Back on the Straight Chair

Straight chairs again. 

I was so careful not to slip on the ice, wearing those Trekkers and walking like an old lady – which I am not (yet). And I didn’t slip on the ice.

But then, last night I popped into the bathroom to wash out the bath between bathers. What did I do? I seem to have leant too far, scrubbed too hard, or prolonged the operation beyond what was necessary. Whatever I did, as soon as I stood up again, I felt it. The stiffness radiating through the lower back. Pulled muscles I think, which is preferable to a slipped disk, obviously. But still...

So a hot shower, a hot water bottle, a warming massage with Ben-Gay, and now moving cautiously, sitting carefully, popping paracetamol and hoping that this all passes in the blink or two of an eye.

Whatever the precautions, life can ambush us. Jesus said that in this life we would have problems, but not to lose heart because he has overcome the world. And that start of that amazing story is what we are all celebrating now. What a Lord we have. What a Saviour. 

Walking into the last week of Advent with my hand in the hand of Jesus, and my heart full of gratitude and my mouth full of praise.

When I’m not walking, though, I’ll be back on the straight chair, thank you.

Hay Fever

The sun comes out. The air is dry. The pollen rises. And ... aachooo!

Not everyone sneezes, snorts, wheezes, and wipes runny eyes. Some people seem immune from the irritation of the pollen.

Hay fever affects so many folks, though, and different pollens are the triggers for different noses. Mine is particularly sensitive to grass. So in this season of flowering grass, my nose tickles and sometimes sneezes burst out uncontrollably. Until I take a pill.

Irritants abound in this world. Jesus said, 'In this world you will have trouble.' We probably didn't need to be told that. But we do need the reassurance of his following statement. 'Take heart, for I have over come the world.'

Take heart. Whatever irritant is affecting your peace today, take heart and trust in Jesus. Try to see the bigger picture. One of my late Dad's favourite reassurances was, 'This too shall pass', and true enough, the grass will finish its flowering and my nose will calm down, and whatever irritant is affecting your life right now will pass and things will calm down.

I can take a pill for my sneezing. There are no pills for most irritants, but there is Jesus. I don't mean that whatever the irritant, we just have to put up with it and trust Jesus to help us with that, because sometimes we need to actually remove ourselves from the proximity of the irritant. There may be people or situations who create so much disturbance that they just need to be avoided.

But some irritants actually enable growth. Look at the oyster. A grain of sand sneaks inside and really irritates the oyster, so it begins to secrete whatever it is that makes a lovely pearl. I don't suppose the pearl is made without real discomfort and maybe pain for the oyster.

May all your irritants today result in pearls, as you allow Jesus to encase them in his love and compassion.