The first part of that equation doesn’t trouble me; if your faith helps you, have at it. It’s great that you’ve got a system that makes you feel better. It’s the second part that I find troubling. I saw this sentiment expressed a lot: “God only gives me what I can handle.” Or this one: “This illness is part of God’s plan for me.” That sentiment just doesn’t work for me. I find it creepy and troubling to think that there’s an omnipotent being out there who gave me this illness. Why would he do that? It’s rather assholish of him, isn’t it? I’m not willing to accept that this is the plan, sent down from on high with holy fingerprints all over it. It seems much more likely to me that genetics and bad luck are to blame for my chronic condition.

So that’s why I’m here. I’d like to talk about chronic illness with other people who won’t invoke the Celestial Overlord when discussing MS or other conditions. Pain has made me less patient than I used to be, and I just can’t handle any more talk about how Jesus will save me. Let’s talk about science, and treatments, and disability, and medications. These things are real, they are important, and they affect our well-being. Let’s talk reality.