This week I experienced some amazing medical technology. I've had some issues with my heart just taking off and then a couple times where I had to go to the ER to have them get it under control. So, I decided to have a procedure done that would fix the problem.
Basically, the doctor does some stuff to get the heart stirred up and acting up. They run a wire through a vein starting in my thigh, up to the heart, and then use radio frequency to "zap" the bad piece of wire so it doesn't cause a circuit loop anymore. Fascinating stuff...
Those of you who know me well, know I worry a lot. I worry a lot about things I can't control. And so you can imagine how much I was worrying. Well, believe it or not, I didn't do much worrying about the procedure that morning.
I could tell you I had sudden spurt of spiritual growth and purged the "sin of worry" from my life...but I can't.
What I can tell you is that I had a ton of people praying for me, and because of that, I had a peace about the whole process which can't be explained. If you are a believer though, I think you might know what I'm talking about.
Prayer is a tool we often take advantage of instead of "relying" upon. Yeah, it was easy to pray "Lord, please take care of me and bring me through the surgery without any complications." And I did pray that. But as they had me laid out on the table and were about to give me the happy/sleepy stuff, I also prayed that if the time for me to go "home-home" was now, that was okay too.
Don't get me wrong, I was relieved and happy when I woke up, opened my eyes, and saw my wife and family there in the recovery room. Also, I don't want to over elaborate this procedure. It wasn't heart by-pass surgery or something where they give you a 50-50 chance of making it through, but I do think it's one of those points in your life where you put an asterisk* beside this paragraph of your life timeline. It makes you step back, re-assess, and hopefully put the things of God and the things of life in perspective.
My Pastor and friend shared Psalm 40 with me before I headed into surgery. Here's a piece of it for you to read:
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me.
14 May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
“The Lord be exalted!”
17 Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.
I continue to learn about the goodness of God. My life journey continues on and not only do I learn about God's goodness, I'm beginning to recognize and "see" His goodness. It's more real to me than ever before. God is good, all the time.
-- 1 Chronicles 16:34 - Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
