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Released!

By October 7, 2018August 30th, 2022Lost in Translation

I received some great news this week. After more than 23 weeks since my injury this spring, and five months after surgery to repair the damage, I was released from the surgeon’s care. It is, for all intents and purposes, a graduation of sorts. I still have some restrictions, until next Memorial Day, but I was advised that my day to day life can resume.

What’s interesting is that the doctor told me that, by now, I should be able to know what feels okay to do and to listen when my body tells me that something is beyond my current capability. He told me to pay attention to what I have learned these last five months and to enjoy the progress I have made but encouraged me not to stop getting stronger.

Of course, no “explosive” moves, be careful to slow down when I get tired and don’t do stupid stuff. I don’t have to be told twice. He told me that I know where to find him and to feel free to call if I need him but I was relieved to know that I have healed enough and learned enough to go it alone without direct supervision.

On the way out of the building, I stopped by to say a final goodbye to the lady who has been so helpful in managing my physical therapy and who has taught me about the limitations of my body. She has worked with me side by side since the surgery and she reminded me to remember what I have learned – and to make sure that I follow my routine for continuing to grow stronger.

So, I am flying solo for the first time in a long time. It feels good – with self reminders that I have to be careful to not overdo it.

It seems to me that our spiritual lives pretty much mirror what I have been through this year. We all start out as infants and, according to the apostle Paul (as well as others) we are to crave spiritual milk so that we can grow in our faith and eventually be able to eat solid food – the word of Christ, for ourselves. Just like newborns, we need to be fed, just as I needed to learn about physical therapy and how to be taken care of during my initial recovery.

Eventually, we are to learn how to study the word of God and grow in our faith, following the teachings of the people who shepherded us through our spiritual infancy. My experience of learning about physical therapy and how to strengthen myself so that eventually I would be able to monitor my own progress is the corollary.

And so, this week, I arrived at a place that was difficult to imagine many months ago. Our verse for this evening is from 1 Peter 2:1-3, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

My encouragement tonight is that God has the same hope for us – that we will grow in our faith and be able to use what we have learned from our teachers and pastors. My prayer is that we will all crave solid food after, in the words of Peter, we have tasted that the Lord is good! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…

One Comment

  • David Toussaint says:

    Scott
    Congratulations on being released from your surgeon’s care. I agree it must have been a great feeling. and I like how you compared this to our spiritual walk, as we grow up. Of course I never want to be released from the Holy Spirit’s care, but I am happy to move from milk to meat–real food from the Spirit.
    Anyway thanks for a fine blog.
    Dave

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