The Island of Misfit Toys By Erin Elizabeth Austin
“Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nit wit! I'm an adorable reindeer. Why don't I fit in?” I’ve had this song going through my mind for the past couple of weeks. Do you recognize it? It’s a Burl Ives song called “Misfits.” Most people know the song because of the old Christmas movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Yes, I know it’s almost June and nowhere near time for Christmas, but I do have a good reason for singing this song, even though it’s almost summer. Over the past month, I’ve gotten more emails from people who are experiencing a problem they never expected to happen. Literally, every day I hear from another person who’s run into this problem, and everyone is flabbergasted by what’s happening and what to do about it. The problem? The health care reform bill that was passed last year is now targeting people living with a chronic illness. Suddenly, insurance is no longer paying for medicine for which it once paid. In some cases, pharmacies aren’t even allowed to give out the medicine, even if the patient is willing to pay full cost. Some people are suddenly being turned away by physicians, and they are having to see alternative health doctors. I even know of some people who are having to find doctors in different states from their own who are willing to help them. In essence, everyone living with a chronic illness has hit the proverbial brick wall. And the one comment I hear over and over again is this: “I feel like I’m being told that I don’t matter, like I have no value because I’m sick. Just because I'm different - a misfit - shouldn't mean my life doesn't count.”
“Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nit wit! I'm an adorable reindeer. Why don't I fit in?” I’ve had this song going through my mind for the past couple of weeks. Do you recognize it? It’s a Burl Ives song called “Misfits.” Most people know the song because of the old Christmas movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Yes, I know it’s almost June and nowhere near time for Christmas, but I do have a good reason for singing this song, even though it’s almost summer. Over the past month, I’ve gotten more emails from people who are experiencing a problem they never expected to happen. Literally, every day I hear from another person who’s run into this problem, and everyone is flabbergasted by what’s happening and what to do about it. The problem? The health care reform bill that was passed last year is now targeting people living with a chronic illness. Suddenly, insurance is no longer paying for medicine for which it once paid. In some cases, pharmacies aren’t even allowed to give out the medicine, even if the patient is willing to pay full cost. Some people are suddenly being turned away by physicians, and they are having to see alternative health doctors. I even know of some people who are having to find doctors in different states from their own who are willing to help them. In essence, everyone living with a chronic illness has hit the proverbial brick wall. And the one comment I hear over and over again is this: “I feel like I’m being told that I don’t matter, like I have no value because I’m sick. Just because I'm different - a misfit - shouldn't mean my life doesn't count.”
Let me first begin by saying I’m not writing this to slander our government. Many of you have asked me to write about this, and I’m simply going to address how this is making everyone feel and how to combat those emotions. I too have had to deal with several of my medicines no longer being covered by my insurance, as well as not being allowed to purchase a medicine that helps control my lupus and Crohns. Because of this, I’ve been unable to eat for two weeks because of being in a severe Crohns flare. And I’m not going to lie. When my pharmacist told me she wasn’t allowed to sell me my lupus/Crohns medicine despite the fact that I was too sick to eat, I became incredibly discouraged. I suddenly understood what everyone was saying about how it made them feel.
Living with a chronic illness is hard. Every day, we have to choose to get out of bed in the morning despite the exhaustion, pain, and weakness we feel. Whether or not you realize it, you make a decision to fight your illness each day because you want to live. All of us are literally fighting for our lives. That’s hard enough for a person to deal with, so suddenly being unable to get the necessary medication and treatment to help win that fight is beyond discouraging. It’s disheartening. It makes it easy to think, “Why bother?”
As I was dealing with these thoughts and feelings last week, God began to remind me of all the misfits in the Bible – the people who didn’t belong, who stood out from the crowd because they were different: Noah, Moses, Joseph, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, and the list just goes on.
Living with a chronic illness is hard. Every day, we have to choose to get out of bed in the morning despite the exhaustion, pain, and weakness we feel. Whether or not you realize it, you make a decision to fight your illness each day because you want to live. All of us are literally fighting for our lives. That’s hard enough for a person to deal with, so suddenly being unable to get the necessary medication and treatment to help win that fight is beyond discouraging. It’s disheartening. It makes it easy to think, “Why bother?”
As I was dealing with these thoughts and feelings last week, God began to remind me of all the misfits in the Bible – the people who didn’t belong, who stood out from the crowd because they were different: Noah, Moses, Joseph, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, and the list just goes on.
Stop and think about it. Every person God used in a huge way for His kingdom was a misfit. They were different from everyone around them. Often, they were faced with insurmountable odds. Yet, these were the people that God chose to use. Personally, I believe it’s because of their status as a misfit. They knew they had to rely on God, and that is what made their lives so great. They knew they needed a mighty God to act on their behalf, and because of that need, they clung to God and relied on His help and strength.
I wish I could say this is as bad as things will get for those of us who are chronically sick, but I don’t know that. I pray things will get better, but even if they don’t, remember that our God is greater and stronger and more powerful than any limits or restrictions that are forced upon us. There is no limit on what God can do in the lives of those who trust in Him. He still says you’re valuable and important, even if others disagree. His opinion is the only one that matters. Hold on to that truth. Cling to God. Trust Him. And then, who knows? God just might have a huge purpose for this group of misfits.
“You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve Him and cling to Him. For He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.” ~ Deuteronomy 10:20-21
© May 23, 2013
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