Hidden Malady

Poor Honeybun woke up yesterday morning unable to walk and stumbling like a drunken sailor. She lay her head back down, and didn't even get up at the sound of breakfast preparation. I hurried her to the vet, asking the technicians to come out and carry her in for me. When they did so, and then put her down on the ground, she was able to walk, though still a little wobbly. The vet poked, and pulled, and prodded and decided the issue was not in her legs, as far as he could tell. I told him she had seemed funny all day the day before yesterday and had vomited on her walk. She was sniffing in a corner, at that point, shook her head, and almost fell down. The vet decided that it looked like vertigo, and he suspected an inner ear infection. So, Honeybun is on ear drops, antibiotics, and cortisone pills to heal the suspected ear problem. Since she has the funny dropped ear, she is prone to ear issues. I have had vertigo, and he was right- the way she was stumbling looked like vertigo.

Poor little dog slept all day, drugged out and probably dizzy. The good news was the vet expressed her anal glands, something she has never gotten the knack of doing herself. (If you don't know what that is, don't worry. In this case, ignorance is bliss.) I felt so sorry for her, and wished she could have told us what was wrong. It is so hard when the problem is hidden deep inside and can't be seen or touched...only the awful effects felt.

So it is with hidden sin, I thought. It is why God so abhors sin. It eats away from the inside out, and causes so much pain and despair. And even worse, the psalmist tells us that we are as unable to discern our own sin at times as the vet was unable to discern what hidden problem was causing my dog to reel as though she had consumed a pint of whiskey. What hope is there, then, if we cannot even define the problem!?

None. Outside of God, I believe there is no hope. I am so glad that no one has to remain outside of God unless they so desire.

Psalm 19:12-14 (NIV)
But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. [13] Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. [14] May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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