Faith keeps me moving, even when the way forward is uncertain

On April 14, 1912, shortly before midnight, the Titanic struck an iceberg that would sink the ship and bring more than 1,500 people down to watery graves. Decades later, on Dec. 28, 1978, United Airlines Flight 173 circled in the sky south of Portland International Airport in Oregon. While the crew was distracted by landing gear problems, the plane ran out of fuel and crashed several miles from the airport, killing 10 and injuring dozens. As was the case with the Titanic, uncertainty proved deadly.

These tragedies remind us how perilous life can be when the way forward is hidden. For those of us living with myasthenia gravis (MG), the metaphor is painfully familiar. MG brings its own kind of uncertainty. Sudden muscle weakness, blurred vision, fatigue that arrives without warning, and choking fits are some examples. Like sailors on a dark sea, we move forward not by sight, but by trust. We’re similar to the early Christians of Corinth, who “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, King James Version).

A 2015 article published in the Australasian Journal of Neuroscience sums it up: “A person with MG lives in a dynamic equilibrium in their world where the experiences of uncertainty, weakness and change are interlinked and always present in some shape or form.”

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With myasthenia gravis, uncertainty is the only certainty

A morning that begins with relative strength may, by afternoon, collapse into exhaustion so heavy that even climbing stairs becomes impossible. The danger isn’t always visible, but it’s always real. It creates a state of heightened vigilance, as we’re never entirely certain what the next hour will bring.

Survivors of disasters often speak of the belief that a path forward must exist, even when sight is blocked. Faith doesn’t guarantee clarity, but it provides courage to take the next step.

In 1991, activist Marian Wright Edelman recalled orations from Martin Luther King Jr. to Mother Jones magazine:

“I remember him discussing openly his gloom, depression, his fears, admitting that he didn’t know what the next step was. He would then say: ‘Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.'”

That step may demand all the energy and focus we have. Crucially, it may help us avoid the iceberg or safely land the plane.

We’re not alone

Those on the Titanic and Flight 173 faced the disaster together. Likewise, those of us with MG depend on family, friends, doctors, and fellow patients to help us navigate uncertainty and to steady us when danger lurks ahead.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (King James Version) says it best: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow …” In my own journey, I have found that sharing my vulnerability doesn’t indicate weakness. Asking for help strengthens my bonds with others.

The Titanic teaches us how quickly life can change when the unseen strikes. Flight 173 shows us how the fog of confusion and distraction can lead to tragedy. Daily, MG reminds us that life is lived in uncertainty. Yet we do not despair.

As French writer and philosopher Albert Camus wrote, “In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”

Living with faith despite the fog of MG is not about having clarity. It’s about trusting that even when the way forward is hidden, we aren’t walking alone. And when the fog feels too thick to move through, it helps to remember a bit of humor:

“When life shuts a door, open it again. It’s a door. That’s how they work.” — Unknown

Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.