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Comeuppence
Mar 26, 2014 18:38:38   #
rumitoid
 
I have always felt secure in my physical ability and resilience. Sixty-five years without any real complaint or problem, except when justified, such as after a grueling day of labor or an intense day at sports. People who seemed to constantly complain of knee, back or other joint problems were, if they were young and appeared healthy otherwise, viewed with some suspicion.

I had enough presence of mind, self-awareness, to see this view was probably unreasonable, a bias borne just from God's good blessing of an able , athletic and healthy body. I even laughed at my arrogance at such an idea, yet that did not exorcise entirely my opinion, especially as concerned disabling back pain and stomach ailments.

This is called self-centeredness: not my experience, can't be the truth. Or its natural complement: I think, feel, do this way so must you. And the final in the triumvirate of Emotional immaturity: how can you not know what I am thinking, feeling, and seeing? I thought I was well-behind this in my concerted thirty years of recovery, everyday working on "something." Haha. The irony about my sense of physical superiority was I did so in basic stretching exercises, not anything particularly difficult. My back went out. Joke was on me simply trying to touch my toes.

Any and all movement of the slightest stopped immediately from the pain. Rapid breathing in my utter stillness, not able to comprehend such incapacity. Move another half inch and need to pause. It was an epiphany, of sorts, or at least a (at last?) leveling of the playing field: I no longer took being healthy for granted and gained an enormous amount of respect, and sympathy, for those who must deal with great pain everyday.

And I saw a corollary in my lifestyle. I have never really wanted all my life. Some rough times, sure, but not grinding and seemingly inescapable poverty. I could never afford everything I wanted, yet I was not put out much by this (except for that enormous RV) and almost always had more than I ever needed. A nice home, car, food, clothes, vacations and so forth. Eating out a few times a week given not a second's thought, even at good restaurants. Money there for heavy unexpected expenses, like repairing the roof, usually without much ado. A hefty squeeze at times but doable. It was then I realized that my empathy for the poor, "the least of these" as Christ instructed, was just a moral construct and not a genuine love of neighbor; it was a boast about my heart and not an action of my heart. Ow, and thus thank God for for pain.

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Mar 26, 2014 19:01:09   #
rumitoid
 
I obviously get too wordy. This thread was inspired by AuntiE's thread on a hymn: that pain and tribulation can be ways of appreciating and praising our God as well as a welcomed path to greater righteousness. I should have left it at that simple point.

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Mar 26, 2014 20:51:25   #
rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.
 
I'm so sorry for your back pain!!, and hope it heals real soon.
I do not believe, myself, that God hurts our bodies so to get our attention on this side of the NT timeline.
Typically, as we get older the small nodules on the bottom of each vertebra that hold it in place a top the other has worn down and sometimes gone. The disks in between the vertebrae wear thin, these things allowing the vertebrae to slip at times, causing pain. Normally it is the muscles next to the vertebrae that are the culprit for the pain, and as soon as the swelling goes down in them, the vertebra will slip back into place. Cold packs- 15 mins. (no longer) at a time, and Aleve which is an anti-inflammatory, rather than taking prescribed narcotics.
When God states that 'vengeance is his', it is in regards to him knowing the time when to discipline so that 'all' involved in varying matters 'get the picture.' You've truly had an accident, and I pray it won't last long my Friend.
Oh, we all come into awareness about this or that about ourselves as learning and growing within ourselves knows no age.
rumitoid wrote:
I obviously get too wordy. This thread was inspired by AuntiE's thread on a hymn: that pain and tribulation can be ways of appreciating and praising our God as well as a welcomed path to greater righteousness. I should have left it at that simple point.

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Mar 27, 2014 01:12:37   #
rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.
 
I hope you have read this rumi, and I will go one step further to explain why I do not feel God injures our bodies for his disciplinary purpose now.

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
What Jesus is impressing on the people is that those from Gallilae that were killed by Pontus Pilate did not happen because they were gross sinners; it was murder forced upon those poor souls.

The next:
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 1.
This is Jesus Stating that a tower in the city of Siloam fell upon 18 people and killed them; not because they were gross sinners and deserved it- but because it was an Accident. They happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Anything mankind makes and puts together is going to have flaws and faults in it because we ourselves are imperfect, leaving ourselves open for Accidents.
Murder is not what one asks for, neither is an Accident that takes your life being something people ask for.
What Jesus is impressing on us in these verses is:

"Do Not Delay Your Soul Coming Into It's Salvation in Jesus Christ because Murder, and Accidents that can take your life are part of this world, and you never know from one day to the next when either could happen." Seek the Lord while you are alive.
But, whatever~
rhomin57 wrote:
I'm so sorry for your back pain!!, and hope it heals real soon.
I do not believe, myself, that God hurts our bodies so to get our attention on this side of the NT timeline.
Typically, as we get older the small nodules on the bottom of each vertebra that hold it in place a top the other has worn down and sometimes gone. The disks in between the vertebrae wear thin, these things allowing the vertebrae to slip at times, causing pain. Normally it is the muscles next to the vertebrae that are the culprit for the pain, and as soon as the swelling goes down in them, the vertebra will slip back into place. Cold packs- 15 mins. (no longer) at a time, and Aleve which is an anti-inflammatory, rather than taking prescribed narcotics.
When God states that 'vengeance is his', it is in regards to him knowing the time when to discipline so that 'all' involved in varying matters 'get the picture.' You've truly had an accident, and I pray it won't last long my Friend.
Oh, we all come into awareness about this or that about ourselves as learning and growing within ourselves knows no age.
I'm so sorry for your back pain!!, and hope it hea... (show quote)

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Mar 27, 2014 01:44:32   #
rumitoid
 
rhomin57 wrote:
I hope you have read this rumi, and I will go one step further to explain why I do not feel God injures our bodies for his disciplinary purpose now.

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
What Jesus is impressing on the people is that those from Gallilae that were killed by Pontus Pilate did not happen because they were gross sinners; it was murder forced upon those poor souls.

The next:
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 1.
This is Jesus Stating that a tower in the city of Siloam fell upon 18 people and killed them; not because they were gross sinners and deserved it- but because it was an Accident. They happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Anything mankind makes and puts together is going to have flaws and faults in it because we ourselves are imperfect, leaving ourselves open for Accidents.
Murder is not what one asks for, neither is an Accident that takes your life being something people ask for.
What Jesus is impressing on us in these verses is:

"Do Not Delay Your Soul Coming Into It's Salvation in Jesus Christ because Murder, and Accidents that can take your life are part of this world, and you never know from one day to the next when either could happen." Seek the Lord while you are alive.
But, whatever~
I hope you have read this rumi, and I will go one ... (show quote)


Staggeringly insight and beautiful, Thank you.

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