presence is everything
Trey had to have an outpatient surgical procedure (urological in nature) done today. It was scheduled early enough that I could be with him (and Kristy, and Trey's siblings) until he was in recovery.
So we're in the prep room at 7 am, and Trey is sitting in the recliner, by himself. He's wearing the assigned gown, and he's really, really nervous. When the nurse comes in to check his vitals, Trey can barely fit his finger into the holder, he's shaking so badly. He works up weak smiles when Kristy asks him if he's all right.
Up to this point, I'm splitting my time between making sure Derek doesn't drive his Ninja Turtle Monster Jam truck into the hallway, and Business Week's exclusive excerpt of Jim Collins' new book. (All the other kids are healthy, so I don't know when I'll get to read Business Week again.) But when I see Trey sitting there, trying to be strong, I set the trucks and the magazine down.
I walked over to where Trey was sitting. "Scoot over," I said. Before he could fully comply, I started dropping myself into the chair. He laughed as he tried to get out of the way, then we laughed as he tried to adjust his gown.
And we sat that way, my arm occasionally embracing the chest that held his fast-beating heart, until the nurse came to take him to surgery.
I could not take away the need for his surgery. And to tell him to not be afraid - to tell him to suck it up - would encourage him, at his young age and with his tender heart, to start putting up facades, to work at convincing people that he was what they wanted him to be, even if he really wasn't.
What I could do was be there. As someone whom Trey loves, respects, and trusts - in other words, as his father - my presence was enough for him to be assured that it would end well, that fear was understandable but not necessary.
The writings of Scripture paint a picture of a God Who is like that. Though He has the capacity to "make everything better" - cue the pixie dust! - more often than not, He doesn't. And the image of God telling us to suck it up is an image projected onto Him by others.
No, the picture painted by Scripture is of a God Who is present. A God Whose very presence assures us that our crisis, our dysfunction, our problem, our pain, will end well.
Hear again the timeless words of Psalm 23:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
And that is enough.
So we're in the prep room at 7 am, and Trey is sitting in the recliner, by himself. He's wearing the assigned gown, and he's really, really nervous. When the nurse comes in to check his vitals, Trey can barely fit his finger into the holder, he's shaking so badly. He works up weak smiles when Kristy asks him if he's all right.
Up to this point, I'm splitting my time between making sure Derek doesn't drive his Ninja Turtle Monster Jam truck into the hallway, and Business Week's exclusive excerpt of Jim Collins' new book. (All the other kids are healthy, so I don't know when I'll get to read Business Week again.) But when I see Trey sitting there, trying to be strong, I set the trucks and the magazine down.
I walked over to where Trey was sitting. "Scoot over," I said. Before he could fully comply, I started dropping myself into the chair. He laughed as he tried to get out of the way, then we laughed as he tried to adjust his gown.
And we sat that way, my arm occasionally embracing the chest that held his fast-beating heart, until the nurse came to take him to surgery.
I could not take away the need for his surgery. And to tell him to not be afraid - to tell him to suck it up - would encourage him, at his young age and with his tender heart, to start putting up facades, to work at convincing people that he was what they wanted him to be, even if he really wasn't.
What I could do was be there. As someone whom Trey loves, respects, and trusts - in other words, as his father - my presence was enough for him to be assured that it would end well, that fear was understandable but not necessary.
The writings of Scripture paint a picture of a God Who is like that. Though He has the capacity to "make everything better" - cue the pixie dust! - more often than not, He doesn't. And the image of God telling us to suck it up is an image projected onto Him by others.
No, the picture painted by Scripture is of a God Who is present. A God Whose very presence assures us that our crisis, our dysfunction, our problem, our pain, will end well.
Hear again the timeless words of Psalm 23:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
No pie-in-the-sky makeovers. No guilt trips. Just His presence.And that is enough.
posted by pastor mike at 10:57 PM
1 Comments:
Amen.^^
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