The Celebration Series part 1 of ...however many I choose...

This month, I'm celebrating our 5-year anniversary with Myasthenia Gravis! Can you believe it?  This past week, I read back through some of the early post on this blog, and even found some of the original emails which preceded the creation of this blog.  At that time we named the emails 'The Rachel Report'.  If you're going to go through something scary, by golly, have a little fun with it.  Well, I was really hiding my fear behind the goofiness. There was fear.  Lots.

This applies to so many life situations, but it's scary when you feel like you've actually met the cause of your impending death.  Your perception of life wakes up in a whole new way.  Its real.  The feelings don't really come with words, so lets not pretend.  Now, processing those feelings...I choose to be silly or to write.

This has been on my heart for a really long time, so I'm going to put my fear of your disapproval aside and just leap.  In honor of our 5-year journey, and because this is a HUGE part of how we've made it through, I want to share MY 23rd Psalm, with YOU.

Believer or not, you know this passage.  I challenge you to read with me, and pick it apart.

There are MANY versions of the Bible...a LOT.  I've read several in studying this chapter, as each will resonate with me in a different way. Kind of like studying a fantasy football pick. You read commentary and stats from a gazillon different sources before you claim that player for your roster.

For reference purposes, I'm going to use the New King James Version here...but check out others if you like.  A few of the versions I'm using are: the Living Bible, the Message, the New International Version, etc.

New King James Version (KJV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. ³ He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;My cup runs over.⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell^[a] in the house of the Lord Forever

Part 1: 

The LORD is MY shepherd – Read this as a declaration!  He’s the captain of the team, and He chose you to play for His side. Oh, and you were NOT chosen last.  Yeah, remember that feeling in gym class?  What a rush if both captains tried to pick you first, but most of us weren't that person.  Sometimes you feel like the person who is leftover and simply must be absorbed onto one team or the other.  Not here!  You were chosen to be part of HIS team!

I shall NOT want – Claim this, as an independent thought. You know you’re on the team. You know you’re captain is pretty awesome. Your laces are tied, the crowd is cheering for you, not against you, and you had a good lunch! What more do you need right now?

He makes me lie down in green pastures – I remember the sensation of playing in the pasture as a kid and having so much fun running through the space before hay bailing, because we created tunnels.  We were plenty tall to see over the grass, but we would zip up our hoodies and create tunnels/paths through the tall grass, and pretend to become lost from each other.  After hay bailing, the grass smelled so sweet and the large mazes of our hidden trails were no more.  Now, we could simply lay out on the pasture and see the sky forever.  Listen to the birds. Hear the neighbor cows.  Feel the neighbor horses run a firm gallop, while chasing nothing.  It was peace.

He leads me beside still waters – As a child, the sill water screamed at me to ‘throw a rock’ and see how many skips my skills would create.  Now as an adult, I find myself watching the still water with new eyes. It’s beautiful to see the bugs zipping to and from the water surface, either teasing the fish or claiming their algae; to see the reflection on the glass, of the birds flying overhead; to see the perfect mirror of the mountain on the other side that no photo or painting will ever really capture.  In either scenario, the calm water brings joy.

He restores my soul. Capturing the emotions, sensations, and feelings I personally have, when remembering the green pastures and still waters, brings me to a place of ‘still’.  For me, being still equates to sitting in agreement that the rest can wait and appreciating each sound you hear such as the rhythm of the many cars on the nearby highway; the garage door neighbors as they depart; the rumble of the mufflers from cars that shouldn’t have them at this hour; the flutter of the tree leaves as the birds hop through the trees collecting food or structure for their nest; the chirp of the same birds and those in other trees directing traffic or saying hello; the oh-so-kind beep of the coffee pot letting you know the ‘go juice’ is ready. To be, still means being present and appreciative.  

....more soon....