I had many thoughts on how to best prepare myself for my pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Reading books of course. Brushing up on my Hebrew (well, okay, learn it for the first time!). Learn as much as I possibly can about the culture. Sleep on the floor to practice sleeping on the ground. Carry a heavy rucksack to strengthen my muscles. I imagined I would “toughen” myself up so as to be best prepared for the trip.
God, of course, had other ideas on how to prepare me. Only two weeks into the semester I came down with a cold. It only lasted a few days, then it turned into a cough. “No problem, that’s a good sign,” I thought. “Maybe another week and I’ll be back to normal!” Well, that week went by and the cough remained… and worsened. It was a nasty one - from the depths of my lungs. As time progressed, my state of health did not improve.
The Kartause community (which consists of the faculty, staff, and families who are all part of the Franciscan University Austria study abroad program) fought for me - providing every cold remedy in existence within their respective country and culture. I had horseradish pills (that make your feet sweat), two specialized Austrian teas taken twice a day, Franciscan whiskey (as I newly named it - a lemon, garlic, ginger, and honey shot) once a day, and the polish dream drink (milk, butter, and honey - yum!) right before bed! Oh, and antibiotics - just in case it was an infection, prescribed by the local town doctor.
Yet even with all these remedies there was yet to be improvement.
Here in Austria, I often come across the Crucifixion scene. It is always the same. Two thieves on either side. The one on the right struggling in agony to get off the cross, the one on the left with a somewhat sad and humble submission, and then Jesus in the center - wrapped in utter peace, resting on the Cross in complete surrender to the will of His Father. The three stages of surrender.
I am often the one on the right. A few weeks ago though, I had asked the Lord for grace to help my rebellion against His Will. Here, amidst three weeks of coughing, that grace came. I surrendered with joy the gift of the Holy Land, understanding that it was a gift I could not cling to. If I go or don't go, so long as it is God’s will, that is all I want. Those next few days were full of a deep interior peace.
On Tuesday (Oct 3), I noticed the chest congestion decreased considerably. I would like to note here my newest and most favorite remedy, apart from God’s grace, Icelandic moss extract - a cough suppressant that I received from the pharmacist when I asked for an inhaler (language barriers can be difficult). I took this for the remainder of the week.; each day was getting better. I opened up to the daily readings for that day, “He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem…,” (Luke 9:51) and “Come, let us implore the favor of the Lord…I too will go to seek the Lord. Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the Lord,” (Zec 8:20-23) I felt God say to my heart, “Come.” I was filled with joy.
- Sr. Lisa Marie Shatynski, T.O.R.
