Minister’s Column
On Monday morning, out of nowhere, I got a shooting pain in my lower back. I tried to move through it and go out to do what I had planned for my day, but it got worse instead of better. By the afternoon I was afraid to stand up after sitting down, because as soon as I was upright the pain was staggering. A day later, thanks to rest and pain medicine, I was fine: most of the pain was gone and I was able to go for a walk and do all of my normal activities.
The experience, however, was a humbling reminder.
I don’t get sick very often and my body is usually free of pain. A sudden debilitating pain, then, is uncommon and very unwelcome. I was super grouchy, and also scared. Standing up from the desk was scary, because I knew the pain would kick in as I became upright. Walking across the room or down the stairs took planning and courage.
One lesson from this day of pain is the miraculous way that my body works normally. Like anything we rely on (a car, a computer, a cell phone, a furnace), we only notice when it doesn’t work. We don’t celebrate when our car starts every day, or when our computer doesn’t crash. And I don’t celebrate my good health with gratitude every day. I felt resentful when my body gave me pain instead of easy function. May I be grateful for my good health.
A second lesson from this experience was to increase my compassion for the many people who have chronic pain. If this made me grouchy and scared for one day, I can’t imagine what a mental and emotional burden it would be to have similar pain every day (or most days). May I be compassionate for those who are sick and those who are in pain.
The final lesson from my brief experience of back pain is that all of us, if we live long enough, will suffer decreased function in our bodies. This collection of nerves and muscles, skin and blood, is an amazing machine that keeps our brains alive and our souls connected to our bodies. For a while. As Cat Stevens says, “Lord, my body has been a good friend--but I won’t need it when I reach the end.” We can and should take care of our bodies with hydration, nutrition, exercise, and rest. And there will come a day when we part ways with our bodies, becoming something else that we can’t know. May I remember that every day is precious, and that life is fleeting.
PRAYER:
Spirit of Life and Love, bless the sick and the healthy today.
May the sick be eased of their pain. May their suffering be less.
May the healthy be grateful and compassionate.
May all know that they are loved, just as they are.
Amen.
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 20, 2023