This week’s teaching is the Prologue of my book, Parkinson’s & Recreation: One Man’s Journey Through Parkinson’s…So Far. I pray it blesses you and brings you hope and joy:
“It’s important that everyone knows I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me...You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.” Jane Marczewski-Claudio (Nightbirde)
When I first got the idea to write a book on my life with Parkinson’s, the working title was ‘Parkinson’s Moments’. The reason for this title was simple. Parkinson’s gives me many opportunities to experience memorable moments of pain and suffering and how I deal with such moments, but, at the same time, affords me many more opportunities to experience moments of sheer joy and laughter. Parkinson’s Disease is quite a paradox in my life.
A paradox is ‘a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true; a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory; a situation, person, or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.’
The more I learn to live with Parkinson’s, the more of a paradox it becomes. How can pain and suffering coexist with sheer joy and laughter? They coexist, at least for me, based upon a spiritual point of view found in the Biblical text of Romans 8:28.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.” Romans 8:28 NASB
Parkinson’s is not a good thing, but God uses it for my good. Parkinson’s is no laughing matter, but I find myself constantly laughing at the way Parkinson’s brings joy to my life and to the fabric of our family tapestry. Parkinson’s is an ugly thread God has, for some reason, allowed to be woven into that tapestry and somehow made it a most beautiful facet of this journey we call life.
After coming to that conclusion, I knew I could not call the book ‘Parkinson’s Moments’ because it is so much more than that. Since I am choosing to see it as a good thing, I find my attitude and mood and overall sense of well-being feeling rejuvenated…re-created!
Immediately, I thought of one of my favorite comedy shows, the very popular and often absurd series, ‘Parks and Recreation’! After a series of laughter-inducing Parkinson’s moments, I knew I had to call the book ‘Parkinson’s and Recreation.’
Recreation is commonly defined as ‘activity done for enjoyment when one is not working; refreshment of strength and spirits’, but my personal definition literally means ‘to re-create one’s point of view which brings refreshment to one’s entire being.’ Rather than seeing Parkinson’s as an insurmountable mountain of a death sentence, I choose to see it as a mere molehill that happens to be a part of my journey and is intended to bring me an even greater depth of life.
I experience many moments of being reduced to laughter due to the symptoms of the illness as well as to the way people respond to me when they find out I have received the diagnosis of Parkinson’s. I have come to find the great benefit of using Parkinson’s as an excuse…for pretty much anything I say or do…objectionable or otherwise! Having lived several years with the disease now, I have found humor and laughter and joy to be vital and beneficial to my well-being.
That all sounds so deep and philosophical, but the simple fact of the matter that caused me to call this book ‘Parkinson’s and Recreation’ is a no-brainer. It’s just pretty dang funny!
Dennis Jernigan
The book, Parkinson’s & Recreation: One Man’s Journey Through Parkinson’s…So Far, is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats wherever books are sold.
Photo courtesy of https://pixabay.com/photos/man-hiker-mountains-viewpoint-sit-1839604/