This challenge invites us to roll up our sleeves and bring awareness to an issue that we care about most.
Right after I decided to start the You Can Do It challenge, I was invited to Boston City Hall for a public hearing hosted by Boston City Councilor Charles C. Yancey. My job was to convince the city of Boston to investigate resources and services available to individuals suffering from sickle cell disease. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew!
This challenge was absolutely HARD!!!! How So?? It was because, for the first time in years, I was confronted with the horrific reality of sickle cell disease.
I walked in the proceedings and was bombarded by the stereotypes that sickle cell patients must endure on a day to day basis. Even worse, I was bombarded by the possibility of death.
Don't get it twisted! Yes, I continued to live with pain and constant hospitalizations.
However, God protected me from this earthly reality by allowing me to live in a state of Epouranios. The Greek word Epouranios is composed of epi "upon" and ouranios "heavenly." Although I continued to experience discomfort, I tasted the heavenly gift and the power of the age to come (Heb. 6:4). In other words, I experienced joy, abundant life, and wholeness despite living with this cruel disease.
There are many occasions where doctors and nurses would come into my hospital room to administer treatment and would say "You have an amazing glow" or 'You have a positive outlook on life. This light and positive outlook are obtained by access into the heavenly realm. How does one gain access? It's quite simple. Worship. Praising God is the best medicine.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
(Ephesians 1:3)
Sources Cited:
Heavenly Places - An Alphabetical Analysis by Charles H. Welch. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://levendwater.org/analysis/a2/heavenly_places.htm
Other Resources:
Johnson, B.(2005). When Heaven Invades Earth A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles. Shippensburg PA: Destiny Image Publishers
.