In 1973, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I felt calm reading articles I received about the disease, determined not to let the diagnosis overwhelm me. I said prayers asking that God’s will be done. As I prayed in my bed one night, Jesus’s face appeared close to mine, assuring me of His constant presence. Feeling less alone I waited patiently for guidance. One day, in 1974, my sister brought me a book written for people with MS. I followed the suggestions carefully and found myself able to teach relatively symptom free for many years.
For a long time I felt an ache in my chest and had often sought help. In 1983, Sheila Fodchuk announced in church the start of the Cathedral Centre for Spiritual Direction offering client based counselling. God had answered my prayer. My patience had paid off again. Through numerous sessions, I learned about the trauma I had experienced as a very young child during WWII and “got it off my chest” so to speak -- an important step in healing.
In 1988, I became Project Teacher in Vancouver’s inner city. Working with others, our mandate was to improve the environment and services within the schools. I worked hard to soften the impact of poverty and hunger that dominated the lives of many of the children. In 1993, stressed and experiencing again the symptoms of MS, I took time off work and I prayed for a solution. To my surprise at that very time an alternative therapy came to my attention. Feeling God with me, I was unwavering in following the program, and experienced healing within months.
I learned to pray, to wait patiently, to listen, and to respond to God who will never let me down.
