Faith at Work
Photo by Hana Soar Photography
You know how the Lord sows a seed of an idea in your heart and mind? Perhaps through scripture, a prophetic word, or a growing desire. You then have a choice to either water that seed and cooperate with Him to bring that idea to fruition or not. Sometimes the seed can lie dormant for a while, being watered by faith and patience until the right season.
That was my experience writing The Fatigue Book. I am not a writer, but still the Lord helped me to use my skills and experiences to share my faith throughout the writing, editing and publishing process. Here’s what happened.
About five years ago, I sensed the Lord wanted me to write a book. It seemed an impossible task as I have always struggled with spelling and grammar, but ideas kept coming at random times, for example in the shower or in my dreams.
A few years later, in 2020, I retired from the NHS as an occupational therapist and family therapist/systemic psychotherapist, having spent the previous fifteen years working in fatigue management. With the added restrictions of the pandemic, I had space in my diary to water that seed of an idea.
Initially, it was a battle. I couldn’t seem to put my ideas onto paper. I longed to see the end product without all the blood, sweat and tears. I wonder how many other seeds I have let wither in my life when the going got tough.
To make it through, I enlisted prayer support and accountability, as well as a proofreader. I started working with my daughter, Rachel, who is a talented illustrator. Little by little, sentence by sentence, chapter by chapter, the book developed.
I completed the initial draft and invited various professionals and people affected by long COVID or CFS/ME to review and comment. A dear friend and colleague read the manuscript and offered to write the foreword for the book. Her words move me to tears every time I read them. This is what she says:
Lydia’s faith is an incredibly important part of who she is as a person, and what guides her in her life. To those who know her, this faith shines through in all that she says or does. I am not a Christian, and nor do I hold a faith. However, knowing Lydia and seeing how her faith guides her to make such a difference to people’s lives, makes me curious about there being a power higher than ourselves which can heal and guide us in our darkest moments.
“I am not a Christian, and nor do I hold a faith. However, knowing Lydia and seeing how her faith guides her to make such a difference to people’s lives, makes me curious.”
When we worked together, Lydia would often talk about people having little hope at the start of their journey with chronic fatigue, and how it is important at that time for us to ‘hold the hope for them’. It does not matter in reading this book if you have no faith, or a different faith, all I would encourage of you is to be open to what she has to offer. If nothing else, maybe you can let Lydia’s faith in her God hold you now in your current uncertainty, and as a scientist practitioner I can hold the scientific faith that these methods can and will lead to your recovery, if applied with patience, determination and courage.
Her foreword is a powerful reminder to me that people observe our lives: that through us they can be drawn closer to God. My frequent prayer is that as Christians we would ‘let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’. (Matt 5:16)
Finally finished, I sought a secular publisher for The Fatigue Book. To my astonishment, it was accepted by the first publisher I approached, despite the book containing scripture references and crafted prayers! It is now available around the world: on library shelves in South Africa and even in some countries that are officially closed to Christianity. As I write this article, I’ve just had the news that The Fatigue Book has been reprinted. Praise God!
For reflection:
What seeds from the Lord are you watering in your life? In what ways can they help as you let your light shine?
What might hinder their growth?
What might facilitate their growth?
Who can support you in this process?
The Fatigue Book - chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID fatigue: practical tips for recovery by Lydia Rolley. Illustrated by Rachel Alice Leggett. Published by Hammersmith Health Books (October 22).
The Fatigue Book is a practical guide to managing chronic fatigue, whatever its cause, to enable recovery at a pace that works for the individual. Author Lydia Rolley brings her unique joint training and experience in occupational therapy and psychotherapy at a specialist NHS fatigue clinic to provide an approach that recognises physical, mental and emotional/social needs suited to the individual. The book contains 100 proven fatigue management tips drawn from the author’s personal and professional experience and is suitable for people of all ages affected by long COVID, CFS/ME and other chronic conditions, and for their family and friends.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that, at the beginning of March 2021, over a million people in the UK had reported symptoms associated with Long COVID (also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome or Long Haulers). By April 2022 this number had risen to 1.7 million people in the UK – 2.7% of the population. More than half of these people reported that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been negatively impacted by their symptoms. Fatigue is the most dominant and widely reported symptom.
Long COVID is a relatively new condition, but Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) has been around for a long time. Countless people of all ages suffer from this condition, which has often been misunderstood, overlooked and under-resourced. Despite some of the reported differences between these two conditions and the many unknowns of long COVID, there is a significant overlap. Both these relapsing and remitting conditions present with fluctuating, ongoing, profound and debilitating fatigue – chronic fatigue.
‘Be Kind To Yourself, by Rachel Alice Leggett’
Lydia is a recently retired occupational therapist and systemic psychotherapist / family therapist. Throughout her career she has worked in various mental and physical health NHS settings, including over 15 years as part of a specialist regional chronic fatigue management service.
Lydia has her own lived experience of CFS/ME and when diagnosed many years ago, she was given no support or guidance. She rarely talks about her experience, but it has fuelled her desire, over the years, to work collaboratively and enable people in their recovery journey.
Sheffield has been her home for many years. She loves spending time with family and friends and exploring all that Sheffield and the surrounding beautiful countryside has to offer.
She can be contacted at thefatiguebook@gmail.com