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9-15-06 P.M.
Rowe Jones, "American's Chronic Pain Coping Expert" In 1988 Rowe founded RadioVision Inc. a production company geared toward the commercial market. Rowe’s talents as a writer, producer, voice-over artist and on camera talent have led him to work for clients like VH-1, NASCAR, Sears and many others. However, behind the scenes Rowe was waging a painful battle with a complex neurological condition. In 2003 his condition worsened. His pain dramatically increased and his appetite decreased as Rowe lost 60 pounds. Left undiagnosed and untreated this mysterious illness could have led to his demise. Finally, Rowe came up with his own hypothesis and mentioned it to a doctor friend and together they formulated a potential diagnosis. After 25 years of searching he had brain surgery in an attempt to feel more comfortable. And he began telling his story and offering his strategies and insight to living with pain, hoping hecould help others who suffer. He could also relate this insight to doctors, nurses and others in the healthcare field. His spiritual journey is a powerful message for believers. He has delivered this message in the United States and Great Britain changing the lives of thousands. Rowe is writing a book and creating other useful products to help people with pain.
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HOST_Donna --- Welcome to the National Invisible Chronic Illness
Awareness Week seminar. I'll
be your host for this hour. We
will open in prayer; then our guest will present his topic, after
which there will be a question and answer period, then I will
close in prayer. Let's pray...Father, thank you for bringing us together,
for your love and care for each one of us, and for the opportunity
to learn from our guest speaker. Be with him as he shares his
knowledge and insights with us.
Help us be attentive to Rowe and to You
during this hour. In Jesus' name, Amen... Now, I'd like to introduce to you our special guest
Rowe Jones, "American's Chronic Pain Coping Expert".
In 1988 Rowe founded RadioVision Inc.
a production company geared toward the commercial market. Rowe’s
talents as a writer, producer, voice-over artist and on-camera
talent have led him to work for clients like VH-1, NASCAR, Sears
and many others. However, behind the scenes Rowe was waging a
painful battle with a complex neurological condition. In 2003
his condition worsened. His pain dramatically increased and his
appetite decreased as Rowe lost 60 pounds. Left undiagnosed
and untreated this mysterious illness could have led to his demise.
Finally, Rowe came up with his own hypothesis and mentioned it
to a doctor friend and together they formulated a potential diagnosis. After 25 years of searching he had brain surgery
in an attempt to feel more comfortable. And he began telling his
story and offering his strategies and insight to living with pain,
hoping he could help others who suffer. He could also relate this
insight to doctors, nurses and others in the healthcare field.
His spiritual journey is a powerful message for believers. He
has delivered this message in the United States and Great Britain
changing the lives of thousands. Rowe is writing a book and creating
other useful products to help people with pain. Welcome, Rowe. We look forward to your presentation. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Thank you very much Donna and welcome everyone.
Tonight I want to talk about the Purpose of Pain Why do we have pain and why do we suffer? David B. Morris wrote a great book called the Culture of Pain and
in it he says that pain causes us to ask why? And it is okay to
ask why it is only normal. My message to you tonight is that pain
has a purpose, a great purpose. Rick Warren wrote in the Purpose
Driven Life "God has a purpose behind every problem. He uses
circumstances to develop our character." The Bible says in James 2:4 Consider it pure joy my brothers when
you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing
of your faith develops perseverance, perseverance must finish
its work so that you may mature and complete not lacking anything." This is an important point. It says that I am being made something
even more complete! I know I want to maximize my time here on
earth and get the most out of life I can. I want to improve. Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross says "There
are no mistakes, no coincidences; all events are blessings to
learn from." This means there is no coincidence that we have
pain and if we see it as a blessing we begin to make peace with
our life and our pain. When we are pushed to our limits we begin
to learn more than we could without being pushed. I hate that
you suffer but if we get on the right side of pain we begin to
grow and see life in ways we never thought possible. Viktor Frankl was in Nazi concentration
camps. He was pushed beyond the limits of any human should bear.
But even in the midst of such suffering, he found meaning, it
was this meaning that kept him going, it kept him alive. He saw
himself lecturing to his fellow prisoners. He wrote a great book
called Man's search for Meaning in it he says "When a man
finds it his destiny to suffer, he will have to accept his suffering
as a task. He will have to acknowledge the fact even in suffering
he is unique and alone in the universe. No one can relieve him
of his suffering or suffer in his place." Attitude is truly everything. We have to see pain in a positive
light. Everyday, every hour is a learning opportunity for us.
There is meaning for us to obtain.
Pain is like the smelting process. My grandfather was a
mining engineer so I am fascinating with mining kind of silly
but let me explain smelting. A metal like gold is not pure when it comes
out of the ground the rock is called ore. The ore is crushed and
heated to 1000 degrees c then it is acid washed. Do you see the
similarities? We are crushed by pain heated by its pressure and
duration at times we feel like we have bathed in acid but what
remains is a pure form of gold. Madame Guyon said, "It is the fire of suffering
that brings forth the gold of goodness." Isaiah 48:10 says
"I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather
I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. Take the word
Crisis. There are 2 characters in the Chinese language for crisis
one means danger and the other means promise. There is promise
and hope within our painful crisis. So what is the benefit? That is where you have to be your own explorer
to see how pain has benefited you. My benefit for pain or purpose
may be different from yours. We have to go on a mission of self-discovery
we have to look inside, but the benefit is there. We have to ask
questions, honest questions I know for me pain has had a great
purpose, I am more appreciative, more grateful. I'm more aware
of who I really am, I am closer to God. Pain has brought me to write a book and help people who are suffering.
I never thought I would be doing what I am doing, but there is
nothing better than to help you my brothers and sisters who are
living with pain. So I challenge you to go on this mission of self discovery, look inside, look at
your life and see the purpose of pain in your life. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis wrote a book in 1912 called The Misfortune
of a World without Pain. It is a great book and he says "With
suffering the investor buys his tools; with struggle the scholar
buys his knowledge; with heroism the patriot buys his liberty." We suffer for the experience of life. But we
all suffer. There isn't a person alive who doesn't suffer, due
to the fact that suffering is universal there must be a benefit
to it there is something good to all of our
hurt, without pain life would be quite unusual, without
pain we could never learn a painful lesson our hearts would never
be broken a child could never be born, a person could never die,
pain has a purpose a great
purpose. I am saddened that you suffer but if we are to suffer
we have to put pain in a good light and not see it as a negative
if we see pain in a negative light and we are the creators of
pain where does that leave us? Pain leads us to our potential
here are six steps to finding your purpose of pain 1. Admit that everyone has
pain 2. Admit that pain is unavoidable 3. Admit suffering can bring
goodness 4. Admit that everything
happens for a reason 5. Admit suffering brings
us closer to God 6. Admit that the benefit
of pain comes only when we choose to see it. I am inviting you to see pain in a new way. Pain has a purpose and
the only way to discover that purpose is to live through the pain.
We must keep searching for pain's purpose or benefit, the search
is more important than the answers if we stop searching a part
of us dies. Keep up your search. We must have the drive and desire to find the meaning and purpose
to our pain. Each one of you here is of great value. Our histories
do have great meaning. Live with hope and you will live with great
purpose. You can rise above it all!
Thank you and God bless you. HOST_Donna --- Thank you, Rowe, for a wonderful presentation.
Now, let's open it up for comments and questions. [jeannie] I am sorry that I was late (asleep!) but I
was wondering, how does one get past
being angry at G-d because of the pain? I try so hard to tell
myself those things you have related, yet then I get so frustrated
and yes, angry at G-d--because I have lost so much because of
the pain. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- The
first step we must take is surrender, we have to accept our lives
which include pain, and it is a process of making peace with our
lives and our pain. CS Lewis says we must surrender on a daily
basis. Anger is okay but we can't carry it as it can increase
our level of pain. [jeannie] I never thought of it that way--that anger
could increase our pain level, the thing is, I
am so tired of being angry. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Yes
so we need to find the balance and take care of ourselves. It
is an even better time to make your peace. You've tried anger
now try peace [jeannie] thank you Guest_Rowe_Jones --- God
bless Jeannie [Laura] I am encouraged by your words. In the beginning
of my illness, I felt my purpose was gone, all I knew was taking
care of my kids and husband which kept me running none stop. That
was twelve years ago. Over
time God showed me I was important wether I did anything physical
or not. You don't usually see the positive until you grieve and
then begin to grow Guest_Rowe_Jones --- We all have purpose and G_d
will surprise you with great things! [mari] Rowe, I just want to say Amen and Amen. Thank you for a great presentation. Blessings to you. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- It
is my pleasure I only wish we could see and hear each other [mari] I agree. [tenaya] I appreciate all of what you are saying. I
have a question, though. Realizing
the question of suffering has been pondered by theologians and
philosophers for centuries, and allowing that there certainly
can be meaning found in it, what is to be made of all the compassionate
attempts by doctors, humanitarians, etc, to relieve it?
We can acknowledge the good that can come from suffering
while still giving our time, money and effort to alleviating it
too, right? What this all
comes down to for what this all comes down to for us as pain patients
is that we don't want to live every day in severe pain, if we
don't have to! It's normal to seek medical attention, for example,
while still accepting our pain for the reality and purpose it
can have. Rowe, your perspective on this please? Guest_Rowe_Jones --- What
a nice name. Of course we can always seek help and remedy. Never give up the search for solutions. I think
part of our learning in this is the ups and downs of trying to
find an answer for our pain [craftingrama] I found so many people are not able or willing
to say to God so be it if this is the life you want me to lead
no matter how much it hurts or lose I will live it just grant
me the strength to live it. Do you have suggestions to helping
to lead them to understand the need to do this? I'm afraid saying
that to a lot of people hasn't done anything to make them realise
they have to surrender ALL Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Of
course. Are we to question G_d's will? He knows better than I do on what I need to
learn and go through in this life. Surrender is the answer, always.
It is the first step. We also have to ask people how their way
is going? When you fight pain you use
a great deal of valuable energy [Kimerella] I know
how you feel, Jeannie. I
have been there. I agree
we have to surrender daily. I
find listening to Christian music and spending time with God first
thing in the morning helps me to do that...what
helps you to do that? Guest_Rowe_Jones --- I like
to count my blessings. There is so much in all of our lives we
have to be thankful for. I have also made the decision that I
want to have a great life-no matter what I face! I craft-I think
people just have to do it in their own time. [Kimerella] I agree...there
is a lot to choose from to have a great life even if not the same
things as before. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- We
can't let our circumstances defeat us [fibrogirl] How do you continue to cope when you go through
so much by me being young I'm told constantly that I can't hurt
like that because your to young then I have all these specialist
they tell me I've done all I know to do for you and I have a 6yrold
and a young husband that helps but its hard when you suffered
so much take so many meds and have great faith in God!!! I'm
only 26 and my illness began a the age of 20 and I struggle day
to day because so many people think its in your head including
doctors then when they find out its not they don't even know how
to treat you. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Happiness is not determinant on circumstances.
You have to keep going. If a doctor tells you that you
are at the end of the road it is time for a new doctor. In this
journey we will have highs and lows just because you hurt today
does not mean you will hurt forever, no matter what someone tells
you no one knows the outcome of our lives except G_d [Bev] Yes
it appears to me that the more pain we have the more drive we
have with the Lord to get through and help others through it. Do you agree? It is not easy but then I think
nothing worthwhile is easy do you agree? Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Yes
nothing worthwhile is easy thus that is why it is hard and yes
pain can bring us closer to G_d, and
He is there for us to lean on. Please do lean on Him [Bev] God uses us a examples
to help others Yes? [fibrogirl] I hope heaven is a long time away for me I
love the Lord but I do want to see my daughter grow up!!!! Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Yes,
I am here with you only through the grace of God [Carol] Does having Chronic Illness take on the five
steps of dying (A loss of sorts) in which I have read? If so maybe
Anger, being one of the steps,, so it is maybe
normal, but then we move on to next step finally to acceptance?(
Thank you for this inspirational presentation, you are very knowledgeable,
from experience too which makes it even more worthy. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Very
good Carol, living with pain and surrender follows the five steps
it is good to follow them. [Bev] We need to surrender all to the Lord he created
us and he knows us better then we can ever know ourselves Yes? Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Absolutely HOST_Donna --- Rowe, would you be willing to stay a little
after the close of the formal seminar to answer additional questions? Guest_Rowe_Jones --- sure HOST_Donna --- After Jeannie's question/answer, we will close
in prayer so those who have to leave may do so. [jeannie] what do you say to those who maintain that one has pain because either one
has sinned or one doesn't have enough faith? I have run into both
of those, because sometimes I wonder if G-d isn't, in fact, punishing
me Guest_Rowe_Jones --- I don't
believe we are being punished. I used to think I was a bad person
and God was punishing me. It led me down a very negative and destructive
path. Now I am happy to say I think much differently. If you live
with the cloud of punishment over you how are you able to see
the blue sky of hope? Our trials are difficult but God loves us greatly [Carol] We are being 'purified' (excuse my out of sequence
comment) [Bev] Our
God is full of mercy and love and grace he would never hurt us
as back in Noah's time look what he did and he said he would never
do that again if he wanted us out of the picture poof we would
be gone. [Laura] I look inwardly to see what I had done wrong?
Where I had sinned. That is what I was
taught. But nothing revealed itself to me. I also grew into a
knowledge that this is wrong thinking. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Jeannie open you heart and ask God to show
you His lessons that He is teaching you and He will. [jeannie] ok--I will do that HOST_Donna --- Folks, our "formal" time is over.
Let's close in prayer, and those who wish to stay may do
so. Father, thank you for
bringing Rowe to us tonight to show us that there is purpose in
our pain and there are no coincidences, and for showing us that
pain is a task you have given us. It's hard to be in the furnace
of pain and suffering, but when we know you are using it to refine
and purify us, to make us more like your Son, it makes the pain
bearable and gives us hope. Help us to surrender our lives, and our pain, to
You...use us as You will, and remind us that You are with us
in and through it all. In Jesus' name, Amen. Thank you all for coming. Guest_Rowe_Jones --- Amen |
Practical
Applications to Living with Pain