Troubles

Did you know that when you sneeze you use your coccyx muscles? Smash your coccyx and I guarantee you will know that. Pain from a sneeze can last hours. And did you know it is impossible to follow doc's orders to "rest your coccyx" since the very act of resting it hurts. It is surprising how few things one can do that does not directly affect the coccyx.

And also, did you know that when a vet recommends stitches come out between 10-14 days, it is best to wait till 14 days so dogs don't lick the newly unstitched wound open? 10 days is too soon.

In both cases, I unfortunately speak from experience.

Things happen that way sometimes, don't they? You think you are on the sunny path out of the woods, on the way to Grandmother's house, and the wolf appears. You think you are finally at the Wizard's door about to receive a brain and a heart, and instead you are handed another impossible task. You think Pharaoh will let your people go, just like he promised and he keeps backing down from his vows, and your people are still slaves. You think that troubles come in threes so you are now ready to sail smooth waters after three disturbing shipwrecks, and then you hit an iceberg.

The cone goes back on your head for four days, no exceptions. The donut pillow goes under your bottom, no exceptions. And you wonder, why is there even a word for "easy"? Why create a word that can never be uttered?

Paul in the Bible gives us a glimpse into why sometimes we are denied the easy path. If things are too easy, we become conceited and complacent. When things seem to be beyond us, we have no choice but to call for help. If we could do it all on our own strength, we wouldn't need God. In our weakness, in our failings, in our crashing and burning, God can do His best work. And we know without Him where we really stand, and an aching coccyx would be the least of our problems there.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


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