We live in a high speed world that demands we accomplish more in less time but get better results. This stands in sharp contrast to the way God works, and as Mary and the rest of us are learning, the way our bodies work, too: healing happens slowly.
Nausea has plagued her worse than the still-raw wounds left by Dr. Truty’s scalpel. It isn’t that the medical staff isn’t working hard to help her get better. Today, for example, Mary was visited by the surgical team of doctors, by multiple floor nurses, a few techs, several volunteers, and an impressive “pain management team” of three. All of them are trying to bring healing to her, listening closely what she says about how she’s feeling.
Our problem is we want her complaints fixed “yesterday”. It’s the same thing when Mary needs a nurse and pushes the call button. We expect she’ll come bursting into the room at a fast clip, 15 seconds after the light goes on. But though we sense we’re surrounded by experts, the machinations of a large hospital function painfully slow. The same goes for the healing of a wounded body.
Since Monday night when Mary arrived in her hospital room after surgery (flashing a peace sign), several tubes, hoses, and lines connecting her to helpful machinery have been removed. This is tangible evidence improvement is indeed being made. Though her body still hurts, each day brings bits of progress.
And there’s a scriptural parallel to all this slow healing. God frequently uses the human body to picture spiritual truths. For instance, he parallels eye problems with the sin of judging others, and hearing trouble with a refusal to listen to his instruction. He uses the images of left and right hands to describe discreet giving, and compares different body parts to different spiritual gifts. He also labels the church a body, with himself as the head.
Mary’s slowly healing body can also represent something spiritual: God’s slow, gentle teaching to those who want to learn from him. Often he has to instruct us with the same lesson again and again before we get it. Learning takes time.
Occasionally we slip backwards, too, just like Mary’s body does. Her nausea may decrease while pain increases. Or cotton-mouth might improve with a spray, but the spray tastes terrible. And so we keep at it, in Mary’s case pushing the call button for help, and in spiritual matters calling to God for help in our Christian lives.
In both cases progress will come. Slowly, yes, but surely, too.
“Desire without knowledge is not good — how much more will hasty feet miss the way!” (Proverbs 19:2)
Mary’s prayer requests:
- For effective pain meds that don’t increase nausea
- For better nighttime sleep for Mary, and also Bervin (on a cot in the corner)
- Continued gratitude for so many people still praying for her!