Terra Incognita

I took my mother last week for her monthly checkup at the doctor’s. I drove her to the hospital and walked with her to the elevators and to the oncology unit. For the first time, she walked the whole way from the entrance to the office with her cane. Praise God!

After some blood tests, she and I got to meet with the nurse practitioner who is handling most of my mother’s care with the doctor. She asked some questions about my mother’s symptoms. Still amazed, she remarked again about my mother’s “miraculous” recovery. She seemed so happy and upbeat.

At one point, my mother asked her a question: “Am I progressing along as I should be? How much activity should I be doing around the house?” I smiled and laughed to myself – I’m thinking, my mother doesn’t quite get it yet. But I let the NP fill her in.

“Well, we don’t have any more idea than you do. We don’t have any data for anyone in your situation. We’ve never had any patient drop as low as you have and recover as well as you have.”

Then she paused and said to my mother: “You are in terra incognita.”

“Did you hear what she said?” my mother asked me with a big smile of amazement, with tears and a hug after the NP stepped out for a minute. “She used the word ‘miraculous’. Wooow.”

When the Lord called the apostles, they left everything. Not just some things, but everything, their families and friends, their work and daily rhythm of life, all that their life was founded on. And they did it suddenly, not over the course of time. They couldn’t listen anymore to the experts, to the scribes, to the educated and wise, to the influential and popular opinions. They listened only to Him. What did they enter?

Terra incognita. “For we walk by faith, and not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7)

Let me ask you: How did they walk in terra incognita? How were they able to let go? How did they make it without terror and anxiety?

Because they were with the Lord. And they got to witness the greatest things that have ever happened: indescribable conversions of life, healings, people raised from the dead.

When you decide to follow the Lord, you enter into terra incognita – but go, don’t be afraid. You’ll get used to two words: “Miraculous.” “Wow.”

“And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him: And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus says to them: Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then rising up he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him?” (Mt 8:23-27)