Defining Illness

[frankdh 2418]

Consumed by fever and condemned to my bed one night, I found myself staring at the stone ceiling above me. I wondered- why have I so often found myself ill? I have spent much of my life following in the footsteps of my father: consistently sick, feverish, and bedridden. A thought came to mind as I pondered, wherein I forced myself awake, reaching for my journal, and put pen to paper.

 

  A Thesis on Illness

It’s come to my personal understanding through both reading the Scrolls and through my own life experiences, that two fundamental genres of illness perpetually afflict the human condition in this mortal life. The one of the body and the one of the soul.

A plausible speculation concerning the nature of human illness is the contact Iblees made with the Void, in which he harnessed the emptiness of the Void's essence in emptying the bulwark of man against the wicked snares of his own flaw.

 

“‘And now my touch is the touch of the Void, and it is with all things in your creation.’” (Scroll of Gospel)

 

Perhaps disease is one such effect, similar to an undead’s taint, something created by Iblees’ wickedness. Or mayhaps it is another way to cause pain and suffering in the World, one of Iblees’ attempts to make GOD’s children lose their faith as they writhe in anguish, other than that of sin. 

 

On a more positive note, there is always the potential for disease being but a challenge of GOD himself: A test of his children, to strengthen their body and soul for whatever lay ahead of us. In the Canticles of Faith, it is stated as such: 

 

    “And as I have created the struggles of the earth, so too do I create the struggles of the spirit. … For I have given to thee the pains of the world, and I have given to thee their cure.” (Canticle of Patience)

 

This being the case, then perhaps GOD is testing not only our will, our ability to fight and push forward despite the struggles of disease, but our strength in faith. If we lose sight of the Lord and lose our hope in him when faced with a dire situation, we only damn ourselves and prove we are unworthy of His light. At least I would like to think so, but given that I am sick more often than not, I consider myself to be fairly biased regarding the topic.

Moving onwards, the second of this set is the illness of the soul. I have found this to be far more damaging to a person than that of body.To state in such a manner that would omit any equivocal sentiments,, this is where sin festers, where corruption and evil latches onto a man’s spirit akin to a tumor to the body. No better example of this is that of Saul, the first of Horen’s camp corrupted by Iblees’ sinful ways and of poisonous lies. 

 

“And it came that one of Horen’s people, a man called Saul, had ignored the warnings of Julia, and left the camp. And he wandered into the iniquity that Iblees wrought, and coveted in the gold and sweet food, and spoke at lengths with the Denier.”

 

In telling the tragic tale of a betrayer of Horen, the story of Saul has become etched into the memory of humanity, acting as a bitter reminder and a fearsome warning to those finding themselves tempted by sin:

 

“Thus Saul worked Iblees’ iniquity in Horen’s camp, as Iblees had in other camps, and it came that again a great many people were corrupted.” 

 

When left to fester, a fleeting thought of wickedness can seep into the crevices of not merely a single man, but those who surround him and mind him company, if not careful. Sin can be contagious, just as much as a cough or a sneeze from a passerby. The cure is never as straightforward as one would be for the winter sniffles, however. It is a fair conjecture that the remedy first starts with acceptance. To admit to one’s own faults is the first stepping stone, and it is one of the most challenging steps to take. But it is this recognition that opens your heart and mind when in prayer, and at the mercy of GOD and his forgiveness.

 

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.