Soothing Soothing Soothing....

All right, this isn't right. Those of you familiar with Facebook know that they have a whole department labeled "Snoops". The role of the Snoops crew is to read every post of their assigned Snoop-ee, and then target ads to that Facebook user. Those ads scroll down along the right side of the Facebook page. Normally I ignore those ads, but one today caught my eye: "Constipation."

Now I am not going to divulge to a potentially international audience whether or not I suffer from constipation, but I am virtually certain that even if I do, I certainly have never written any emails about that condition. I am wondering how and where the Snoops department came up with that one.

What I will divulge is that I do suffer from chronic neck pain. Sometimes it is less severe than others, but I sleep on a special pillow, I am careful never to sleep on my stomach or my neck cricks horribly, and I can never turn my head very long to one side without pain. I mentioned this to my sister while in Vegas and she recommended a simple cure called "Wonder Balls." Since I can't afford chiropractors and am frankly a little frightened by all their cracking and snapping, I ordered the balls which are very inexpensive and I even had an Amazon gift certificate that covered them. They arrived yesterday. They are grapefruit sized squishy blue balls. A small booklet of exercises came with them. The exercises are simple. Basically, one is supposed to put the ball under the sore joint and let one's body "sink into the ball" while doing relaxed breathing. Small movements are added to the repertoire, all of which feel almost as wonderful as going to the hairdresser for a scalp and neck massage. (Again, not ideal, but cheaper than a chiropractor and you get a haircut as well as neck treatment.)

Arvo walked into the room and saw me lying there, eyes closed, arms outstretched, flat on my back totally relaxed as I was sinking into the blue ball.

"Oh!" he cried, as I opened one eye,"I thought you were dead!"

At any rate, the Wonder Ball book makes pretty astonishing claims. Most people have immediate pain relief, though not all. Most people report other benefits like sleeping more soundly or relief from constipation (!), and everyone finds them helpful for whatever body joint/muscular tightness they have. I did enjoy the utter peacefulness of the gentle exercises, and the pressure of my "body sinking into the ball" was like a balmy moonlit night on Hilton Head Island....soothing, soothing, soothing....

This morning I awoke and realized my neck pain which has been here for 3 months this latest bout was GONE. If I turned my head to the end of its range, I could still feel the crick but it was definitely improved. My neck feels tired, like weak muscles are now being asked to work. If there is subtle realignment going on, I guess that would make sense. At any rate, as the Monkees sang in the 60s concert we just attended, "I'm a believer."

A friend called with unbearable problems yesterday. I was on the phone off and on with her all day, advising and mostly just listening. The last call was a hopeful one. It looked like miraculously, the problem would be resolved. I am hoping and praying for such instant relief. She has suffered many years and it is time for a Wonder Ball type of immediate remedy in my eyes. I know that sometimes God has a different understanding of how much we can bear before we will break. He has a Snoops department too, a host of angelic beings that know our needs even before we do. Their purpose is never to advertise their presence or their help, however...their purpose is always to direct our attention back to God. One of His promises throughout the Bible is ultimately He WILL grant relief. Instead of sinking into a grapefruit sized blue ball, we are urged to sink into Him. I have found that when I do, when I truly let go and rest in Him, it is soothing, soothing, soothing like a balmy moonlit night in Heaven.

Psalm 4:1
Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.



-save a dog- hollowcreekfarm.org