Living for Christ

As I sat in the waiting room while Aaron was having Ear Surgery recently, I thought about how life is.  We come into the world needing the care of loving parents, families and others to help us figure out this thing called life.  Some come into the world with what seems like no problems and others have so much.  We cannot compare them but we do.  Sometimes life seems to go along perfect and then something happens and throws off our entire mode of living.  We are forever changed.

For what seems like forever, Aaron has had ear infections and problems.  We have been able to keep a pretty good handle on them, at least as much as possible.  He had his first set of tubes at 21 months and he has outgrown his second set last year.  He has had his adenoids out twice and a tonsillectomy last year.  But last year he ended up with a half of his right ear drum gone. 

When the surgeon went in to repair a slit in his left ear drum they had to remove half of it due to the tissue being dead.  However, the good news was that in doing the surgery they discovered dead tissue had fallen into his inner ear.  If that had not been found he would have possibly developed a severe infection.  After some trial and error the dead tissue is all removed and he has a patch, though there are some questions about it holding.

I share this with you today while reflectiing upon our spiritual health – personally and as a church.  There are times when it feels like we are that ear drum.  We don’t want to be trimmed and honed until the viable tissue is available for growth. Yet sometimes that is exactly what we need.  

We need God to prepare us, all of us, to live for Christ.  It is so easy to become filled with how things used to be, with bad experiences and expectations that cannot be met.  However, God provides a way for us to become healthy once more.  May we all seek health and wholeness in all areas of our lives.

It is indeed a joy to hear others stories of God's healing work in others lives.  I hope you will send me some of your stories of God's trimming and honing as you seek to follow Christ.