I have been given the unique opportunity to experience life on a road less traveled. I admit, maneuvering through this loud, chaotic, over-stimulating world is a bit of a struggle. It is hard to explain what it is like to lose the ability to speak. The world becomes quiet…..
The TV and other electronics are paused, or completely turned off when I enter the room. No one can hear me unless they listen. ..really listen. My words are frail, breathy and paused. I’ve learned a lot during the last few weeks, and I have been given a rare and unique opportunity to see life from the perspective of someone who now falls under the umbrella of a “disability”. Life went from simple to complicated in one little diagnosis…Spasmodic Disphonia. I am now in the .004% of people….and only 10% of that small number has “Abductor” SD, which I do. The tiny, improbablity of having this nuerological disorder blows my mind, and yet….here I am. Proof that I am special. 🙂
My new challenges in life are not harder or easier than other people’s challenges. Mine are just different. I no longer worry about how much money is in the bank account, or how many days I’ve over-scheduled myself again. My new challenge is simply to be able to be heard…
No more phone calls to order food or make doctor’s appointments….they can’t hear you.
No more casual conversations with people on the street….they can’t hear you.
No more small talk at the local coffee shop or at church….they can’t hear you.
In spite of these unique speaking obstacles, this new journey can be a quiet, new resting place in life….much like the picture of the empty bench, on a road less traveled. New journeys don’t have to be bad. It’s all in our perspective. New paths can be good….especially on roads less traveled.
Let’s face it., each one of us is on their own unique road less traveled. We all have our own obstacles to overcome and our own mountains to climb. One thing I learned through the flood is that trauma or challenges in life cannot measured by “how much” or “how little” trauma you have experienced. Six inches of water in a house and an early morning boat rescue feels just as traumatic as seven feet of water . Your path is no less tricky than mine. We are all in the same boat…..just trying to do the best we can in this journey called life.
I have been pushed onto this path, not by my choosing, but not by happenstance either. The Lord is already way ahead of me, paving my way. He has placed specialists in my path, not by mere coincidence. One of my new guitar students “just happens” to have a son who is an ENT specialist. I also “just happened” to receive an encouraging note from a world-renowned nuerologist, who wanted me to know he much he appreciated my performances. Have you ever noticed those kinds of little coincidences in life? Have you ever considered that the Lord is actually working, behind the scenes, on your behalf? Hard to imagine, but it’s true.
Is life just happenstance or a random set of coincidences? Nah…it is all of the Lord. He takes us on roads less traveled to show us new things, with new eyes to see. He will take you through your journey as well. My husband has said “Everything in life is either a blessing or a lesson”. Maybe it’s possible for each new path can be both a blessing AND a lesson.
Currently, there is no cure for Spasmatic Dysphonia. It is what it is. If God chooses to do a miracle, He will. If He chooses to allow me to walk the road less traveled for the rest of my life, He will walk alongside me….giving me the grace and courage each time I speak. New paths can actually be blessings….when the Lord is your Guide. Let Him.
“Blessed be Your Name in the land that is plentiful, where Your streams of abundance flow. Blessed be Your Name.
Blessed be Your Name when I’m found in the desert place though I walk through the wilderness. Blessed be Your Name.
Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say Blsssed be Your Name.
Blessed be Your Name when the sun’s shining down on me, when the world’s all as it should be. Blessed be Your Name.
Blessed be Your Name on the road marked with suffering, though there’s pain in the offering. Blessed be Your Name.
You give and take away. My heart will choose to say Blessed Be Your Name.” –Mark Redman
Happy Gardening, my friends..