Post-surgical Reflections
About 10 days ago I had an Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction surgery. The initial injury was the result of a volleyball chase down between me and Tony, our worship leader. He won–big time! 
Within a few days of the injury I was back up on my feet and walking, working, and living pretty normally. Yes, I had pain, weakness, and limited use from the leg, but I wasn’t down in bed and out of service. Until I had the surgery to repair it!
The surgery itself was routine, simple, and short. I had very little post-operative pain and was excited to get back to 100%. However, within 4 days of the surgery something very unexpected happened- I couldn’t even get out of bed. The pain was so excruciating and my whole leg hurt so bad, that all I could do was lay in bed, take another pain pill, and pray for this to pass. It did, and within a few more days I was back up and walking with the help of crutches and a brace. Today, 13 days post-surgery, I’m not even using crutches and moving about pretty freely.
The point of this is not to illicit your sympathies (though, they are always welcome!) it’s to make a point about healing and recovery, and that is this: Things will have to get worse before they get better.
Yes, the initial injury hurt and limited my use of the leg, but it slowed me down very little and I could have proceeded for years without much consequence as long as I limited my activities. But I wasn’t really healthy. I wasn’t 100%. I wouldn’t be able to play volleyball again, go skiing, ride my motorcycle with confidence, swing dance (okay, I don’t really swing dance- but it wouldn’t even be an option without surgery). In order to get back to the person I’m capable of being I had to endure more pain, more damage, and press through more recovery than if I just changed (compromised) my way of life.
Our spiritual journey is much like this. In order to grow, change, become the person God want us to be, we must endure some difficult procedures. There will be problems, pressures, and people, who-at the time-seem to be injuring us, but ultimately are healing us. I’m not saying it will always be fun. In fact, most of the time it will not be fun. But in the end, it will be worth it.
James 1:2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
such an amazing way of putting things. It is so true!
Something that was amazing was to learn that when a shepard would
continue losing the same grazing part of his family, even a single
lamb was so important. When that lamb continued and continued to be
unaccounted for, the shepard would break one of it’s legs. Some
would think of this as cruel now days, but in doing so the lamb
learned to rely on the shepard more, to stop…to wait. I have
viewed lifes jouney as such, sometimes we need a break, or
brokenness to fully rely on our shepard. I once knew a man that was
complete in his belief, in saying…”before a man can gain
anything, he must lose everything”. Few can understand as we lose
loved ones or belongings, but to lose everything…you start with a
slate that is focused. The same focus as a single spark of light in
the purest darkness. Your words are beautiful Jon. I pray one day
our paths will cross, as i have a heart for you my friend. Just
don’t forget the roads and people you have known in life, as some
of them may experience that type of brokenness. God allows us to
meet people for a purpose, sometimes one that is even bigger than
ourselves. Carpe Diem!
Joe Ward - February 19, 2011 at 5:13 pm