When I Thought It Was Over

Romans 15:4  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."

2 Corinthians 1:5-7  " For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."



           Today's blog is about enduring strife a little longer than expected.  Sometimes we think, I'll get through this first hurdle and then all will be okay.  Yet, the second and third hurdles are right there close behind for us to jump over.  While many of us wrongfully believed this coronavirus was going to be a 2 to 3 week inconvenience, it has skyrocketed into so much more.  It's affecting our plans, emotions, finances and the way we think.  "In this particular disorienting season, we may feel abandoned, alone, and forgotten by God. The pandemic feels too big. Even as we go through our own losses, anxiety, or pain, we lament the situations of people experiencing poverty or displacement.  As with all of the trials we walk through, He makes use of these experiences to sanctify and lead us closer to Himself. The desert will either draw us deeper into the story of a good God or cause us to turn our backs in favor of our own kingdoms of control.  Our temptation is always to bypass suffering, to get the good life without pain." [intouch.org]

         2 Timothy 4:5-8  " But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.  For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

        "There was no better man than Paul to give advice about endurance under suffering for the Lord Jesus. Paul had been imprisoned, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, cold, and destitute. In spite of all this and more, Paul managed to endure the suffering, finish the race, and keep the faith.  Hardships come in a variety of ways. Temptations, illnesses, lost jobs, broken relationships, and persecution for one’s faith are all forms of hardship. Christians should not be taken by surprise when hardships come: Jesus warned us, “In this world you will have trouble”. The good news is that Jesus followed up His warning with this word of encouragement: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We can endure by His grace.  To endure is more than just continuing to exist; it is continuing to exist in the same manner as before the suffering began. To “endure” does not mean simply to grin and bear it. Christians will feel sad, betrayed, or even angry at times. These emotions in and of themselves are not bad; they only become sin when we allow them to take root in our lives and produce bitterness, evil thoughts of revenge, or unforgiveness. Believers must remember that everything that comes into our lives is under the control of a sovereign God who has promised He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."  [gotquestions.org]

       As for myself, I have endured hardship and been on death's doorstep [more thn once], but God has given me joy through it all, taught me so much about dependence on Christ alone, has continued to use me for His glory and not called me home yet.  In 2010, I was sick with a bad respiratory infection. It was a Monday afternoon, when I went to see my doctor.  He got me in for one of the last procedures of that day at the hospital for a bronchoscopy by him.  A bronchoscopy is where they go down into your lungs and suck stuff out.  I've had this before for inhaled food, fluid and infection.  This time, I had the procedure and after a short wait, I told my doctor I was okay and good to go home.  Are you sure?  Yes!  Well, on the ride home I started feeling the need to cough.  By the time, I got home I was doing all my cough methods to no avail.  I was trying to get okay quickly because we had bible study group led by Grace Mayo at 6pm.  As people started arriving, I was getting worse.  Lisa Gwin helped direct our traffic, as the ambulance came to get me.  The saline used to help flush out my lungs was now compromising my ability to breathe.  Even with my mask and sitting straight up, my parents and Charlene said I was gray-looking all night.  A family friend and pastor at the time, Mike Haigh, came to my bedside and read Scriptures of comfort to me.  Many thought, including me, that my time up might be nearer than we wanted.  Hearing the promises of God and what we, as believers, have to look forward to is a soothing way to remind one that God is right there with you.  God pulled me through it by giving my doctor wisdom, so much prednisone that I was awake for 5 days straight, and strength for 10 days in the hospital.

        I share this story to encourage each of you through the hardship you may feel from the coronavirus.  In your anious moments, remind yourself that God is with you always, turn to Scripture verses that comfort you, and trust in God's timing and control over it all.

Isaiah 40:29  "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."


        

blog topics

4-mask struggles
5-anger

7-on clock w/meds/schedule

9-reading scripture at bedside in hospital

11-

Be Still

Psalm 46

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Isaiah 30:15  "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

   They say history repeats itself, but we can say that's somewhat true in our own lives.  As we are now under self-quarantine in our homes, we feel the cabin fever, the loneliness separated from friends, the boredom of kids, and the lack of privacy or escape to ourselves.  We want to blame those who are reckless with their public behavior and exposing those that have to be out for work, supplies or checking on loved ones.  Can you ever recall a time in your life like this before, at least with some similarity?  For myself, yes I can.

   Every year since I can remember, I have received a flu shot in October.  While I have never had the flu, the shot isn't my only means of self protection.  Just this year in January and February, I've had to miss church and other activities due to people not staying home while sick.  Sure, they may be healthy enough to get over it easily but some of us are not.  This kind of selfishness is not uncommon, but is more magnified with the coronavirus pandemic.  Welcome to my world and think about your impact on others.

So, you feel stuck, trapped and unhappy with your social distancing situation?  I suspect that life will bring you here again, maybe not the same way, but through a personal illness or injury.

'Christians often interpret the command to “be still” as “to be quiet in God’s presence.” While quietness is certainly helpful, the phrase means to stop frantic activity, to let down, and to be still. For God’s people being “still” would involve looking to the Lord for their help (cf. Exodus 14:13); for God’s enemies, being “still” would mean ceasing to fight a battle they cannot win." {gotquestions.org]

During the summer between my 9th and 10th grades, I had 2 rods put along my spine to help with scoliosis.  The curving of my back, scoliosis, was beginning to affect my lung capacity.  Therefore, I needed the support of the rods to straighten me up.  I went to the Norton Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, KY where they had performed over 40 of these surgeries and were doing 3-4 a week.  Arkansas Children's was on their 3rd at the time.  So after two weeks in the hospital, I came home on a long ride in the bed of a friend's van.  I spent my whole summer laying on my back recovering with occasional physical therapy by doing laps around the kitchen/dining room areas.  I was blessed with two great caregivers, Tania Lewis and Missy Meredith, because my parents had to work.  My summer included watching tv, learning how to knit, and waiting on the pool to be built.  No fun, painful but it was for my good.

I write and share this blog to say 'this coronavirus isn't my first rodeo of staying in and cooped up'.  As believers, we will get through this without fear or we will be called home.  I know that I'm okay, either way.  This is what I told my dad right before going in for back surgery at 14.  Can you say that to your loved ones, today?

 Gotquestions.org says it best by saying "When we are still and surrendered to God, we find peace even when the earth gives way, the mountains fall, or the nations go into an uproar and kingdoms fall . When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, remember Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Run to Him, lay down your weapons and fall into His arms. Acknowledge that He is God and that He is exalted in the earth. Be still and know that He is God."

                                             My dad seeing me in ICU for the first time

       

       

Anxious Thoughts

          Today's blog is about an emotion that many are feeling right now and maybe for the first time ever in their life, which is anxiety.  Wikipedia describes anxiety as " a feeling of uneasiness and worry, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing. It is often accompanied by muscular tension, restlessness, fatigue and problems in concentration.  Anxiety is closely related to fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat; anxiety involves the expectation of future threat. People facing anxiety may withdraw from situations which have provoked anxiety in the past."

         The website, gotquestions.org, talks about anxiety from a biblical perspective.  "Probably the best-known passage on anxiety comes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. Our Lord warns us against being anxious about the various cares of this life. For the child of God, even necessities like food and clothing are nothing to worry about. Using examples from God’s creation, Jesus teaches that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and cares about them. If God takes care of simple things like grass, flowers, and birds, won’t He also care for people who are created in His image? Rather than worry over things we cannot control, we should "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [the necessities of life] will be added to you". Putting God first is a cure for anxiety."

         "We can count on the Lord to provide for our needs, protect us from evil, guide us, and keep our souls secure for eternity. We may not be able to prevent anxious thoughts from entering our minds, but we can practice the right response." [gotquestions.org]

Philippians 4:4-9  "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

         
         Anxiety can lead to isolation, but that's not part of God's community plan.  "If we want to approach life fully in the way that Jesus Himself modeled, then we will do life together instead of choosing to go it alone. We weren’t made to celebrate victory alone. We weren’t made to suffer hardship alone. We weren’t made to walk through the dailiness of life alone. We weren’t made to be alone with our thoughts. (Are you as happy as I am about that last one? What a terrifying place the mind can be.) We were made to reach out, to connect, to stay tethered. We were made to live together in the light."  [Allen, Jennie. Get Out of Your Head]  We can still interact with family, friends, our church and others through technology resources, despite having to socially distance ourselves.

        Matthew Henry says "Observe, It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in him always; at all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for him, or are afflicted by him. We must not think the worse of him or of his ways for the hardships we meet with in his service. There is enough in God to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst circumstance on earth. Joy in God is a duty of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again called to it. If good men have not a continual feast, it is their own fault."

        As for myself, I've had anxious thoughts, like everyone else.  Yet, I did not understand the true depth of anxiety on a person until after my fall in 2018 .  I've never been a fearful person by nature, but some of my strong pain medicines had the side effect of anxiety.  It was scary, unnerving, uncomfortable and beyond my ability to control.  My anxiety continued even after I was discharged from the hospital.  Unlike ever before in my life, I not only needed someone in the room with me, I needed them in my line of sight.  I felt ridiculous for having such needs, but I would have sweats, a racing heart rate, and tears of fear without the security of having someone near me.  During the three months of weaning off those harsh pain medicines, my Dad and caregivers slept in my room in a recliner, cot or on an air mattress.  Thankfully, I got off those drugs and my current pain medicine doesn't cause anxiety or fearful thoughts.  I now have more empathy for those who struggle with anxiety for whatever reason.  I know without Jesus, as my Lord and Savior, that my anxiety would be a perplexing and consuming challenge for my everyday life.   Yet, I do have a peace that only God can give...  the comfortable sense of my reconciliation to God and interest in his favor, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, and enjoyment of God hereafter, This peace will keep me from sinning under my troubles, and from sinking under them; keep me calm and sedate, without discomposure of passion, and with inward satisfaction.  There is no other source of peace and calm, about anything or any circumstance, like Jesus can give.

Isaiah 26:3  "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

In The Dark With Present Danger

Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

          While we are dealing with the present danger of the Coronavirus pandemic, I want to blog about the reality of dangers around us in everyday, normal circumstances.  If you are reading this, then you should recognize God's faithfulness to you throughout your life, while surviving the yearly flu, the past bird flu and the common cold that often turns into pneumonia.  We must be mindful, precautious and aware of our surroundings and the dangers that exist in them.

          Since I was a young kid, my parents have taken me fishing.  I love to fish, and especially catch them.  We have had our memorable moments, including a fishing pole involuntarily jumping in the Lake Conway and an almost runaway boat scare on Bull Shoals.  But I want to talk about a certain period of time of fishing in my life.  Since I was age 12, my dad took me down to his cousin's property in Scott, AR to go night fishing with yo-yo's and trot lines.  For those that don't know, yo-yo's are spring loaded devices with fishing line wrapped in it with a hook on the end and trot lines are underwater ropes held by empty bottles with hooks spaced out on the rope.  As I was now old enough at 12, my dad taught me how to drive the boat; on/off the boat ramp, up beside the dock, down the river and up to yo-yo's and trot lines.  So you realize this is in-the-dark fishing and the creatures of the night are all around us in full force.  As my dad sits on the front part of the boat, I am to drive him up into the shore line of trees to get a fish off the yo-yo.  We use a spotlight before going to the tree to see if a fish is dangling or needs new bait.  As we all know, snakes like darkness, trees and camoflague.  Personally, I am not a good snake spotter in day or night.  Snakes are a real and present danger around us all night and the thought of one falling in the boat is terrifying.  The thought of my dad getting bit is scary and frightening too.  We did not panic or abort our fun plans but we were mindful, careful and choosy about which yo-yo's to go to and when.  When my dad would clearly spot a snake and tell me of it, I turned the boat away and moved on to the next.  After many years of fun and good catfish to eat, I can say we were in the realm of danger and fear but God faithfully protected us.

         I share this story to show that God is faithful to protect us, even in regular dangers or new ones.  We are to do our part by being aware of dangers, mindful with our choices, diligent to take precautions and think of others before ourselves.  The Coronavirus outbreak is not a surprise to God and his will of protection will cover us, if we put our trust in Him.  

        World-wide fear is nothing new.  The world has been terrified into panic before.  "C. S. Lewis’s words—written 72 years ago—ring with some relevance for us. Just replace “atomic bomb” with “coronavirus.”
        "In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”
         In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.
         This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds. [— “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays]

        May our trust always be centered on God who is always in control over all things.

Generosity in All Ways

         This week's blog is about generosity and how we are to give in all different ways.  I would suspect that many turn a deaf ear to messages about giving because we think here they go again after my wallet or pocketbook.  Giving can be done with your time, talents, wisdom, resources, material goods, friendship, as well as money.

        "Above all, God demonstrated His generosity when He offered His Son as a sacrifice to atone for our sin. In the face of such generosity, we can only say, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). The gift of Jesus to sinful mankind was the ultimate act of generosity."

         As we are to follow Jesus and his example, that includes being generous with others in all different ways.  1 Timothy 6:17-19  "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,  thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."   The treasure stored up isn't material things for ourselves, but of doing the good works God has set before us to do.  "Those are truly rich who are rich in good works. That they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate: not only to do it, but to do it willingly, for God loves a cheerful giver." [M. Henry]

         Proverbs 19:6  "Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts."  My Dad has taught me and been my example about generosity.  Of course I know he is my biggest fan and is biased when it comes to me, but he is generous to everyone he knows.  While I was growing up, he had to go on business trips pretty often.  There was never a trip that he didn't bring me a gift back from, usually a stuffed animal.  Oh, the looks he must have gotten while flying home with a life-sized Smurf, that I still have to this day along with about 40 other stuffed animals.  He, also, used to bring my mom music boxes or figurines when he returned from trips.  Still even now, he shares his time and resources in the most generous ways.

          When I was about 13, I had earned and saved enough money from doing chores and mowing the grass that I wanted to 'really treat' my parents on their anniversary.  I made reservations by myself at a restaurant inside the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock.  We all went and I had my money rolled up and tucked in my jeans pocket.  I told them, "Order whatever you want, I have it covered."  I was so excited and felt grown up enough to really do something on my own for my parents.  We ate and the bill came.  I reached confidently in my pocket, but it was empty!  Frantically, I looked all around my chair and the table.  I had lost my $80 and my dad paid for the meal.  I was devastated and disappointed in myself that I let everyone down.  As we left, we told the manager the description of the $80, as four $20 bills rolled up together.  It was a long ride home for me because my generosity was now squashed into a heap of frustration.  When we got home, the restaurant called saying that they had found my roll of money.  "Ah, God is so good and there are some honest people in the world"...were my thoughts.

         "The Bible teaches the general principle that those who are generous will find favor: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell” (Proverbs 11:24–26). God’s Word is clear that the generous are remembered and rewarded, whether in this life or the next." [gotquestions.org]

         "In our generosity, we are not to expect repayment in kind. Our reward will come from the Lord, in His way and in His time. We are to show generosity even to our enemies: “If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. . . . If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? . . . But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:29, 34–35)." [gotquestions.org]  I was told this principle by a former pastor that when he lends a tool, he never asks or expects it to be returned but if it is, it's a blessing.

         My generosity continues on to this day but I will not boast about those efforts.  I want to just be an example to others in the same way I was taught and raised to be generous, without expectation of anything in return.  I am blessed and encouraged by the parents who teach their children thankfulness and gratitude.  In this day and age, the sense of entitlement is an obvious sin that is running rampant and needs to be dealt with.

         I have been the recipient of so much generosity by friends and family over the years.  I want to spotlight one of those, as an example.  My friend, Lilly, handmade a huge quilt around age 13 for a class project and she gave it to me.  I hope to one day return it to her as an adult, because it's a treasure to be treasured by her own family one day.

We can apply these encouragements to our own lives and strive to be          generous and wise with everything God has entrusted to us.

What 'Love One Another' Doesn't Mean

        As we wrap up this last week in February, the month we celebrate 'love', I want to blog on what I've seen or experienced myself, as what 'love one another' doesn't mean.  This command, love one another, is addressed directly to Jesus’ followers. Christians are to love one another. This doesn’t mean that we don’t love people who are not Christians. To the contrary, we are to love everyone always. We are to love our neighbors regardless of race, religion, age, or political affiliation.  Love doesn't mean agreeing on issues that are biblically wrong, but it means loving the lost towards Christ.  Romans 5:8 is our example towards this goal, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

      "Having God's unconditional love doesn't mean you have his unconditional approval." [M. McPherson]

       I'll begin with the sinful, hurt of gossip.  Proverbs 11:13 "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret."  I've been on the receiving end of gossip from a friend about another friend that was struggling with a low point in her life.  I immediately said, "STOP, that is gossip and I won't listen to it or be a part of it."   That is how we stop sin in its tracks and show love for the victim of the gossip thread.  As Matthew Henry says, " In the lips of a slanderer and backbiter there is as a fire, not only to brand his neighbor’s reputation, to smoke and sully it, but as a burning fire to consume it."  Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.  There is a difference about gossip in that it has a destructive motive without care or concern for the spoken of.  May we always choose to be peacemakers and build each other up, in and with love.

      Next, I'll confront the issue of sincere love, because the bible has much to say about it.  Romans 12:9 says "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."  A person who was once a friend of mine and to me before conflict arose, now says they 'love me' yet won't refer to me as 'friend' anymore.  That is not sincere love but a twist on semantics.  1 Peter 1:21-23 "Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."   When we are born again, we can love with purity, sincerity, and deeply from our hearts.

        Also, churches can have an inclusive nature that is not welcoming to new people.  This is not healthy or good for the church itself or for people seeking to find the right church home.  The body of Christ is made up of sinners who have been redeemed from their sin-debt through Jesus, but they are not perfect, fail daily, and are forgiven.  God never gave a list of pre-requisites to the command of 'love one another'.  Love is the first step to showing someone to Christ and hopefully towards accepting their gift of salvation.

       Lastly, let me discuss how church can fail to meet our expectations, in regards to loving one another.  "Why are we surprised by failure in the body of Christ?"  So many people I know personally want to know God more but their scars from the Christian community keeps them at a fragile distance.  To them I say, "“If you’re waiting for our church to disappoint you, I promise you we will. In spades. We’re a bunch of sinners.  But if you’re looking for friends who will show you their wounds too, who will go to Jesus with you and trust God to heal us all together, then that’s who we want to be." [intouch.org]  The hurt is real out there, but we can't let people keep us from God's invitation of eternal love and hope.  "With each year’s demographic reports, we hear how people are exiting religious communities at a rapid clip. Curiosity around general “spirituality” is on the rise, but fewer and fewer people have any interest in belonging to actual churches. "  May we recognize our own sinfulness as we encourage others to be a part of our Jesus-led lives and churches, so they might have the same hope and saving grace that we have been given.

         May we love one another in all the 50 ways the bible says to. "By obeying the Spirit, through the Word of God, the believer can love like Christ does. He shows that unconditional, sacrificial, forgiving love to fellow believers, but it doesn’t stop there. He also shows the love of Christ to friends, to family members, to coworkers, etc. Even enemies are the recipients of Christ’s love. Those who love like Christ in the Holy Spirit’s power will give evidence that they are disciples, or learners, of Jesus Christ." [gotquestions.org]

The Power of Touch

          This week's blog is an extension of last week's theme on the weakness in my extremitities.  I had said 'the loss is greater than one could imagine' so I want to expound on what that means.  There is so much that our hands and arms allow us to do that we take for granted.  It's no secret that a pat on the back, a warm embrace or a touch on your hand can make you feel special but what if you can only accept those kinds of love and not give them anymore.  It's an awkward, uncomfortable feeling of what you might call sensory deprivation.
         It is true that it's better to give than receive, but sometimes you just have to be on the receiving end and give in other ways.  I've never been a touchy-feely kind of person but in some ways I regret that now.  I no longer have the ability to reach out and give someone I love a hug.  The best I can do is to lean into their embrace of me.  One person recognized that and said, "I love that you lean into my hug."  Another loss is the ability to reach out and shake someone's hand.  It is awkward on both sides, I hate that I can't and the other person feels bad that they assumed everyone could shake hands and put me in that position.  It's okay and not a crime.  People either get cowardly and avoid me from then on or they switch to a friendly tap on the shoulder or a fist bump my hand.  The latter is preferred.  One last touch I miss is reaching out to pet and love on my animalss by my own power.  My dog rides in my lap in the van and that touch of closeness is priceless.  When I ask, my caregivers will help me pet my furbabies with my hand.
         In a world where so much of our interaction is virtual — Facebook, e-mails, texts — physical contact is more precious than ever.   "Touch is a much more sophisticated system than we ever realized," says Matthew J. Hertenstein, Ph.D."  Touch can boost your immune system and other studies have shown that touch helps asthma, eases migraines, and leads to a more restful night's sleep.  "Scientists are discovering that you don't have to touch another person to receive a sensory lift. Next time you're feeling low, cradle a steaming mug of coffee or tea in your hands." [Good Housekeeping] 
        Even back in biblical times, touch had significant meaning and power.  From the garden in Genesis 3:2-3 "The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”  At Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:12 "Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death."   In Matthew 8:2-3 " A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy."  In Luke 24:38-39, Jesus used the power of touch to prove himself real by  "He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
         So you can see through the many examples I've mentioned in this blog, that the power of touch has great significance.  I encourage you and myself to go out and touch your loved ones, others lives and everything that has breath with love.