From the Pain Clinic Waiting Room

I starting writing this in the pain clinic waiting room at the VA hospital. My son was having a procedure to try to diagnose the source of his constant back pain. I’m pretty sure that lugging 80 pound packs around Afghanistan for over a year has something to do with it.

But explaining it doesn’t fix it. And so I sat there, feeling anxious and unsettled. It seems unfair that a young man should be dealing with chronic back problems, while his old man is in pretty good shape. I wish I could trade places with him.

What helps me is to know that Jesus is Lord of my son’s life, and of mine. Our Jesus said, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). A yoke, of course, is a wooden frame that enables draught animals to pull a load together.

The way you train a young animal to pull a burden is by yoking him with an older, stronger, more experienced animal. The reason Jesus’ yoke is easy and the burden light is that He’s carrying the weight while He teaches us how to walk the right way.

Another thing. Wooden yokes were shaped to the necks of the oxen that bore them. The Greek word translated "easy" can mean "well-fitted." My son's yoke is different from mine, but both were shaped for us by our Savior. The Christian life is about trusting Him to bear the weight and lead the way.

Trust Training

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Go and See

Christ could do a whole lot better without us, right? I mean, He put you and me in charge of evangelism, encouraging others, teaching His word, raising kids, showing mercy. Sometimes I wish He would just tell me to slide over so He can drive.

Apparently He gets us involved and actually works through us, to train us and stretch our faith.

Remember when Christ multiplied the loaves and fishes for the 5000 (and that’s just counting the men, of course)? He said to the disciples, How many loaves do you have? Go and see  (Mark 6:38b). Like you tell a little kid.

Of course He knew how many loaves they had, and how many fish, and how many hungry people were milling around. But the process of looking for resources, finding almost nothing--laughably little compared to the need--was all part of the training.

Having the disciples get the crowd seated in groups was part of it. Blessing and breaking the bread and the fish--that was part of it, too. Then actually feeding all those thousands, followed by the collection of leftovers.

Jesus could have provided manna for the crowd. He did it before, for a vastly superior number and for a much longer period of time. But He chose this way to humble and train His men to trust and depend on Him.

I really admire the Savior for taking the time. I would have given up on me long ago.