Waiting
The truth about Christ has been proved inyou. So you have every gift from God while you wait for our Lord Jesus Christto come again. Jesus will keep you strong until the end. He will keep youstrong, so that there will be no wrong in you on the day our Lord Jesus Christcomes again. (1 Corinthians 1:6-8, International Children’s Bible)
It’sbeen a week since Easter Sunday; seems like so much longer. It’s been a badweek around here.
Myback went out three weeks ago. Usually, when that happens, I’m able to doenough things – heat, rest, gentle exercises – that it straightens out on itsown. This time it just kept getting worse. No, I wasn’t babying it as much as Ishould have; I did a few things which in retrospect I see made the pain worse. ButI’ve never had pain all the way into my shoulder blades and rib cage, and I’vebeen dealing with this quirky back for 37 years. I’ve never let it get me sodown; I’ve always kept the faith and waited it out until it got better. Thatand often times a few trips to the chiropractor.
Yesterdaymorning, from 3:30 to 6:00, every time I tried to move in bed, my back spasmedso much it was paralyzing. I tried a muscle relaxer and kept laying on theheating pad, but even a simple stretch would tighten those lower back muscleslike I was being tasered. And then my rib cage would hurt so bad that I couldn’tget a deep breathe.
Yet,I kept waiting for this to settle down so I could work my way out of bed andgimp to the bathroom. And I kept waiting.
Afternearly three hours of this, I finally caved and called 911. The EMTs from ourlocal hospital (adjacent to the clinic where I work – even after I retire, Iwill continue to play that card when I have a medical crisis) arrived and didtheir job – got me out of bed and into our car (amid my screams of pain). Hubbydrove me to the ER, where they gave me some IV drugs and a couple prescriptionsand sent me home.
Allday long, yesterday, my back still ached and was stiff, but it never spasmedagain. But I kept waiting for it to. And now, still doing okay, in some pain but no spasms, I’m waitingfor it to be completely better, for the appointments I have next week with thechiropractor to be miraculous, and for me to get back to bouncing out of bed,doing my yoga, and being active all day long.
Butwhat does that have to do with Easter? Waiting is hard. The day between GoodFriday and Easter morning, I always wonder how those followers of Jesus weredoing. Were they waiting, in fear or anticipation, for what would happen next?Had they heeded Jesus’ message that He would rise from the dead on the thirdday? Or were their hearts broken that they would never see their Teacher again?
Weall hate waiting, especially when we aren’t sure what the outcome will be. But there is one outcome we are certain of. Jesus rose from the dead on the firstEaster morning, and He will return to this earth someday.
