"These muscles are angry."
Words spoken by my chiropractor as she delved deeply into my shoulder tissue, stretching my neck while massaging tender places on the opposite side.
This, after I had taken a deep breath in, lying on my stomach, and let it out slowly, only to have her hands come down powerfully in the middle of my back, releasing an audible, unwitting "HUH!" from my lips.
Why would anyone submit to this treatment?!
Because whatever Dr. Denniston does is for my good. (Anyone see where I'm going with this?)
Most of us don't want God or other people poking and prodding in our lives, especially when it reveals something uncomfortable or downright sinful. Conversations with friends that push back on my bad theology or question my motivations and behaviors are unpleasant. God's Word shining its objective light into the dark recesses of my conscience can illuminate areas of my life that aren't holy. Sometimes it's unpleasant; sometimes it's painful.
But what's the goal of opening ourselves up to the scrutiny and treatment of those we trust? Hopefully our goal is wholeness and health. Nothing short of transformation.
Jesus told the religious leaders of His time: "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." (Mark 7:8) That could not have been easy to hear, especially because the rebuke was so public. Jesus was exposing the wrong motivation of their hearts: they were all about themselves and not about God. Ouch.
So the reason I seek out the objective truth of God's Word and the authentic conversations of trusted friends is because I want that stuff out of me! I want and need help seeing my personal blind spots, even if it's uncomfortable. Even if it makes me angry and defensive at first. Because in the process of examining truth in the inmost parts (Psalm 51), I move forward in the transformation process of becoming more like Jesus. And in understanding Him more and more.
And as I've discovered in chiropractic care, sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. Adjusting one area that's out of alignment requires that our whole bodies make the shift and feel the brunt of the change. But there are devastating effects of vertebral subluxation if we allow the misalignment to continue. (Right, Dr. D?)
Lord, open my heart to the unerring truth of your Word, the clear and powerful conviction of your Holy Spirit, and the trusted words of friends who love me like you do. Would you do whatever it takes to align me with your will to reflect your glory to the world around me. Amen.
Oh my goodness. You are an excellent student of chiropractic and your analogy was perfect. Thank you oh wise one!!
ReplyDeleteYour are so insightful and as always keeping your eye on Gods words for us. For me, I have to be cautious to not read this and think of others that need to be aligned. I have to continue to look at myself and how short I fall. Trusting God has plans of his own for those close to me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love your term "personal blind spots." I was challenged last week by a speaker I heard and one of the things specifically that he said was that a huge component of humility is vulnerability. As I move toward becoming more vulnerable and really "listening" to feedback rather than just hearing it, that is definitely a term I will keep in the back of my mind. We all have those non-objective blind spots and for me at least, it implies that God may be trying to illuminate those blind spots through the people in my life. When I think about it like that it doesn't make hearing those hard things any less difficult, but I hope I will be a little less defensive in my reaction to it and more willing to examine it and apply or adjust the truths that God is revealing. Thanks for the revised insight! :)
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