Cora and I have made a commitment to "neither a lender or borrower be". This was a God inspired commitment on our life. We fully expected the decision would be a challenge, but didn't imagine the risk would take on this twist.
Pastor John asked the question, "Are you living your life in a way that is worth telling stories about?" I am afraid of needles. No, that's not right. I am afraid of the pain that needles bring. When I was young, I got real sick. My mother took me to the doctor and he said, 'this shot may hurt a little'. It was bad. It was real bad. It really hurt. It was one of those shots where you see the pain in the face of the nurse giving it. So, I carry that fear with me. The anticipation of the pain the needle is going to bring me.
Last week I cracked a tooth. Have you ever tried to keep smiling with the pain from a cracked tooth always present in the forefront of everything you are doing? Smiles aren't cheap. They cost when the pain from a bad tooth is making the whole side of your face hurt. The solution is easy. Right? Just run to the dentist and get the problem taken care of. You might not have the ready cash to spend, but it is necessary so it makes sense to just whip out the credit card and make the pain go away. But there was a problem....
I had made a decision earlier in the year to take the Bible verse literally, "Neither a lender or borrower be". Cora agreed that would be a good thing. Well I didn't have the money for a dentist, so I (friends and family, also) began praying. I don't know what others prayed, but I prayed for God to heal my tooth. After 3 days of incredible pain. God did not heal my tooth and my prayer changed to, "God it hurts too bad to know what to pray. Please help me to pray such that I experience your abundance in this painful situation". I was in the pit with a lion on a snowy day and I wasn't coming out until God saved me. This was appropriately on Thanksgiving Day. I believe this to be in the humor of God.
So Wednesday Pastor Dave feeling compassion on me, gives me a name of guy who is a dentist and his personal cell number. I called him from the church on Friday and left a message. I'm not sure exactly what I said. But, it contained the information that I had little money and a big tooth ache. Maybe he could help? I prayed a bit and continued working while thinking I'd really wanted God to heal my tooth, because I am chasing God. I believe God is the same today as He was thousands of years ago and we serve a miraculous God. I want that God to be a part of my life and I don't want to miss anything. But, I am beginning to wonder if the lion will be the one climbing out of the pit on a snowy day.
Dentist Rob picked up my message and in God's humor immediately pushed the erase button on his cell phone. Then, I guess thought, "whoops"! So he surfed to the Grace Point website and found my email address and shot me a message that he wanted to talk. He thought he might be able to help. I got the message and gave him a call. Have you ever called a doctor or dentist and said you didn't have any money and would they treat you? I didn't expect the conversation to last very long. At this point in the adventure I don't know who Rob is and frankly my expectations are not very high, but the lion is breathing down my neck.
Paraphrased, I tell Dentist Rob on the phone, that I don't know where his beliefs are when it comes to God, but I am on a quest. I want to see God at work. I've prayed for healing and the tooth still hurts. Finally, I figure out who Rob is and his faithful walk with God. What an encouragement that was. God was at work! Rob asked me where was I? I said I was at the church and he said good. He would pack up his stuff and come right over. Do what? Yep! He said he would pick up the stuff he needed and come right over. Get the picture? I bet he's bringing needles, also. Ha!
I set up a chair in the hallway behind the stage and borrowed a spot light and mic stand to hold it. Dentist Rob showed up with a hand full of sterile tools, needles and whatever. He borrowed some rubber gloves and said he thought the stage spot light was a great idea. He said it'd be about a ten minute process and I'd be done. Awesome. I sat down. Tilted my head back and he shot me up with deadener. I lost count how many times, but I can tell you I was praying. I was praying for God's grace and an easy tooth extraction. After about an hour and in God's humor, Dentist Surgeon Rob says, "well it's time to go to the hospital. If I had a hammer and chisel I could get it out, but will need the air drills at the hospital. Let's go." Did I mention, I had little money and refused to borrow my way out of the problem?
So back to the pit with the lion on a snowy day. I made a choice to live debt free, regardless of the cost. In the pit, the cost seemed high. I had plenty of time to pray in the pit as Rob wrestled with the Lion. I wonder if he knew he was in the pit?
Before the extraction, I prayed over and over again, "God this really hurts. Thank you for the times when the pain subsides. God, please heal my tooth. But God if you choose not to, I understand you are God and whether you heal my tooth or not, I know and am confident you can. So God, please don't let me miss the truth that I will learn from this experience. God please help me to pray the prayers that will be a blessing to others."
And you know what? God is faithful. Rob and I came out of the pit and share the coat of a lion on a cold day.......
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