The Holy City Stands, Lights Darkened.
Juxtaposition; a commonly used empty calorie academic word meaning little more than placing one construct or object next to another to allow a conspicuously brief moment of comparison or contrast. Imagine the Louvre museum, draped in all its sixteenth century Baroque and Gothic architecture built by noble Europeans. Now imagine it with a colossal ultramodern glass pyramid doorway built by a Chinaman placed directly in front of THE picturesque location of the museum. That is juxtaposition. A disturbance of the sacred and untouchable – old standing with new – good with bad – to create an imbalance so demanding each piece is acknowledged more than it would have been in solitude. Needless to say, this imbalance, no matter the virtues, pissed more than a few people off.
Last Tuesday, Kari and I walked into Mercy’s NeuroScience Institute that boasts its own “gigantic and ruinous” glass pyramid entrée. Our juxtaposition had nothing to do with architecture and all to do with well-being and a DVD we held in our hands of Kari’s brain. Waiting for the doctor was agonizing, but it allowed for fears to be vocalized, tears to be shed, emotions to be worn, expectations to be lost, and commitments to be reaffirmed. The doctor dimmed the lights and projected axial T2-weighted images of Kari’s brain on the screen to show us what we feared – white lesions – a telltale sign of multiple sclerosis (MS).
After the words “multiple sclerosis” were uttered, only ringing and silence could be heard, despite the doctor’s continuing diagnosis. Images of our own were being projected of loss, pain, and the unknown. Treatment options were being given to Kari and the white flash of the MS bomb hadn’t even dimmed, but it had ignited a wave of fury in me. Why Kari? Of all people? Of us? The one that spreads joy, happiness, and goodwill to her fellow man gets shit on? Why not me? I am the mean one! I am the one that deserves loss and pain. Not her! Not her! I lamented a bad decision by God in that moment and let God know it. Fuck! You want my heart? Here it is! Come and get it dick! Silence.
A week has passed and my prayer hasn’t changed. Kari, of course, is continuing to light the world up with her spirit, hope, and deeds. She is such a beautiful human being made in the image of God. Juxtaposed next to her has been my greatest joy in this life.
Up where the narrow bodies lie, suffused in sundown, The children of God are stretched out under the mountain, Halfway up which the holy city stands, lights darkened. Above the city, the nimbus of nowhere nods and retracts. How is it that everyone seems to want either one or the other? Down here the birds leap like little chipmunks out of the long grasses. Wind piddles about, and “God knows” is the difficult answer.
Pink Slip Scholar 
4 Responses to “The Holy City Stands, Lights Darkened.”
Oh. My. Word!! I am so very mind numbingly sorry to hear this, Lj!!! I am so sorry you guys are having to deal with this!!! At all!! It’s so not fair. It’s really not fair!
I love you guys.
I would like to offer hope, too. But I’ll do that on FB.
May God’s righteous right hand uphold you all.❤️
Wow, very well written. Kari I am so sorry to hear this news and prayers in abundance for you and your family.
LJ, we have never met. Kari and I grew up together in church and I spent countless hours with her family. I can COMPLETELY understand your response! My youngest has a tumor in her abdomin! I was angry and still am to a certain degree but have never felt our God had betrayed us. My anger was toward Satan and his evil ways of trying to get us to turn on our God who has given us so many blessings, like our spouses, our children, friends, our home, job…. One of your greatest blessing is beside you showing His light to you. Kari you are a remarkable beautiful Christian example to us all. And I pray, LJ, that you hold on to that. I have heart issues and my husband tells me to knock it off, he is suppose to go first. I can feel how much you love her because I feel that same kind of love from my own husband. I really liked reading your artical. You and your family are in my prayers.
Big time prayers for you guys. Strong women are a wonder to behold when they face very dire situations. Kari is and will be no different. Watch and wait learn and lean on God and your friends.
You both are awesome. We’re at our best when forced to be at our worst. This is the place Christ shines the brightest.
I’ve seen some amazing women shine very brighly and strong in times like these. Its a wonder to watch and Kari will be the example Christ has in mind when you both face this head on together. Christ shines through the brightest to us and others when we are at our worst. Stay strong for her and the kid. Its not going to be easy but there will be love and laughter and tears to share with us.
You both are awesome keep the faith and it will keep and comfort you both.