Sheila Sims Iding
I love Lucy. Those of you old enough to know, realize those three words have a familiar ring. We grew up watching “I Love Lucy” and the words are kind of ingrained in our memories. I did love that show but I am not talking about the Lucy/Desi person. I am not referring to the famous red-headed comedian. I am not “loving” Ethel’s best friend. Instead I am speaking of Saint Lucy. In the past few months she has become my “Ethel”. She has become one of my best friends.
I first learned of St. Lucy as Tim prayed for my friend, Anne, with her eye trouble and surgery. When Tim and I were in Venice he longed to go to her grave site and pay her homage but it was on the other side of the city and we never got there. Through his prayers to St. Lucy for my friend she became an “acquaintance” whom I knew through Tim.
This summer as I started with my own eye issues, she became less of an acquaintance and more of a friend. At first I prayed to her because that is what I thought I should do. As there were more and more tests and appointments, I bought a St. Lucy prayer card. I thought I would carry it with me until my vision issue was resolved. I carry it still.
I keep the card with the calendar in my purse. As I wait for tests or appointments or doctors, I pray her prayer. There have now been so many tests, appointments and doctors that the prayer has become familiar. Usually I read it in the waiting room and silently pray for her intercession.
Sometimes I read it through the blurred vision of dilated eyes. Sometimes when you are alone in that exam room waiting, waiting, waiting for the doctor and the test results it can be pretty lonely and you can think too much so I just peek at her picture and ask her to sit (and wait) with me.
Not having full vision out of my left eye is scary. I am not going to pretend it’s not. The tests have been scary. The appointments, appointments and appointments have been scary. But the news has always been good. Always. I have St. Lucy to thank for that. The bad stuff was ruled out the first week. No MS, no brain tumor, no cancer. Optic nerve issues was the worst it got. Not fully healing is bad news but slowly getting better each time is good news.
When the doctor uses the words “improved” and “hopeful”…it can’t be bad news. Even this week when the doctor told me there is nothing more they can do and my body will have to heal itself. That wasn’t bad news. Even when she said you may not regain full vision, it wasn’t bad news because I have regained some vision. “Some” is better than “none”…no matter how you measure it.
So today I got more good news but it was after a new scare. Early this morning when I was at school getting ready for the kids everything seemed “normal” until the flashing lights appeared in my vision. Swirling flashing lights invaded my vision in both eyes. I couldn’t see to teach, I couldn’t hardly see to write sub plans and I could barely see to push the buttons on my phone to call Pat so he could come and get me.
I went home, called the doctor and rested until my appointment this afternoon. Adam drove me to the appointment and as I sat there in the waiting room I did what I have been doing since August. I opened my calendar to take out the prayer card and pray quietly to myself before the appointment.
But this time was different. Because when I took out the prayer card a sense of comfort came over me. Like an old friend had come for a visit. And then I realized that is exactly what happened. A friend came to be present with me…and for me. And again the news is good.
There is nothing else wrong with my eyes. It was an ocular (retina) migraine that was already resolved. The doctor said I didn’t have anything to worry about. But I already knew that when that wave of comfort came over me at the sight of the St. Lucy prayer card. It may seem just like a piece of paper with a pretty picture and special prayer but it is more than that. It is a source of comfort, a piece of hope and a faith-filled reminder that “I love Lucy.”
"...by the intercession of Thy servant, St. Lucy, that Thou would give perfect vision to our eyes that they may serve for Thy greater honor and glory..." Prayer to St. Lucy