Time Quickly Disappeared

The eighth commandment is "Do not steal." Most of us think about robbing an individual, a business, or something similar. These are correct thoughts, and the value of what is taken doesn't matter, it still breaks the command. Therefore, a pen or penny is theft just the same as taking a diamond ring or millions of dollars. However, there is something even more precious that we have been given and regular waste.

Time is a gift from God, but one that vanishes quickly. I have preached a few times on the importance of not stealing time by using it to sin or waste it in too much entertainment. For about the past month, I have been acting as a hypocrite.

In part, the fourth command says that six days you shall labor and rest one. That has changed in the new covenant, but it is more than I will cover in today's update. We are allowed time to rest, and it is necessary, but we need to be careful not to overdue it. 

At most, I only have about five hours a day that I'm upright and can be active. Therefore, I try to be diligent to only play games or upright leisure activities Sunday afternoons. However, since probably mid-December, I haven't had a lot of web work and make excuses to spend an hour 2-3 nights a week in entertainment. This may not seem like a lot of time, but it is a significant part of my day compared to total upright time. Early Monday evening, we received a call that brought time management to high importance.

Last October, my DHS case manager submitted my annual review to have funding for my day-time caregivers. I use a waiver, or exception, to go beyond the regular allotted amount in order to get a full day covered. Monday's phone call let us know that it was denied. Starting February 1, I'll lose a large chunk of what covers my day help.

Therefore, this week was partially spent in research and filing an appeal to the decision. It costs nearly three times the amount to have me in a care facility vs. living at home. Beyond that, without private insurance, my doctors, medications, monthly supplies, and so on would also be charged to the state. I'm looking at the financial strain as well as quality of life. The Olmstead decision by the Supreme Court in 1999 said that all accommodations must be made to live in the least restrictive environment.

It's possible I will have to speak before a judge at some point and plead my case for more funds. My parents can't regularly do more than they already are, but my breathing system is also incompatible with alarm systems in care facilities.

Living the quad life indeed has its challenges. This week's lesson is to make careful use of time as we may quickly lose it. As with everything, I trust in God's care and will look to His plan. This has been a difficult year so far and it looks like the trend will continue.