Okay, so this is funny that I am writing what might be called a "spiritual life metaphor" days after my friend Coffee and I were talking about this concept and how it's taken to the extreme sometimes. I'm not trying to we weird or anything, but this was something I thought about last week.
Last week was a very difficult week for me. Not emotionally or anything, but physically. I got back from Super Summer just drained, and I the day I was leaving my jaw started to hurt. Unusual maybe, but I had my wisdom teeth taken out two weeks earlier. Everything had been okay, but I guess I overdid it, not sure. Anyway, my jaw started to get worse over the weekend. The pain became so bad I could not even chew! Monday comes, and I start to feel this stinging when I drank water or ate something. I then realized - I had canker sores. Bad ones. They hurt bad. Ugh.
They didn't go away either. I did some internet research like any good home physician does, and found that I had what webMD described as "severe" canker sores. I tried some home remedies, no luck. Paid money at the store for some medicines, no luck. What I probably needed was rest, but this week happened to be one of the busiest with lots of talking and singing.
Okay, so you're probably tired of hearing about me and all this and are like, "Get on wit it!" like the crowd in Monty Python and the Search for The Holy Grail. Okay, well, Thursday night I was sitting still for a moment and realized, hey, my mouth doesn't hurt right now. When I went to smile I felt the sting again and thought, "Nope there it is." But I realized, if I didn't move, nothing hurt. I also realized, if I didn't move, nothing was accomplished.
I think there is some spiritual application here. Often when we want to accomplish something for the Kingdom of God it's not a very comfortable or pleasant process. Jesus even said that "10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:10-11
It's easy to just stay put and not do anything, because it's comfortable. It would have been much more comfortable for Jesus to not endure the cross, for Stephen to not be stoned, for Paul to not have endured beatings, and all other martyrs to endure what they have. But they did.
Am I willing to move? Am I willing to be uncomfortable or endure pain?
Sometimes I think I am even wrapped up in my life so much that I do not even want to look at ways I CAN move to where God is moving and working. What is God calling me to do? What is God calling you to do?
So this whole thing may be really corny, but it did make me think about this. Maybe a painful experience in my life can help you think about it as well. Are you willing to move, to go, even if it hurts?
Peace,
Doug - John 15:13
ps...My mouth is semi-normal again. My jaw still hurts. Not as bad though. I am enjoying food and drink once again.
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