Parable of the Knee, Glimpse #6

Okay, so I missed a week. I was out of town for most of last week and missed my regular blog writing time. That’s okay, this entry is an important one so let’s get back to the saga.

I did my best to adjust to the new view of my life I’d been given by Dr. M. I would walk when I could and hobble when I couldn’t. I put any thoughts of future physical activities on hold, choosing to cope with the present instead. I wasn’t too good at it at first, but acceptance slowly came along. There are things to delight in, even when you don’t like the overall picture.

For example, I’d always wanted to drive one of those electric carts around the warehouse store where we shop. Now I had the perfect excuse to unplug one, sit on the seat and take off. It was a lot of fun driving up and down the aisles, testing my steering ability around corners and the top speed on straightaways. I had so much fun that I didn't even notice if other people were staring at me or not. I don’t think Curt enjoyed the experience quite as much as I did though. Maybe that’s because he had to jump out of the way a few times. :-)

I chose to use my cane regularly in order to speed along my adjustment to my new, more limited lifestyle. I wasn’t ready to use the electric chair at church, but I knew that could be coming soon. While not fully embracing what looked to me like a boring future, I felt I’d come a long way toward living with my permanent disability. At least that’s what I thought until I met Dr. Christine Sullivan, the new GP I found when I was searching for an orthopedist.

I made an appointment to meet Dr. Sullivan and discuss my coming under her care. She was gracious and professional which put me at ease and gave me confidence. She was pleasantly surprised that the only medication that I took regularly was a multi-vitamin. I was pleasantly surprised that she only worked three days a week in order to leave time for her family. My knee injury was the only dissonant point in our interview. Imagine my surprise, when after listening carefully to the details, she asked if I might be interested in receiving some physical therapy. The orthopedic specialist had never even hinted at the idea which had contributed to my feelings of hopelessness.

I’m sure my eyes lit up. Those of you who know me are aware that everything I’m feeling shows on my face. Here was a medical professional suggesting that my condition could be improved. Wow! The possibility shot through my nervous system like a jolt from a taser gun. Nobody was handing me a magic pill or waving a wand over my leg, but just the idea that maybe the picture wasn’t as dark as Dr. M had made it sound was enough to kindle a spark of hope. Of course, my response was a resounding, “Yes.”

I fairly skipped out of the examining room as I made my way to the departure area, if it’s possible to do that with a cane and a hurting knee. Okay, so maybe it was more my imagination than reality. At least my heart was lightly skipping as I made my first PT appointment for the following week. I headed home with a whole new set of thoughts and prayers. Maybe God wasn’t finished with me yet. Maybe the rotten meniscus wasn’t the end of my life as I knew it. Maybe there was a way that my life of service to my King could be redeemed, at least some of it.

My ride home was the total opposite of my ride to the medical center. The future that I’d refused to contemplate came rushing back into my mind. Sure there would be hard times. Everybody knows physical therapy can be really demanding. But for the first time in weeks I had been given a tiny inkling of a suggestion that my life wasn’t completely shut down. With a tiny touch of hope the whole world had opened up for me. Hm, how did that match my spiritual life?

God gently reminded me of the lessons He’d taught me earlier about hope. First, I’ve come to recognize that when I get to the end of my rope a feeling of hopelessness washes over me. “What’s the point?” is often the phrase that comes to mind. When that happens, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me that I am never without hope because Christ, the source of hope, lives in me. Colossians 1:27 I’ve come to understand that when the Holy Spirit "taps on my shoulder", I need to pay close attention. His intervention is enough to turn my thoughts 180 degrees in the right direction.

• I was reminded that the rotten meniscus couldn’t regenerate itself, but that my rotten soul had already been regenerated by Christ Himself. Ephesians 1:7,8
• No matter what my physical condition might be now or in the future, God has clothed me with the righteousness of His Son and has prepared tasks for me to accomplish. Ephesians 2:10
• Regardless of circumstances or feelings or diagnoses, God has a hold of me and will not let me go. Romans 8:38
• The hope that God has given and is developing in my life does not disappoint. Romans 5:1-8
• The truth is that God has a plan for my life with expectations I cannot fathom, but I choose to embrace with all my heart. Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28-30

I pray that you will take the time to read and consider the above Scriptures as you open your heart to the message the Holy Spirit has for you.

May the Hope of all creation bless you as you rest in Him.