A few years back I was injured during a surgery for my shoulder. My back was injured during the transfer from the gurney to the operating table. I was out so I didn't know anything was wrong until I came out of anesthesia about 5 1/2 hours later. I awakened to my back in incredible pain and a few moments later to the realization I was paralyzed from the waist down. My back had been injured and would take 7 days to have the swelling go down and the pressure released on my nerves coming out from the spine. It took me months to recover and when I did, I walked with a cane for about a year. I still have balance problems and they will not be going away. Balance, I've found out, is a very precious gift. Once it's gone, you are living in a totally different world. My habits and actions are all determined by whether or not I have the balance to stand, walk or do other ambulatory activities. The lessons around my injury serve to remind me of what I DO have. I know that is true in the spiritual realm as well. My first spiritual response was to ask the "Why?" question of doctors, medical personnel, physical therapy specialist and the like. My second "Why?" question went out to God. He was silent. Or so I thought. I knew the Scripture of "all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called by him. You know it too. But that question wasn't answered right away. Well, it actually was, I just didn't know it.
The Word tells us that he answer to our prayers are on their way from heaven even before they pass over our lips. He also tells us that he knows our needs even before our asking. So, where was my balance? I indulged in self pity for months and stopped reading the Bible and praying for the most part. Maybe some of you have done the same? It would be several years before I returned to my daily reading and prayer. My physical life would never return to the level of functioning that I once had. Where my reading of the Word and prayer returned to balance, my physical and mental limitations set a new balance point based on where and who I was. Asking for help was a new balance point. Accepting help offered was another. Having been a self-sufficient person I found a new balance of relying on my family, friends, and Christian brothers and sisters. As if this wasn't enough, several years later I would find myself in the hospital after having a heart attack. After double bypass open heart surgery this time I remembered the balance. Though I yet again had a new balance I didn't abandon the Word and prayer. The type of physical activity I could entertain was a new balance. The caution urged by family, friends, and others were a new balance point of level of concern and prayer.
Balance comes to us in many different episodes over our lifetimes. New balance points are a good indicator of your and my ability to adjust to the changes that come to us. It may be the death of a loved one like when my brother died at 57 from cancer or the death of our old dog Buddy. It could be the loss of a job and the taking of a new and better job. It might be that your old car breaking down would push you to having a newer and better car. Hopefully the main balance point with God would always be the most important and the most steady. The Word tells us that he will never leave nor forsake us. Period. Never. Ever. How is that for a solid balance point? I know that life has yet to bring other episodes to me that will require change. What should never change is my love for God and dependence on his strong and unchanging love for me. The lessons from old episodes in my life have served not only my own personal growth but also have been valuable to those who are going through the same or similar situations. Where we are when those situations arise should always be in balance with who we are in Christ. It's a choice. It's always your choice.
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