trying to say. But it wasn't something that I felt would grab people. The next possibility was Confused. After Confused in parentheses I was going to put (the story of my life). Maybe I will save that for another time. Then the epiphany hit me like like a message from a realm not experienced in everyday life. Maybe it was divinely inspired or perhaps it's genesis was tucked away in one of the at times cacophonic caverns of my mind. Who knows, but anyway I decided to go for the jugular and put it right out there and hence the aforementioned Take This And Drink Plenty Of Fluids And Pray To JESUS.

I have been paralyzed for about 2 1/2 years. The repetitive assault to my physical and psychological being has converted me into somebody very dissimilar in many respects to my former self. During this transformation, there have been attempts on many fronts to help mitigate the overall impact of paralysis on myself. It has not been easy from dealing with the frustration over not physically improving, to the mental aspects regarding the correct mindset that I need to engage.

In the past having sufficient (or at least access to an array of) activities to occupy my time, I did not obsess on perhaps abstract issues as I currently do. Not being an avid reader per se, regardless I do find my self constantly ruminating over questions that in the past were important, but relative to today could be viewed as fleeting. This obsession is something that I do not view as being discretionary but rather a necessity.

What would constitute a correct mindset? There are some general criteria that I believe should be met, but in terms of the exact methodology to engage to satisfy these criteria that is very subjective. What appears to be a slam dunk for one person may have absolutely no relevance for another. That may be hard for some people to understand. How could something that has worked so well for me not work for you?

I admit I need help. Not only regarding some physical aspects but mental as well. My psyche I believe has become stronger, but at the same time is fragile. When other people reflect on me either through seriousness or jest, I sometimes am overly sensitive. I may not vocalize it but it is still there. I spent my whole life trying to be whatever I was trying to be and there is no way I could counter. Maybe a lot of the stuff I am sensitive about is stupid and for all intensive purposes moot for the past is past. I have to try to concern myself with the present. What can I do now to make myself a better person and as a prerequisite to that how could I confront my current situation?

The concept of God has always been important to me. Now people may take offense to my referring to God as a concept. This is in no way saying that I don't think God is real. But when I say concept I am allowing a person to define God in his or her own way. To some I suppose that may be a form of blasphemy. But that is at odds with my BELIEF. To me it makes perfect sense to recognize God. In my mind any body would have to recognize a power much greater than man.

But how should one recognize God? I mean we are talking about a CONCEPT that you really can't put your finger on. Oh sure perhaps you could say that God is everywhere. Perhaps his presence can be felt in a beautiful sunset, the crying of a newborn baby or man's beneficence to his fellow man. If that is the case can God also be seen in babies starving in Africa, the inability of Earth's people to coexist or the killing of our precious planet that has only been bequeathed to us as a loan from God. Now of course one could say that the latter situations are initiated by the devil. That is your BELIEF. To be honest I do not know if you are right. Let's say there is a devil. Is there only one way to preclude this force from taking over your life? Then again it may be your BELIEF
that is the case.

Shortly after I became paralyzed, I was in a hospital for physical therapy. My paralysis was still very new to me. This was late October of 2006. At that time I needed so badly to talk to people so I would engage in conversation with anybody within earshot. To be perfectly honest it wasn't really conversation since it was me who would do all the talking. I found that most beneficial for what could anybody really say. So the best type of person for me to talk with was somebody who would just listen. One night there was this one nurse and I remember telling her that my paralysis had caused me to reflect on so many things and sometimes I felt so overwhelmed. As opposed to my once strong countenance I suddenly felt so powerless. I said that I constantly thought about death and I wasn't afraid. I told her that I BELIEVED in God though I don't subscribe to Christianity, it is my BELIEF I will go to heaven. She then proceeded to tell me how wrong I was to have that BELIEF. I then proceeded to ask her with a demeanor that depicted the frailty of somebody who was hurting, why can't there be more than one way to vision God. She the said it can't be that way. In the past I have always enjoyed taking an opposing side. I have always found it is a good way to learn. So I would always welcome a discussion concerning Christianity. I always knew if I wanted to, I could always retreat if the other person according to my BELIEF was for lack of a better term a nut. She in no uncertain terms told me I was going to Hell and that was it. I politely asked her to please stop because she was going on and on. I finally told her to shut up. She then said you brought it up. I wasn't looking for any pity party, but a so called professional nurse should know that a patient who has gone through a traumatic event it is best sometimes to let a person talk and not disagree about something that is important, but in the end is founded an individual's BELIEF. At that time even though my frustration and anger felt like hot molten lava ready to erupt from Mount St. Helens I did keep my cool. I politely did ask that she not be assigned to me after that.

I was raised in a household that didn't put a high emphasis on organized religion. My dad was Jewish and my mom was an Irish Catholic. The only way a marriage like that could work is if both parties accept religion or faith as something that is supposed to augment your life not be your life. In my father's family's eyes my mom was a shiksa and my dad was not being a loyal Jew. In the eyes of the Catholic Church my mom should have been perhaps excommunicated. In my eyes there is only one God to be exalted how ever one pleases, but then again that is/was my BELIEF.

What does it mean to know something? There are people who act like they think they know everything, but for the most part are viewed as simply being opinionated louts that are to be avoided at all costs. People many times will say that they know something, but what they are professing is nothing more than a belief. But in their mind it is absolute. I seek out people who are seeking the truth, but avoid people who have found it. But the reality is that knowing based on beliefs can at no time ever equate with knowing based on any phenomenon founded on empirical proof.

But there is a great beauty in life that not everything is supposed to be completely understood. There are aspects of our consciousness that can not be empirically proven. Does that mean that we should just forget about them and not try to pursue some semblance of knowing or understanding? No of course not. But we have to understand that whatever knowing we are able to achieve is based on a BELIEF system which up to that time has not met the criteria of empirical knowing.

I get a big kick out of watching my dog Beep Beep and her mighty 11.5 lbs of courageous demeanor patrol my back yard. It is her territory and she is ready to take on a falling leaf, blade of grass or any imaginary foe that she is able to conjure up. She is territorial. I mean she will accept another dog, but not without the ritualistic smelling and posturing and a myriad of other subtleties not understood by humans. So even though dogs are strongly territorial they can get along. If people would take the time and follow their lead we could learn a lot.

By looking at the ethology of behavior by studying other animals we could learn a lot about ourselves. Because like dogs, we are also territorial and since we are much more complex this territorial instinct transcends much more in our lives other than just obvious behaviors apparent to the most undiscerning eye. So as stated in our life's arena, there is this broad array of knowing that is based on nothing more than the BELIEF of an individual person. As hard as life is to understand, what about death? What is more scary than that? Surely there has to be something more than this. Life is wonderful and life is beautiful, but at the same time look at all the despair. There has to be a heaven. I mean it is part of God's plan. But of course not everybody can be admitted. I mean like everything here on Earth there has to be some exclusivity. Now of course there is a God, but like here on Earth as we watch people starve to death because not everybody is worthy of eating, through our belief of God he has to exercise exclusivity. Let's see I could only accept people who pray to me a certain way. This is going to be really fun, in that I gave people the capacity to be discerning regarding their BELIEF about me and if they don't believe the right way, then to hell with them.

I am not saying to people who pray to Jesus are wrong. maybe your life has had many travails, trials and tribulation and in your life things got better. Maybe you stopped doing drugs, stopped beating and cheating on your wife or just adopted a better outlook on life. The Bible has a lot of good messages in it and if you truly BELIEVE this to be a positive guiding force in your life then God Bless You.

I am not learned as far as religion is concerned, even though I have always been fascinated regarding man's obsession with God. My view of God is that God wants a person to follow him/her based on their BELIEF. My God doesn't want a person's BELIEF to be based on fear, but rather principal. Because God in my mind represents what is right. Is it pretentious of me to refer to God as my God?

The irony that I referred to earlier is that people are so sensitive about their own religious BELIEF. But many times think it is perfectly ok to attack the BELIEF of somebody who disagrees.

The last time I was at the doctor he told me I have to drink a lot of fluids. I drink a lot of fluids and I pee on myself a lot. If I ingest a lot of fiber, I will have bowel accidents. I am sure people will continue to tell me to pray to Jesus.

Half of the people can be part right all of the time, Some of the people can be all right part of the time. But all the people can't be all right all the time. I think Abraham Lincoln said that. I'll accept your BELIEF if you accept mine. I SAID THAT.

My ride earlier was HELL. Draw your own conclusions.

GOD BLESS, PEACE AND BE STRONG

By Patricia7
Posted March 29, 2009 at 5:45 am
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Well said Mikey...

I too was once told I would go to hell as well by a total stranger because I could not subscribe to a certain WAY to believe...

As I stood by the bed of a veteran of the gulf war, disabled due to Sadam Husseins chemicals... I made a promise that even though he had no family, and that we had only met a few months ago, that our family will be his family and that I would carry out his final wishes as his 52 year old body gave up from the sarin gas poisons that slowly destroyed his body. The nurse was compassionate , as she has just buried her son just a few weeks prior, and was sure to keep the morphine drip going to help him as he struggled drowning on his necrotic lungs... I cried, I prayed, I stayed as promised, right to the end. Now I am trying to be sure to have him buried in a National Cemetary for Veterans. He never married, as his first fiance could not wait for his return from war and married a friend. He dedicated his entire life to the military. Then in the final years , he taught wounded veterans how to live life, to fish, (sit) bi-ski, mono-ski, rock climb and hand cycle. He did this as his body deteriorated, and gained joy from watching others find new life. .... I do think he should be in heaven. I do wish we had more people like him here on earth...

March 23, this past week, was a tough day for our family as we said good bye...

If I still have to go to hell for the way I have lived than our world is more messed up than it appears...

By Elise1
Posted March 29, 2009 at 5:42 pm
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Wow! That was a lot of reading. My head is bit overwhelmed. I grew up in a home with a mom and dad and sister. My dad embraced Darwin for many years. In fact one of our bed time rituals was to read from the Theory of Evolution. Dad in the middle and my sister and I on either side reading a chapter before bedtime. That lasted until I was in high school. Then my dad began searching, looking for something more than "you're born, you live, you die". He wandered into the Eastern religions. So for awhile there was chanting, meditation and the like. Then my parents divorced. My sister and I stayed with mom. It got crazy. I explored white magic, drugs, alcohol, shoplifting, and many encounters with boys. When I graduated high school I entered college. Still living at home. I lasted one year and then met "the guy". Well, school was done and I moved 3 states away to be with him. My longing for an answer to "why are we here?" and "Are we alone?" would whisper at my mind. We did eventually marry and had a daughter. Wow! What a moment. Still we lived a life filled with activities not healthy for us. But something happened. My alcoholic husband tried to kill himself by putting a rifle in his mouth. It misfired 3 times. He lived and ended up in AA. I started my journey with Al-Anon. Many years later as the entanglement with the party life ceased, we began to change. I wasn't alone and began to feel a "presence" calling me. We had a son. At the age of 4 1/2 he was struck by a pick up truck. I got to him, not breathing and unconscious. I wanted to do CPR on him but saw blood trickling from his left ear and mouth. My grandmother died from an embolism and I was afraid I might blow an air bubble into him and kill him while trying to save him. At that exact moment in my life I came face to face with, What now? It was the end of me, and the beginning of what I call God. I began to pray, not knowing exactly what to say or how. But PRAY i did. And as I was praying to God, I imagined myself at the gates of Heaven pounding on the door. Pleading that God not take my son, that he knew what it was like to loose a son, Jesus. As I live and breath, I heard a voice tell me to tell Donald to wake up, take a breath and do it now. As I said the words now, he awoke and looked around. he began to cry and I could hear the air moving in and out without any rattling or any other indication of compromise. He had sustained a hit from a truck doing 60 mph. When the ambulance came, off we went to the local hospital. He had to compressed skull fractures. A nurse in the ED saw the x-rays. There was bone in his brain. By the time he arrived at our trauma hospital in Portland that problem was gone. He was healed. Now he still has a complete spinal cord injury but had no head swelling, trauma, or any other head complications. You can believe what you want about God, but for me, I know He is real. He loves me and my son and only wants that for ALL of His children. I pray that you will continue your search for answers. For it was through His sacrifice of His only son Jesus that we are His. I am really sorry about that nurse. She was way out of line. We are to be compassionate and not make any one stumble. For that, I apologize. She was wrong, and you were in such a place of tenderness. may my Lord and Savior help to heal your broken heart and spirit. God Bless and I hope to chat again.

By mikey
Posted March 29, 2009 at 7:18 pm
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I am not saying God isn't real. I just have a different
conception based on a different BELIEF than you.
I would venture that I have thought about this more
than many devout Christians.

Back to a time that some people feel was a period of
utopia (and I agree only for a different reason) there was a mantra that pervaded our collective consciousness. The words had such a nice sound
as they would roll off our tongues in a cadence
unmatched by but a few rallying cries. It is so simple
to Just Say No.

People have told me to JUST BELIEVE AND I DO.

By JennDianne
Posted March 30, 2009 at 11:40 am
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Hiya Mikey. You sound like a wonderful man. Only you know whats right for you. There is no wrong way to love our father if you ask me. I dont understand your pain but it hurts me that anyone has to face what you have and do. I try hard to say things just the right way on here because I do not want to offend anyone. I sure wish that nurse tried as hard at her job as I do here.

By pinkharleygurl
Posted March 31, 2009 at 4:21 pm
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Hi Mikey,

I used to be very cut and dried when it came to religion. I have since come to learn that organized religion could be attributed to the devil himself. It's all about dogma - control of the flock, if you will - especially the Catholic church. Faith is trust in God. Faith and belief are not the same thing by any stretch of the imagination. In Christianity, the only way to the Father is through the Son which means that you have to accept what Jesus did at the cross and His resurection that provide forgiveness for all sins, past, present and future and that we are made righteous and given salvation through God's grace. When we sin, God looks at Jesus and sees that the price has been paid. He looks for our repentence - which means sincere sorrow for what we have done, than the sin is burried in the deepest part of the sea to be seen no more.

The battles we endure are at times unspeakable. We all want to wake up from the nightmare of paralysis, be able to jump out of bed, get into the shower, jump into traffic and go to work and have a normal life again. But we can't. What we can do is the best we can with what we have left. I still have days where all I can do is call the name of Jesus to keep from doing something really selfish and stupid (and you all know what I mean) because at that moment, the worldly reasons to live just don't seem to be enough. Then those I feel I burden would be better off. POOR pitiful me. Then I count the minutes before I get to see my 2 youngest sons and I hold on. Not just for them, but because what I have taught them about faith would crush them if I didn't hold onto what I truly believe and have instilled in them. They are my gifts from heaven and I let them know that every time I see them.

Yes, there is a very evil dark force at work in this world. We speak of the hunger of nations but don't mention the faith out reach into those dark areas. Yes, there are abortions and I wish I could adopt a baby to save it from that death. I would adopt 10 of the "overage" kids in needs of parents if I could. If every family in America would take just one, we could easily solve that problem.

Hebrews 11 is the FAITH chapter of the bible. If you have any doubt read it - the whole chapter. See how the true leaders of our past used faith to trust. Then let's talk again.

God bless,

Pink

By mikey
Posted March 31, 2009 at 6:18 pm
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I am sure there are plenty of passages from the Bible
that Christians hold dear to their heart. Unfortunately
the passages deal with a belief that there is only
one way to view God.

By pdecrease
Posted April 1, 2009 at 9:25 am
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Patricia - I particularly love your post. AS a mother I understand the desperation you scream out for God to heal your son as he lies there, barely breathing, if at all! Not at the scene of the accident but as my son took a last breathe before the tubes - I screamed out too! For two long months as he recovered in the ICU I prayed with all my heart every day. While in that state of numbness I learned many things, some from feelings, some from coming aware as I watched prayer after prayer be answered. God loves us like a mother loves her child, no matter what we do, how we act, no matter how many times we fail to praise him! Mikey - only you and God know if you will reside in heaven, don't make any decisions based on one nurse's rudeness and lack of sympathy in your desperate times! Thanks to all of you for these messages! Polly DeCrease

By Twisted
Posted April 1, 2009 at 12:46 pm
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You've got thirteen years of moments more than me, and I've got twenty-six years worth to top your two-plus. Yet, your words more eloquently convey my garbled journal rambling in God? and I thank you for that.

By pinkharleygurl
Posted April 1, 2009 at 5:18 pm
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Mikey,

You are so wrong. Everyone in this world has a different view of God. The bible has so many views of God as well. It doesn't tell you how to believe or what to believe. It's just God's word. Take it or leave it. Many people of faith, world wide ministers included, take bits and pieces and twist it to mean what they want it to say. The only way to get the truth of what it means to you is to read it and put it in your heart. Don't listen to what someone else says about it. Don't even accept it as truth. Read it yourself.

God loves you just where you are, whether you believe in Him or not. Jesus died for your sins just as much as he died for Hitler or any other horrific murderer you can name. He wants relationship with you (with us), no strings attached.

Horrible things happen every second of every day to good, innocent people and those who have incredible faith. God shows up and shows out somewhere every second of every day.

It's up to us if we accept His gift or not. No one is trying to tell you how to view God. I just can't sit back and pretend He dosen't exist and pretend what was done at the cross didn't happen. If you want religion to twist your view and use that for your excuse, that's entirely up to you. My mother used to say to me "there, but for the grace of God, go you." Like the man who complained of having no shoes until he saw the man who had no feet.

As previously stated, Hebrews 11 is all about faith; the faith of our biblical "heroes." What they did on faith alone that went entirely against their flesh. You haven't read it or you wouldn't have stated what you did Mikey. I don't know the bible inside and out. I could spend the rest of my life reading and studying it and not know it like that. I do know that if not for the grace of God, I would have checked out of this body long before I joined this room. I'm not a strong person by any means. I know where there is just a pin-sized point of light, He is there and darkness flees. I know it, I don't believe it. Again, a huge difference.

I'm not qualified to preach, nor am I trying to. I'm just sharing my heart.

Pink

By mikey
Posted April 1, 2009 at 6:47 pm
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As I said, if Christianity works for you that is great.
Your BELIEFS work for you. My BELIEFS work for me.
i am not saying your BELIEF is wrong, so respect my BELIEF.

Fundamental to your BELIEF, the only way to
have an afterlife is through Jesus. I disagree
and you could quote the whole Bible and you won't
change my mind (BELIEF).

By Matt32
Posted April 1, 2009 at 9:03 pm
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Mikey,

Thanks for your post. As always, it's a pleasure to read each and every post from you. You're right. We each have our beliefs about God and I, for one, don't think that we should force our belief in God or as you say the concept of God on anybody. I, myself, believe God exists but I'm not gonna force that on you or anyone else who just believes it as a concept. As for that nurse, it definitely was not her place to tell you whether you were going to hell or not. That's between you and God. He loves the sinner but hates the sin and for her to say something like that to you was like she was saying "Hey, I'm Jesus Jr. and I can tell you whether you're going to Heaven or hell."

By mikey
Posted April 1, 2009 at 11:56 pm
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I also believe God exists. I think of God as a power greater than man. I know one thing for sure, this whole thing called life which encompasses each one of us, how we fit into the big picture and what was the genesis of the big picture, is too much for anyone of us to understand in any greater depth than a BELIEF.

To people who may take umbrage to my refering to God as a concept, let me ask you some questions? Is God white,black, man or woman? What kind of form
does God take? Is it a life form like we know it? Nobody could answer these questions. That is why I refer to God as a concept meaning something conceived in one's mind. Being that God gave us the ability to discern, it is my BELIEF this is the way God wants it.

By pinkharleygurl
Posted April 3, 2009 at 4:43 pm
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"Unfortunately, the passages deal with a belief that there is only one way to view God."

This is the statement I referred to as wrong. The Bible gives many ways to view God. If you have bothered to read any of it, you would know that. Don't twist my words and shout about your BELIEF. Don't do a book review without reading the book.

You have every right to your beliefs, we all do. That's what is so great about living in a free country. You can spew all the higher power crap you want to. What kind of form does God take? That type of infantile, albeit rhetorical question proves your BELIEF to be nothing more than a notion in your head. It's a direct contradiction to "the power greater than man."

It also states in the Bible to let your yes be your yes and your no be your no (Mathew 5:37 and James 5:12). "Take this, drink plenty of fluids and pray to Jesus" may be a catchy phrase to grab our attention to another Mikey diatribe. Stating one's beliefs in response is in no way forcing them on anyone nor is stating them as truth.

Pink

By mikey
Posted April 3, 2009 at 5:46 pm
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Getting kind of nasty. My BELIEFS are crap
that's cool. I do not engage in diatribe on this site. When one engages in a diatribe, a person is speaking
out against perhaps a policy or the manifestation
of said policy.

Yeah, I am against paralysis. That's no diatribe.

By Monicabutterfly
Posted April 23, 2009 at 9:04 am
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There are many things I would like to say to all that have replied to " Drink plenty of fluids and pray to Jesus" First of all in order to pray to Jesus I first off must believe that He is! Second my relationship between Him and I must be established! That must be to know who He is, and the whole concept to His life and why He lived at all. I have tried religions, many of them. I have tried just believing in God and I have tried turning away from that belief. At the most difficult time in my life I was about to kill myself, butcher knife in hand. In deep despair I ventured to take my life. Then two evil spirits entered my room, evil creatures a dark presence was with them. Fear gripped me. I began to say Jesus in my mind several times, nothing changed. I screamed Jesus in my head! They waited to assist me... Then as I heard His name, "JESUS" come out of my mouth the two dark evil creatures fled. This is fact and Not fiction. I don't just believe, I don't just think, I just don't comprehend, I KNOW that He is alive and that He is all He said He would be because when I call His name He answers me. Not always the way I think He should or the way I expect Him to, but God has never disappointed me. People do but that is why I don't put my faith in people. Their only people it's not their fault. If Jesus is not who He said He is then why is He the most popular man ever to have lived, He is the wisest ever known, He is the kindest, Most forgiving, most honest, most trust worthy man ever to have walked the face of this earth. His message was compassionate. His message was the only one that say's to repent and that he did all the work. All we need to do is believe that what He said is true, I do because He has given me new life. A reason to live.
He has given me purpose and that is to tell you the truth. I know because He not only saved me life, He saved my soul. He died so I don't have to. Because all have sinned, no one is better then the other. He is also the most celebrated person in the history of mankind. He is the most talked about, the most hated and the most loved person this world has ever or ever will have known. If you seek him with all your heart you will not only find Him you will never be the same, for he is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him... Seek Him while He may be found...

By Monicabutterfly
Posted April 23, 2009 at 9:10 am
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