Minus. And that's a plus. You may be wondering by now what I am rattling on about.
In the last two weeks I have been learning how to walk in an entirely different way. It is because I have classic diabetic neuropathy in my feet.
Having no feeling in any of my toes or the soles of either foot brings some other problems along with it. I pivot harder on my right big toe than my left. The trouble is, that causes a friction point that develops into an open wound. Not that I would know that unless I happened to look. Further, if I continue, a large callus forms covering the wound. Not healthy as it will get infected and burst open. So, I have been working on mending my toe by taking the pressure off it. First, a walking cast. Now, a modified shoe with a rocker sole that keeps my toes up and makes me push on the whole ball of my foot. So, now I limp. And the limp gets worse if I try to hurry. And now here is where the plus part kicks into gear. I still have toes to use; I still have a foot to walk on; my leg is still completely intact. And as God is slowing me down, I notice another great plus. I have some very good company.
Paul, the missionary and writer of many of the books in the New Testament had to go blind first so that he could see spiritually the damage he was doing. His story starts to unfold in Acts 8. Ehud was left-handed, yet a deliverer of God's people in Judges 3. Being on the left hand is considered to be "less than" in the bible. For example, see what Jesus says about it in Matthew 25. Or consider Samson in Judges 13-16. Although born with the blessing of God, he has nothing but trouble for much of his life and ends up being blind.
There can be many afflictions in life. Some are much deeper than others. Having young children die and relatives with sudden or unexplained deaths are some of these. In all circumstances, God and Jesus walk with us showing us what is important and how to live into new ways of doing life.
As you look at your own life, what are you doing with the minuses? Sharing them and talking about how you work with them may be just what someone else needs as we work for the kingdom. Pr. Scott
