The Bald Goat

This last week, I have been suffering a great deal of pain.  I have had back issues for a few years now and have found great relief by going to the chiropractor.  I had been fairly regular in my visits to the chiropractor, once a month until this summer.  I slacked off and for the past month I have told myself I needed to get back on track.  Minor aches and pains bothered me, but for the most part nothing big.  That is until this last Monday.  It seemed like there was no warning.  The pain got steadily worse as the day went on and by that night, it was intense.  I could not find relief by the typical pain medications.  I found a bottle of codeine left over from a root canal a few years ago and decided to give it a try.  That stuff worked like magic and cut through the pain, but I knew this was not going to be something I should continue to do.  I called the chiropractor the next morning and was able to get an appointment that day to get adjusted.  I have now been three times this week and the pain is more manageable.  When necessary, I can just use tylenol and the pain subsides.

The chiropractor informed me that my symptoms indicate a herniated disc in my spine, but a diagnosis could not be certain without an MRI.  I might eventually need an MRI, but for the time, he can treat my condition all the same.  I am so thankful to be able to be able to go to the doctor and have my needs cared for.

All this being said, I try not to hurt myself or do anything too strenuous.  I have been taking it easy and this is tough because there things that I enjoy doing that push me past my tolerance levels.  Things like lifting my children and carrying them have become extremely taxing.  Not cool.

The other day, one of our older ladies at the church found me and asked if I could help her carry a box of material inside the church for some quilting that was going to happen in a couple weeks.  I agreed and was thankful that it was a small and fairly light box.  Not too bad.

This lady is so sweet and had no idea that I was injured otherwise I am sure she would not have asked.  When she saw me she did not see someone who was broken or wounded.  She could not see my injury or pain.  I looked just fine to her and she had no idea what was going on inside.  I carried around a hidden wound and my healing is slow and difficult.

My wound is physical, but many of us carry around mental or emotional wounds that are just as debilitating and crippling to our spiritual journey with God.  We seem just fine from the outside.  We carry on our lives in front of others as if nothing is wrong most of the time and no one ever knows how we hurt.  Not unless we allow others in on our secret.

My wife has been wonderful.  She is amazing and sensitive and helpful.  She has not allowed me to do things that would cause me pain or continue to injure my back.  She has looked out for me and protected me.  I can’t imagine what it would be like without her love and care.

I know there are a million resources out there on spiritual and emotional healing so I don’t intend to explore all of that her or even to site resources I have found.  Google it and you will come up with more than you will be able to go through.  The one thing that I want to emphasize in this post is the amazing blessing it is to have people around you that you can share your pain with.  People who can love you, help you, hold you accountable so you don’t hurt yourself more, and walk alongside you as you work through your pain.  God blesses us in times like these with the people he surrounds us with and if we are willing we can be used by God to be a blessing to others.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11