Journal

For east or west all woods must fail . . .

-- The Lord of the Rings, J R R Tolkein

it seems to me that

many celiacs have chosen to live in the hard land of the Winter,

but I have chosen to live in the hushed excitement of Winter.

I accept winter as part of the circle of life;

I greet it by accepting the Promise of rebirth

with the knowledge that the Promise will be fulfilled.

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. 


All the days ordained for me were written in your book 
before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts! How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them, 
they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake, I am still with you.
 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil 

it is interesting to see how people assume I think.

maybe I just don't believe in "celiac disease";

that would explain why they can't find "celiac" genes.

perhaps we are "canaries in the coal mine',

a warning that agriculture is delivering poison to the people.

"gluten" activates the innate immune system;

researchers would say "pro-inflammatory", but

the advertising claim would be "strengthens the immune system".

because the innate immune system fights viral and other infections,

most people who eat grain would have improved disease resistance. 

but, we are the ones with the "strongest" immune system;

although "strengthening" our immune system makes us sick.

our common bond is our health, not our "disease".

many other foods, including milk, corn, and soy,

also "strengthen the immune system"; is that why they trouble some of us? 

maybe we are the canaries in the coal mine;

maybe everyone else needs to realize

that we have stopped singing . . .