I was talking to a friend yesterday at church about Faith Fighting Diabetes. I wanted him to know about last week’s outreach to the Hispanic members of our congregation and how many of them will be screened this upcoming Saturday. I thought he would be interested because he’s a diabetic himself.
Then he dropped a bombshell. I’m in total denial. I don’t do anything I’m supposed to do. What surprising statements from someone who is a public figure, well-educated, and loves life.
I knew my friend was in the advanced stages of diabetes, which I would have thought would be enough to force him to stay on top of this chronic and complicated disease. Not so.
As I walked away from that conversation, I knew I had to do something. How could I help? How could I talk to him about Making All Things New?
I tracked him down later in the day, and I was grateful he had some time to talk. I started by reminding him that he was one of the first people I told about my diabetes diagnosis. I shared my story with him, and I filled him in on what was possible with diet and exercise changes. For most people, diabetes can be reversed by making changes in these two areas. Bringing God into the picture can add an all-important dimension to the transformation, and, in my opinion, ensure a positive outcome.
In the end, I gave him a copy of The 30 Day Diabetes Miracle, which was the first book that I bought after my diagnosis. What caught my eye was the word Miracle. After a serious medical diagnosis, everyone’s looking for a miracle, right?
As I read the book, I was not very happy about what the authors were proposing as necessary if you were to achieve this miracle. Become a vegan? No, I think I’ll pass. I’ll take the medicine and enjoy my meal at Burger King, thanks very much. I distinctly remember the desire to throw the book in the trash. But something stopped me. I put it up on a shelf instead, but it went unread.
I didn’t get back to the book for about four months, but I did watch what I ate and exercised daily. The weight came off and my glucose numbers dropped out of the diabetes range.
Ultimately, I did become a vegan, with occasional consumption of cheese. I went back to the book I almost threw away, and, along with Dr. Neil Barnard’s material, I got into the best shape of my life, and clinically, I haven’t been a diabetic since the fall of 2009. Now, I’m training for a marathon. Who would have guessed it?
Had I followed through and tossed the book into the trash that day, I think it would have signaled the start of my own journey into denial. Thankfully, I didn’t, and I wouldn’t recommend that trip to anyone.
Living in denial, no matter what your issue, will never get you better. You cannot be healed until you take charge and begin to deal with it. Of course, this won’t be easy, and you will fare much better if you get some folks to help you.
I’ve mentioned before that my co-workers and I are getting ready to do the Full Plate Diet as a group. I invited my friend to join us, and he said yes. If he’s open to it, I can guarantee that we won’t let him stay stuck in the denial that has held him back from getting the miracle he’s been hoping for.
How about you? Is there anything you’re in denial about? Starting today, what can you do to get the help you need? People are waiting to assist you. Please, make the call…
Don’t live in denial another day.
