Here's a picture of me waterskiing with the Canadian flag on my back on July 1, 2020. With the loss of muscle over the past year, waterskiing isn't going to happen in 2021. I really miss that. But I'm still able to drive the boat and take others waterskiing, which is still a big thrill for me.
On the home page of this website is a picture of the back of my boat with the name "Faith OVER Fear". I gave the boat this name just last summer. The message was aimed at first-time water skiers to encourage them to have faith in their ability to ski, rather than the fear of not being able to get out of the water, or to fall and hurt themselves. Turns out the message is more relevant to me personally now that I've received the diagnosis of ALS.
ALS has robbed me of one of my favourite hobbies.
The 15-month Covid Lockdown has robbed me of a lot of other things too. I turned 60 last fall and wasn't able to celebrate that significant milestone. Cathy and I had our 30th wedding anniversary in December, and we weren't able to even go out to dinner on our own let alone have some family and friends over for a party at our place! With my mom in a retirement home, I've seen her only three times in the last year. I was planning on retiring from Welch at the end of 2021 and was really looking forward to seeing my clients face-to-face to introduce them to the people at Welch who would be taking over my various roles. None of that has happened! There is so much of life that I have missed since March of 2020 and I mourn the loss of life as I had expected it to play out.
What are some of the things that you miss in your life? Have you taken a moment to mourn those things and to grieve over whatever pain and suffering you've been experiencing?
One of the things I've learned this year is that it's okay to take these sentiments to God. In the book of Isaiah (Chapter 53:4) there is a prophetic word about Jesus. It says that "he certainly has taken upon himself our suffering and carried our sorrows". Sharing with God the feelings of frustration from Covid, and the big question "What did I do to deserve getting ALS?" doesn't offend God. It actually makes him closer to me. Lamenting to God brings me hope and it renews my confidence in God, because I know that God is bigger than all of this mess and he has me in his hands!
Thanks for joining me on this journey. At the top of the website is a page called "prayer points". I'd love it if you could be praying over those points in the days ahead. The biggest prayer request I have is for a miraculous healing from this disease. I've really grabbed ahold of Psalm 118 verse 17 where David prays "I will not die; but I will live and tell what God has done."
Thank you for being by my side!
Garth.
Garth your positive attitude is inspiring. I’ll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Take care my friend.
Garth I can’t put into words the sadness this news has brought to me and Jennifer. It was nice speaking with you on the phone yesterday and to hear also happy news about your family. I hope and pray there’s a cure for this horrible disease. Stay strong my friend.
great pic of you with the flag Garth! Remember those West 5 gatherings at Steve's??Happy times and memories eh?
I am so pissed you have ALS!!! I have thought about you every day since your first post, and mostly I feel anger and despair at this. It is just not right. Not fair. It sucks.
I know we need a miracle here for you Garthy, but if anyone is deserving of a miracle, it is you my friend. With love, Nigel.
What hasn't changed Garth is what a remarkable man you are! Sending you lots of Love.xoxox
Love how God placed Faith over Fear into your heart and mind well before you knew of your ALS, so fitting. Thanks for the prayer point, will be joining you and others as together we bring this to God, boldly. A big request, but not for a big God!