Painkillers

Yesterday, I wrote about how my left shoulder had seized up.  Today, it has been much looser and I can turn my head without turning my whole body.  But it is still stiff and sore. 

 

A lot of the pain has been eased as a result of some very strong painkillers, for which I am very grateful.

 

They have dulled the pain to a mild tenderness and inconvenience, rather than a throbbing and nauseating ache.

 

However, whilst the painkillers have dulled the pain, and things seem to be getting better, painkillers can be deceptive.  We can think that we're healed and recovered, but they really only mask the pain.  Sometimes we can be tempted to try using those muscles again - lifting heavy objects, exercising again, etc. - because they feel as though they are healed.  But when we do this, we can end up causing ourselves more pain and greater injury because we're not really healed.

 

Painkillers numb the pain, but they don't really get to the heart of things.

 

In life, we can sometimes take emotional or spiritual painkillers, too.  We can find ways of dulling the pain and hiding the ache, so that we don't have to endure it. 

 

it is always easier to take painkillers and to mask the pain, rather than to expose it and endure it, in order to heal it.

 

But things can't heal properly unless we expose them and acknowledge our need for healing. 

 

And when we do, God promises to step in and to heal our hurting hearts:

"If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there."

[Psalm 34:18 MSG]

and

 

         "He heals the brokenhearted
         and binds up their wounds."

 

         [Psalm 147:3 NIV]

 

But in order for our wounds to be healed, we need to stop taking the painkillers that numb the pain and acknowledge it instead.

 

These are the words of the chorus from 'Healing Begins' by Tenth Avenue North -

 

       "This is where the healing begins

       This is where the healing starts

       When you come to where you're broken inside

       The light meets dark."

 

 

 

When You Fall

I was just reflecting on what to write about today as I popped out to the supermarket.  I crouched down to look at the bread, stood up and, seconds later, found myself sprawling on the floor.

 

A stray puddle claimed me as its victim.

 

It took me completely by surprise - one minute I was thinking about bread, the next I was on the floor.

 

I don't think we ever get used to falling over.

 

I don't think we ever get used to that feeling of complete powerlessness and surprise.  We realise what is happening and we also realise that we are incapable of stopping it in the same moment.  So we try and brace ourselves, but there isn't enough time.

 

Thankfully several people rushed to my side and helped me to my feet.  They helped me to a chair and got me some frozen peas and made sure I was alright before I came home.  I didn't know them, but they helped me and supported me.

 

The Bible says,

 

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.  But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm.  But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

 

[Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT] 

 

Thankfully when I took a tumble, there were people around to help me to my feet.   They reached out and helped. 

 

If I had been alone, I would have got myself up and home again, but I think more than my legs would have been bruised: we need other people to support and strengthen us.  We need to look out for each other and support each other and, most importantly, pick each other up when we fall - both literally and metaphorically.

 

These are the words of the chorus of one of my favourite songs ['By Your Side' by Tenth Avenue North]:

 

        And I'll be by your side
        Wherever you fall
        In the dead of night
        Whenever you call
        And please don't fight
        These hands that are holding you
        My hands are holding you

 

 We weren't meant to walk this life alone.