Flare Up

FlareUp

I believe it is all
the support and light
and love coming my way
that allows me to feel
this illness as that
hand of blessing,
pressing me down
to stillness.

This is clearly,
for me, a time for
stillness. And a place
from which I, in turn, send out
to all those in my life whom I love—

and there are many—

all the light
and blessing wishes,
and affection, and wishes for wisdom
and right-pacing and insight
in this rushing day-to-day-ness.

~words by Carol Bindel, line breaks arranged by Dana Knighton~

I sent an email to Dana, and she returned to me a poem, printed out and included in the front of the book she brought. There is such a lifted-up feeling to being so noticed and valued by someone whom one respects and values in turn as deeply as I do Dana.

The title came later. Patients with my sorts of autoimmune problems are not usually spoken of as having "relapse," we have "flareups". And there is the other meaning of a flare up, the bright, lifting conflagration that burns away all before it. Both apply, and it is a burden that also brings a gift in the flame. Before we build something new, something old must often give way.

Flare Up can be akin to joy. It is a good thing for new things to Flare Up.