The Best Therapy

In June of 2012, I fell and broke my left arm clear through.  My shoulder was also severely bruised.  After two-and-a-half months of healing, my orthopedic doc declared I was healed to the point where I could begin 'mild' physical therapy.  My therapist, "Isaac," measured how much I could move my arm - barely 5 or 6 inches away from my body when hanging down.  Then he kindly explained, "I will hurt you.  You will cuss me."

Feeling confident in my ardent desire to work hard enough to return to my pre-break condition and job as a nurse, I told him, "I have a very high toleration for pain.  And that's not my style.  I won't cuss you."  Isaac said nothing.

He was so right!  Every movement of my arm and shoulder was extremely painful.  I took it as best as I could and told him when I couldn't anymore.  But it seemed that the further into a treatment we went, the less clear I could think.

One time my left elbow was bent at a right angle at my side, upwards, and Isaac was slowly moving it backwards.  That was particularly gruesome.  I told him, "If I could hit you, I would!" (I can't believe I actually said that!)  It went on for a few more minutes.  Then I snapped, "I bet no one gives you cookies!"  After another two minutes, I went on to quip, "And if they did, you shouldn't eat them!"

Next we changed to another movement, and I completed the thought, "You know, no one gives me cookies either.  I stick needles in them."  Isaac said not a word, but smiled.

He told me, regarding my left shoulder, "Your scars have scars on them.  I will break them up."  And I'm sure he did!

This current season of Lent before Easter is very similar to physical therapy - it is Therapy for the Soul!  We all have 'sick' souls because of the offenses we commit every day. The practice of 'denying ourselves' of some of our common pleasures is somewhat painful.  There's nothing wrong with eating chocolate, playing computer games, etc., but if we give up something we like for a while, it will give us moral strength.  It will give us the will and discipline to resist 'temptations' to do wrong things when the temptations will inevitably arise.  The challenge is that it is up to each one of us to choose what will do us the most good. This is just between us and God.  But the payoff is in this relationship with God, we will do it because we love him and will become closer.  In the end, this is the relationship with which we most want to concern ourselves!

Lord, we know it's a lot more fun to spoil ourselves as much as we possibly can.  But please, we pray, help us discover the joy in sacrifice, in giving up small things for you!