Influenza, faith, and healing the soul

It’s flu season, and this one is hitting hard. My daughter came home from school early on Valentine’s Day with a sore nose and a glazed look. A high fever followed, and the next day we got a confirmation of influenza A and a Tamiflu prescription. So far, I have escaped with minor symptoms and fatigue. I am grateful for my flu shot this year. Seeing my child’s suffering, and remaining well enough to care for my kids, led to my recent flu vaccine conversion. It’s made a believer out of me.

Fevers mean we get out the thermometer. My kids love our thermometer. The background lights up green for normal temperatures, yellow for low-grade fevers, and red when you are really cooking. The battery died after registering another “red” temperature, 102.5 degrees. And I knew from experience that it’s easier to buy a new thermometer than to find the right size replacement battery. I visited one grocery store for extra juice and those special tissues with the lotion inside. A little dazed and feeling aimless, I finally found the correct aisle, but it was bereft of thermometers. After blankly staring at the empty shelves, I checked out then crossed the street to buy the last thermometer at the other store. I realized that there were lots of other folks in Palmer suffering with fevers.

I’ve reflected on the parallels between faith and immunity as I’ve run these errands for the ill. You see, there are years when a flu shot doesn’t prevent a flu infection. There are plenty of people who are firm believers in flu vaccines and just as many who eschew them.

Germs, bacteria, and viruses are everywhere. The potential for illness is unrelenting. But our bodies have a defense system to help keep us healthy. We can also make choices that decrease the likelihood of infection: washing your hands, eating healthy food, getting enough sleep, decreasing stress, limiting exposure. All these habits can help too. But at some point, you are going to get sick anyway.

Likewise, we live in a world filled with temptation and suffering. As the spirit children of divine heavenly parents, we all have the light of Christ within us to help us discern good and evil and to choose the good. We can also choose to increase our light and faith through obedience to God’s commandments.

Like flu vaccines, our faith does not always prevent illness and suffering. But it sure makes those trials easier to bear. Daily participation in faithful acts—prayer, scripture study, service, devotion—make us better able to endure the sin and sickness we all experience in life.

Vaccines increase our immune system’s response to invading viruses by giving a heads up in advance. They enable a quick response to counter an illness before it knocks you out. But flu vaccines are tricky because there are many different strains of influenza and efficacy varies from year to year. Similarly, God reveals his words to us through prophets, who in turn warn us of temptation. As we study God’s word and walk in his path, we begin to recognize and repent of sins and bad habits early, avoiding actions that distance us from feeling his love.

Even when we try to follow Christ, there will be times when we falter. Life’s challenges can rock the foundations of our faith and leave us feeling wiped out and unable to function. Like rapidly evolving microbes, temptations can morph and sneak into our lives. Technology and social media can help us connect to the world around us, or can isolate us from those we love. Some medications treat debilitating pain, but can also lead to addiction. Our professions, hobbies, or friendships can enrich our lives but also have the potential to draw us away from family relationships and obligations.

I am grateful to have people in my life who can care for me in my low moments, who remind me that I am lovable when I don’t feel loved. We can all be instruments in God’s hands: to minister, to lift, to teach, and to serve each other.

My daughter’s temperature has registered “green” for the last day or so. My husband and I made it through this brush with the flu by alternating afternoon naps and feeling grateful that our symptoms were not more serious. We look forward to catching the final day of our public use cabin rental and skiing as a family. Just as illnesses come and go, periods of trial or seasons of temptation also pass. When we fall ill, are heart-sick, home-sick, or sin-sick, remember those things that strengthen and protect both body and soul.

Amity Condie lives in Palmer and enjoys reading, writing, and skijoring with her dogs and family. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.