His Love Frees

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)

Last year I attended a diabetes technology event and a speaker talked about how battling the illness over the years has given her a profound resilience, which she may not have otherwise found. I am thinking of the will power God has provided me too over the years – because today (July 21 2025) marks a very personal and historical moment for me, as an individual. 

Because today marks – in theory – the last day of giving myself daily injections, after 45 years of having type 1 diabetes. Tomorrow I am going to hospital as an outpatient to be fitted with an insulin pump. Technology has advanced so much since the first pumps were invented, to the point that the pump is able to talk to a sensor and adjust sugar levels, with input from myself about carbohydrates. In effect, it’s a rudimentary artificial pancreas. I will be giving one injection every three days rather than 4-6 times per day. 

I am not saying it’s a cure but it’s definitely a major step forward after giving myself about 60,000 injections over the years. And a relief for my pin cushioned body! An old school friend of mine reminded me this morning about how we used to talk about the possibilities of such technology, when we were younger – and I am talking about 30 years ago. 

I guess you could call it a light of hope we had, shining in the darkness, in the midst of a flood of injections over the years. Many times I haven’t had that hope particularly but others have carried the beacon for me. That’s why family and friends are so important. 

As a committed Christian, I see Jesus leading in this new, exciting chapter ahead. This diabetes journey has been lifelong but I know he holds me. He is “the Word” and what he says happens. And all of what is considered true ‘life’ in its proper fulness is contained with him – so it is to him that I go in my daily life. His light burns the darkness in whatever form the shadows are found: health, debt worries (I have a lot of that at the moment!), concern over loved ones, the past, present and future, global conflicts and natural disasters. Injections and pumps. Jesus holds it all in his hands.