> General Discussions

A Lesson Learned

(1/5) > >>

josh:
If I might, I’d like to share something I have been learning…

   Not to limit God to a personality trait, I fully understand (or as best as I can at this point in my walk) that God is not a man… but God surely does have a remarkable sense of humor.

   I often notice it in the way He chooses to teach me things through sometimes silly, yet common facets of everyday life. For example… I have always loved basketball. I played all throughout high school and even had an opportunity to play for a small college here in Pensacola.

   I’m 23 now and still, every week I head up to the gym to play on Monday and Thursday nights. I see guys get injured every week and I always have been thankful that I do not have trouble with my ankles or knees… in fact, until last week… the thought of me being injured while playing basketball never really entered my mind.

   It was the last game of the night… we were up by 6 or 7 points and I had become relaxed knowing that we were only a few points away from being undefeated for the night. The ball was passed in and was being held at the top of the key, directly in front of the goal. I was standing out to the left when I made a sharp cut towards the basket. I threw up both of my hands as I continued forward… trying to catch the bullet pass that was coming in my direction.

   I caught the ball but felt a weird sensation in my pinky finger on my left hand… I heard a crack… and then I screamed. I spent the next few minutes kneeled down on the floor clutching my hand… I’ve jammed my fingers a thousand time… but this was different. I was in a lot of pain… it’s amazing that that amount of pain could radiate from such a small finger.

   Over the week, without the use of my little finger… I began to notice how much I take for granted some of the smaller parts of my body that play such a huge part in my everyday life… each part have a specific purpose… put in it’s perfect place by our wonderful creator.

   All of us at some point have experienced some sort of disability… some temporary… some permanent… some of us were even born without the full function of certain body parts.

   I knew a girl in school who suffered from an auto immune deficiency… along with diabetes… she had a hard life and sometimes found herself very angry with God for not healing her of her aliments… we had a lot of long conversations about why God does not heal everyone… why He allows some to be created with virtually no health problems… and others it seems like do not live a day without suffering from some disease or disability.

   Over the last several days I’ve taken notice of what an amazing parable our bodies are for what God desires for the body of Christ… I have often taken for granted my role in what God is truly working throughout the entire creation… but I am slowly learning to be thankful, not only for my role, but also for the role of everyone else… both in the body of Christ and those outside of the body of Christ… both vessels of honor and dishonor.   

Ephesians 4:15-16
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and up builds itself in love.”

Romans 12:4-6
“For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: …”

Romans 11:32-36
For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.

Grace and Peace.
Josh

rrammfcitktturjsp:
Josh,

  I remember breaking my pinkie finger on my left hand in a basketball game in high school.  At least it was worth it, becuase the shot went in and I got fouled in addition to it.  My pinkie finger, I still played piano with it even though it was broken becuase I had state competition and such.  Well, in the summer it had healed wrong, so I rebroke the sucker and set it right.  I am lucky and blessed to have use of it today as well as it not being a limiting factor in my playing piano.

  Yes, it was a lesson, even though at the time I did not know that God was teaching it to me.  This lesson was one of perserverance and truly working through the pain.  I never want to break another bone in my body ever again, it is too painful.

  To this day, my pinkie does not set at a perfect angle and still juts out, but it makes octaves and other notes in the left hand easier to grab LOL.  So there is good in everything.

  Sincerely,



  Anne C. McGuire

skydreamers:
Great post Josh, thank you for sharing!

Peace, Diana

YellowStone:
Anne that was just to funny.

It just goes to show that there is good in everything, if we look hard enough.

All is according to God,

Love in Christ,
Darren

Rene:

--- Quote from: In Medias Res on March 05, 2007, 03:11:06 PM ---
   Over the week, without the use of my little finger… I began to notice how much I take for granted some of the smaller parts of my body that play such a huge part in my everyday life… each part have a specific purpose… put in it’s perfect place by our wonderful creator.

   
--- End quote ---

Josh,

Perfectly stated.  Also, the analogy to the body of Christ is very clear.  Thanks for reminding me.

Rene'

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page