Living With Chronic Pain – Spiritual Fitness – The Brevity Of Life
Yesterday afternoon I found myself standing bedside over an unconscious sixteen year old girl who had suffered brutal head injuries as a result of an automobile accident. Also present in the hospital room stood her distressed mother, as well as a supportive older sister to the mother. This young girl’s prognosis is rather grim, as substantiated by an abnormal EEG of her brain. Decisions about when to “turn off” her life support are seriously being discussed.
As I intently stared into this girl’s lifeless face, her mother slowly began to unfold the heart-wrenching pain from her heart. The nature of unexpected tragedies and the self-probing questions about the will of God inevitably came to the surface.
Lack of time and awkwardness prevent the deeper theological questions to get clearly explained during this type of gathering. Frankly, it’s too late to communicate some of the realities about God to someone who is literally “brain-dead.” Regarding the mother, I’m sure her pain blocked many of my words, regardless of value, from actually being heard. There was apparently much brokenness still unresolved between the dying girl and her mother.
It’s definitely a sobering reminder about the brevity of life. Regardless of one’s pursuits, they are relatively insignificant in view of the short time we have to live. We tend to meander among the distractions from holiness, leading us waywardly into futile endeavors.
My experience yesterday left a few impressions to ponder. First, we must put our hope in the one true God, being willing to live a life pleasing for Him. And second, God gives us the power of forgiveness through His grace. This power of forgiveness will free all who believe from the guilt and shame of relational infractions. As a result, the ability to love, even the unlovable, occurs because of the love of God within us. He redeems and changes us into something new; however, this only happens before we have crossed from life onto death.
Keep me on your favorites. For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at www.gordonselley.com.
March 27th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Gordon,
enjoying your dialog…was moved to tears and my heart wrenched today as I read of the teenage girl. I am sure that your words were an elixir of the Spirit. They may not have all been heard but may God in His infinite wisdom and grace take what you spoke and apply it to her heart and may the daughter who appeared to not hear, have those words about forgiveness take root in her heart. We don’t understand so often the fullness of all God does with what we speak, especially in those types of situations. May Holy Spirit make all that was said and done (just by your presence) come to the fullness that God desired! Blessings, Rhonda
March 29th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Rhonda-
One blog entry does not give justice about how each of us is really confronted with life and death issues every day. Thanks for your comments and I agree with your spiritual synopsis.
gordon