FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER
Paul D. Robbins
October 1, 1986
In a couple of weeks I'll be fifty years old. This birthday will be remembered by me not so much for hitting the half-century mark but for a virus commonly known as infectious mononucleosis. Yes, I have adult mono. No, I haven't been kissing anyone lately (other than my wife), thank you. I've lived with this malady for five months without the foggiest notion of how I contracted it or when it will go away. It's not something you fight with pills and trips to the doctor. Mono is persistent and decimating. Within five hours of arising each morning, I abruptly collapse in total fatigue, as if someone shuts off the energy valve. My body no longer responds to the directives of my brain. Being intense, somewhat driven, perpetually guilty of over-scheduling, and then pushing myself to the limit to keep all my promises has only exacerbated my discomfort. But, like it or not, at about 1 P.M. every day, my energy tank runs dry, and I'm through until morning. The number of unreturned phone calls, unfinished letters, and missed meetings doesn't matter. Even if I took six months off and went fishing, by 1 P.M. I wouldn't care about fish, lakes, or time off-only about lying down for the next twelve hours. One of my friends, a well-meaning Job's comforter, suggested that I monitor this experience, especially my attitudes toward it, to see what I could learn. Halfheartedly I began to track my thoughts and responses. Rather quickly, I realized I was associating a looming energyless fiftieth birthday with unusually frequent thoughts about my mortality. I also realized I was spiritually tired of being physically tired. There's an enormous difference between fatigue produced by long hours, hard work, and difficult problems, and fatigue induced by ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
