writing in Lenten grace notes that I had made peace with the night and
began to find the awake time useful for prayer. While that did indeed
become a gift, I am thankful that I have now enjoyed full nights of sleep
for several months! There are just times in life we think we'll never
endure.
What have you struggled in your life to endure? I can think of dozens of
possibilities, everything from pregnancy, broken relationships, physical
disabilities, death of a loved one, mental illness, your job or lack of
one – the list goes on and on. When my father was in Oakcrest Care
Center, I thought his suffering would never end. I couldn't imagine his
body becoming any weaker, until the wee hours of a Mother's Day morning
when it was finally over and his soul was set free. I had clung to the
promise that God is always about life in the face of death, and I searched
for what good could come from his time of suffering. Little by little God
has revealed to me some of the blessing of that time. Our relationship
changed as Dad lost more and more control. It was my turn to be his
advocate and help in his care, and in so doing I was able to find a
tenderness for him and forgiveness that hadn't always been easy. You see,
he was a wonderful man in so many ways, but he had a terrible temper and
fierce need to control that colored our home life. My sister and Mom and
I would often say "if only he would control his temper!"
My physical therapist tells me I'm doing great but will soon reach the
ceiling of what movement I can attain due to the extent of the rotator
cuff injury I had. I've got good range of motion but not very much
strength to keep the arm above my waist for very long – that's the main
thing I'm working on in physical therapy. The surgeon said it would be a
6-9 month recovery period and my arm would never be what it once was, but
I would have no pain and could still use the arm for many things. So now
I am learning to adapt. When I can't get my arm high enough to write on
the board, I put it up there with my other arm and it will stay for
awhile. I don't try to grab a gallon of milk unless it is right in front
of me. I protect that arm from being jerked or strained. It doesn't seem
so much a part of me as it used to when I didn't question what it could
do. Now it's more like something attached to my body that I have to take
care of. I'll bet many of you can relate, and more of you will as your
body ages or you work through the injuries of an accident.
Here are a couple of helpful Bible passages to focus on when you think you
can't endure what you're going through. The first one is from James 1:
2-4, and I'm using The Message version by Eugene Peterson since it is
such plain language:
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at
you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is
forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of
anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and
well-developed, not deficient in any way.
The second passage is from I Corinthians 10: 13 -
13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what
others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never
let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always
be there to help you come through it.
This time of transition at Salem might seem like a time to endure, but
there will be gifts in it as well. Maybe we'll find our relationships
changing some as we are called to greater or different responsibilities.
Maybe we'll seek the Lord more in prayer. Maybe we'll find ways to adapt.
Maybe we'll discover things about ourselves we never knew or things about
the Lord as we hear God's Word through a new vessel.
Let's open ourselves to what God will work in us the next few months and
years as we learn from new leaders and look at our strengths and
weaknesses as a congregation. We'll never be what we were – God is always
doing a new thing and bringing life from death. Hallelujah. We're in
good hands, for the very hands that created the heavens from nothing longs
to hold our hand and heart.
God be with you. God is with you.
Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, IL
Salem Opportunities:
· Share your bread – bring a gift for Salem's food pantry ministry
· Pray for the sick, lonely, discouraged, exhausted as well as family,
friends, church, government
· Worship at 5,8,10:30 this weekend as Diaconal Minister Judy Bergeson
brings the Word
· Make time in your schedule to serve – check the bulletin announcements
and say "yes".
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