Hurry Up And Hurry

OUCH!! The cry escaped my gritting teeth in spite of my best efforts to contain it. The chiropractor smiled and said, "good!" "What? He thinks this pain is good?"...my mind raced. "How mean is that?"

I was in an accident a couple years ago and since that time I've had serious back pain. Over time, instead of getting better, it has gotten significantly worse, to the point that I was spending more time in a reclining position than any other. The doctors wanted only to operate and I am not keen on that idea, so I decided to take the advice of a friend and made an appointment to see this certain chiropractor. My time there has extended over many weeks of multiple treatments.

This particular day, the chiropractor was trying to loosen up a tight muscle that extended through my lower back and down my right leg. This process was one that caused extreme pain, hence the “ouch” (which was greatly shortened from the things which were trying to come out of my mouth.) Upon seeing the look on my face, which I am sure was far less than friendly, the doctor quickly explained his seemingly heartless exclamation. It seems that the pain was a good indicator that the pinched nerve in my back was healing and it also told him he was pushing in the right place. Hmm... He further informed me that the painful muscle spasms I have been experiencing were another proof that the nerve was healing. Well, it turns out he must have been right because I feel better today than I have in at least a year. I am able to be much more active without the constant misery that used to shadow me day and night. Now he has me on a rehabilitation program which includes a lot of exercises and stretches all of which are tiring and painful...Big surprise!

I have noticed that my spiritual health works in much the same way as my physical health.

I am a person who has spent numerous years rushing around. I was in a hurry to be in a hurry. My sleep was short lived and fitful. I greeted the day with a growl and jumped to my feet to rush out and get some coffee and donuts which infused me with just enough nervous energy to propel me through another day. When I drove, I was a wreck waiting to happen, though God graciously spared me from ever causing one. Waiting at a red light was torture to me, and speed limits were pointless instruments of cruelty. I ate so fast I had no time to chew, or taste for that matter, and lived on the edge of my seat until I had forgotten what it meant to sit back and relax. In short I was hard wired, stressed out, stretched out, worn out, and forever stuck on this hamster wheel, running as fast as I could but going no where.

It is no shock, then, to find that God's solution to my problem was to sit me down. This He did quite literally. Then He moved me to Critter Patch where I could really practice the art of slowing down. I don't believe there is a more suitable school for this learning than right where I'm at. When I first moved here, I thought I would lose my mind. I didn't know that such relaxed people existed on this modern planet. The drive to town is 16 miles, yet amazingly it takes a full half hour to forty five minutes to travel it. It seems people must actually enjoy their drive and settle down to take in the scenery between their house and town. They drive along like they are in a sightseeing parade and no one seems to mind. Once in town, people saunter around the store, stopping to pick up and examine things before putting them in the cart. They even stand around and chat in the aisles as though they are at a church picnic. At the register the cashier smiles and strikes up conversation with every customer as though they are old friends and the length of the line seems to have no bearing on the length of their conversation. Of course, I found that the fast food restaurants are really NOT, and the real restaurants ~ well, forget about it. They are like lounging at mom's house waiting on Thanksgiving dinner. One of the most incredible discoveries for me was that my bank has a chair in front of each teller. At first, I was confused about the purpose of such a chair, but I quickly discovered their necessity, as I found that a simple deposit can easily take forty five minutes. One day I really lost my patience and told them I could see why they had no drive thru, transactions take so long the line would be blocking the highway. They just looked at me with a puzzled expression. Since that time I find that I am much happier if I just walk in, sit down and pretend I'm socializing in a coffee shop. It took no time for me to discover I must quit drinking caffeine. After that, I found that slowing down was an easier chore.

But still I would get impatient. I would go home and pray for God to give me patience and things would be twice as bad the next day. It seemed that every slow person on the planet would crawl out of the woodwork and onto the road in front of me. I discovered that when I prayed for more faith something would happen to test my faith. When I complained to God, He asked me a simple question: "My child, do want to get stronger, or do you want to stay flabby and weak?" Then I began to get it. Just like my physical muscles, my spiritual muscles must be exercised in order to grow stronger. They must be stretched to become effective. My character can not grow unless it is tried. So pain can be a good thing. I guess this is why we are instructed to give thanks in tribulation. (Rom. 5:3-5)

God doesn't allow painful experiences in order to hurt me, He allows it in order to strengthen me and polish my character into a jewel fit to adorn His glorious kingdom. So, when I pray for patience God allows some experience that works my patience muscles. When I ask for faith He gives me something to test my faith. These lessons and tests will often hurt. They can be hard to endure. So the question, "Do you want to get stronger, or stay weak?" can be a tough one to answer. Growing and getting stronger takes effort and often involves sacrifice. But the end result is worth it. Isn't it? I say yes.


The ability to always give thanks when the going is rough is a skill God is trying to build in me. It is one I often fail at and struggle with but I know it's a crucial lesson to learn and it will greatly effect my joy and contentment. It's a skill God is working to perfect in each one of us, and I am confident that He will be faithful to complete the work that He has started.


When the storms of life are raging and the waves are crashing over us, lets remember we are not alone in this trial. Our Heavenly Father is by our side to strengthen and hold us up. We can walk upon the heaving surface of the angry waters just as Peter did, if only we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus. Will you join me, friends, in practicing the art of giving thanks to God for the rehabilitation program He has us in. Lets put a little heart into the exercise and enjoy the results.


Bonnie Morsette ~ 10/23/2009