Mono Free!

For a few months now I have been free of mono. I have tried hard to get back into shape and especially I want to run a 1/2 marathon next summer. It has been an arduous struggle to start running again, which I have not done since high school--nearly 10 years ago. I had hopes of running a marathon after my mission, but when I contracted mono my hopes were dashed. I have been home from the mission for 6 years now and have spent most of my time being very careful to not over-do it physically.

Mono is a debilitating virus which saped all my energy if I was not careful. For the first year after my mission I was very sick and weak from the virus and was not able to do much. As the years passed I got better, but still had to keep a vigilant watch on my physical exersions. I coped well with my weakened state, but many times I desired to be able to run like I once did, or play softball, or hike, or fast; however, because my physical ability was stunted, often daily, to varying degrees, I sometimes was frustrated. Many times when I didn't get 9 hours of sleep, for whatever reason, I was quite tired and unable to function for a day or two.

Last year in Colorado I was debilitated many times because of some long bike rides. I did not have a car in CO and therefore only had my bike to get around. Last October and November I was a bit depressed because of this weakness, but I carried on and struggled to maintain my lifestyle. It was difficult and often depressing, but I overcame. At the end of the Spring semester I was fed-up with mono and being exhausted all the time.

Most of all I was scared that the physical ailment would affect my ability as a father. I wanted to be able to support Melanie when it is needed, and if that requires that I sleep less some nights I don't want to be unable. I wanted to be able to play with my kids and not be fatigued beyond my ability. These are righteous desires, so I decided to petition God that the mono be taken from me. I had previously complained to God about my physical state, but also was not without notice of the many spiritual blessings I had received in my affliction; however the sickness was not taken away.

I spent a lot of time pondering on faith, agency, and the will of God. Previously I had asked with hope that mono would withdraw but possibly without faith, because I didn't quite believe that it was God's plan to interfere, per se. But this past May I pondered more on faith and especially on the Brother of Jared, who seemed to surprise the Lord with his faith and changed the events that followed thereafter. I was sitting through a session in the Vernal temple and prayed about the situation and asked, believing that I would walk away healed without doubt, that mono would be taken from me. I told God that I knew He could do it, that I expected him to, or that after leaving the temple I were going to suppose that the blessing would come. Therefore, it may not have been part of God's initial plan, but because of the example of the Brother of Jared, I asked with great faith and I DID walk away from the temple without mono.

My body has been in an exhausted state for 6 years, so it was not easy to convince it that I was over mono, but I am pleased to say that this past summer I have overcome physical challenges and I have proof. Yesterday I ran in a 5K sponsored by my stake in Greeley and I took first place with a time of 21:30. Over the past few weeks I have trained in the mornings and it has not been easy, but I noticed yesterday that it has gotten easier over time. My best time on a 5K was close to 17:30 in high school, so I think that I have done pretty well. I am over-joyed that God has allowed me to once again do physical things and I know that it is only through him that it is possible.