Intersection Column | Chronic Peace
- mtlmagazine
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
by Angela Carlisle
I have a lot in common with Allye, the heroine of Shadowed Witness. We both love tea, knitting, and caring for the people we love—particularly by feeding them a home-cooked meal or special dessert. We both find being on time a particularly difficult task (oops). And we both struggle with our health.
That last point wasn’t supposed to be part of Allye’s story. As I wrote book one of The Secrets of Kincaid, saddling exuberant Allye Jessup with a health issue was the furthest thing from my mind—if she was going to have to run from danger, she ought to be able to actually run more than a couple of yards, right? But as I wrestled with figuring out her story, I realized that was one of the missing pieces. Little did I know I was about to embark on a wild medical ride myself.
To be clear, I’ve dealt with chronic illness since I was a teenager—it’s not a new thing for me. But at the beginning of my writing journey, I had been happily in remission for several years. Until I wasn’t. Still, this flare was much milder than previous ones. I could function mostly normally, other than the persistent, gradually worsening fatigue.
By the time the deadline for Allye’s story was looming within sight, however, that mild flare wasn’t mild anymore, and I was showing signs of a mystery illness as well. As you can imagine, none of that was conducive to finding enough energy to write in the spaces between doctor visits, family concerns, a hospital stay, and the demands of my well-loved day job.
But, as with everything else in a writer’s life, it did make for good story fodder. Though most of Allye’s symptoms differ from mine, I was able to pull from my own experiences in a way I hadn’t anticipated to describe some of her struggles with a very real, but undiagnosed, illness. Perhaps more importantly, I was able to write a character who had to choose to trust God with her future, even while knowing that future might be difficult and very well might not look at all like she wanted it to—because that’s what I was having to do.
And you know, there’s a special peace that comes with the decision to trust the Savior with our problems—especially when we realize we can’t handle them on our own. As Philippians 4:17 (ESV) says, it’s the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” That doesn’t make a difficult situation easy, nor does it mean never having to return to that decision and choose trust afresh, but His peace isn’t dependent on life’s circumstances.
In a world where chronic illness seems to be becoming more and more common, I suspect many of my readers either are struggling with their own health or know someone who is. For my fellow chronic illness warriors and anyone else facing a tough situation, I hope Allye’s story is an encouragement to trust God, no matter what. The peace He offers is truly amazing.
About the Author
Angela Carlisle resides in the hills of northern Kentucky and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Her debut novel, Secondary Target, released in 2024 and was a weekly top seller. She prefers to spend her free time reading, baking, and drinking ridiculous quantities of hot tea. Learn more at AngelaCarlisle.com.
About the Book
Murder—that's what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.
Did You Know?
Oxford Journals published a study that shows increasing enthusiasm for community initiatives that focus on strengthening neighbor relationships. Promoting well-being later in life, the study examines the extent to which neighborhood relationships are associated with greater psychological well-being among older adults.
The role of neighbors extends beyond instrumental value. Neighbors’ spontaneous interactions with each other in public spaces—such as restaurants—provide a sense of purpose and structure, community, personal expression, and an outlet for humor.
Neighbor networks promote safety. In-depth interviews with older adults revealed that neighbors who know they can rely on each other alleviates concerns regarding personal safety.
Frequent social contact with those next door. Further studies showed that widowers over the age of 60 found that more frequent social contact with friends and neighbors was associated with a higher sense of well-being.
Do you know your neighbors? Because more than ever, the happiness nurtured by this common-sense idea is actually backed by science. How encouraging is that? But even more importantly, the admonition from the One who knows all, to love our neighbor as ourselves, confirms that happiness is linked to showing kindness and compassion to others, as well as to ourselves, fostering a fulfilling and harmonious life for all.
Source: Continuity and Change in Relationships with Neighbors: Implications for Psychological Well-being in Middle and Later Life.
-Wendy Wilson Spooner, Bathrobe Pool Club, Tales from the Deep End