An Inconvenience

I made a rather silly comment last week during the early days of suffering with a pinched nerve in my back. In hindsight it’s probably a remark one makes with a great deal of whining while throwing a pity party: “This is really messing up my summer.”  I had plans for the last week in June to focus on some projects for the fall and even bigger plans for July and August. I didn’t need this inconvenience!

How self-absorbed is that!

And then I got thinking…

One of the things I am grateful for is that this inconvenience did not happen during our three-week road trip to BC to visit our son! In fact, the first burning, electrically-charged arrow shooting down my right leg happened the morning after we arrived home! If this had to happen, I have to admit that the timing was perfect. Nevertheless, with summer months in the immediate future, I faced a small dilemma. Do I stay home and rest, or do I head to our trailer and rest there? For me, it was a no-brainer! After a week at home surfing the TV and Netflix and hobbling around our home frustrated and feeling sorry for myself, going to our trailer was the only decision to make. I could apply the hot and cold compresses and do the exercises there just as easily. And besides, if I was going to feel sorry for myself, it was better not to have an audience.

On a more serious note, in being laid aside and having my plans interrupted with this inconvenience, I was forced to put life into perspective and realize a few things.

First, as much as I want to believe it, none of my plans are ever carved in stone. They can be good, healthy, and quite likely productive ones, but very quickly they can become secondary. In this case, listening to my husband, taking care of myself, and getting better took priority.

Secondly—and by far the most important—being laid aside is always an opportunity to remember that I am not the one in control of my life despite my good intentions. Of course I have to make every effort to maintain a healthy body and make wise decisions about what I eat, where I go, and what I do, but ultimately, God is the one in charge of my life.

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but this inconvenience has left me a tad impatient. I want to be pain free… like, yesterday! But it seems that God has another plan for me. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) is  front and centre in my thoughts these days, and I have no alternative but to wait and be still.

In truth, really, the pain is not debilitating; it’s not life-threatening. It’s just an inconvenience for a period of time (Although I’m hoping it will pass sooner than later!) In the meantime, I’m trying very hard to enjoy each day. Having recently received the news of the death of a good friend and a funeral to attend in our immediate future, I am humbly reminded of how precious life is. The reality of my mortality has caused me to think twice about complaining. I’m reminded afresh that it is an opportunity to find enjoyment in the simplest of things, the things I tend to take for granted like the taste of scrambled eggs mixed with an avocado and Himalayan salt, the squawking of blue jays at our feeder, the rhythmic flow of water in our birdbath fountain, a cup of hot chai tea and almond milk, the wisdom and care of my chiropractor, and beyond all of this, my husband’s unfailing patience and love. It’s a time to think, to evaluate, and to thank God for all things, even a pinched nerve.

“Oh [God]!Teach us to live well!
Teach us to live wisely and well.”
A plea by Moses in Psalm 90 from The Message