My life seems to be going several directions at once. Many things require my attention but really all I want to do is sit on the deck & watch the squirrels get attacked by the blue jays while the bunnies munch on dandelions. *Sigh* I guess I have spring fever!
My Dad, who had his aortic valve replaced a week ago today, is currently on a respirator. It's not quite as bad as that sounds but is still serious. He developed pneumonia, a common complication, & they decided to put him on a respirator on Sunday because trying to breathe was exhausting him. He is heavily sedated but still managed to pull out the tube last night! The pneumonia is clearing up but he will still be on the machine for a couple more days. His heart is doing great, so that is good news.
Here's an interesting spiritual metaphor for you: the surgeon told my Mom that Dad's heart muscle had worked so hard to compensate for the calcified aortic valve, that the heart had actually hardened & grown up into the valve, blocking the flow of blood. They had to actually cut chunks of my Dad's heart away so the new valve would fit & work correctly.
Can you guess where I'm going with this? The heart thought it was only doing its job, pumping away harder & harder. After all, the aorta was in trouble. But all its extra work and effort was just blocking the flow of life that keeps it going in the first place. It worked so hard that it got in the way, and had to be cut back.
That is often me. I think that something isn't going right so I put forth more effort. In fact, I even get puffed up & get "hard of heart", resenting the fact that the situation doesn't seem to be clearing up. I effectively block the flow of the Spirit of God, because I am working in my own strength and not His. God then has to come and cut away the parts of me that are swollen with my own pride. Ouch! I am reminded again that even damaged situations cannot be fixed by my own hard work, but only by God. He is the Healer, not me. My job is to be a clean, strong vessel that the Holy Spirit can flow through and touch others. This is what will help the Body be strong and healthy, and God will get all the glory!
Lori,
I needed to hear that one!
Posted by: Julana | May 18, 2006 at 09:28 AM
Spring fever it might be but a very good lesson that we learn eh!
I just found your blog...if you stop by mine anytime soon...you'll see my kids in the adventure of planting their very first vegetable garden!!! LOL
Hope that you can find the time to come by my blog site and please post a comment when you do...I like for those who visit my site to let me know they've been there :) (you will need to 1. register (FREE), on the right side of my site before you post...this is just to make your visits more personalized, etc. and then 2. click "Leave Your Comments" back at the regular part of my site on any comments that interests you, and then 3. "Post Reply" once the comments page comes up and type your comment).
I'll try to visit your site regularly and hope that you visit mine as well! :) God Bless! :)
Posted by: Jessica | May 23, 2006 at 04:20 PM