A hot summer day in July, 1978. A day when it almost hurt to breathe. I was going to school at night and working with a landscaping crew during the day. Married, still three years away from becoming a Dad. There was no limit as to what I could do. Or so I thought. Turns out I was wrong about that notion. Pulling a hundred pound bag of seed off the back of a truck, I flipped it up to my right shoulder and started to turn to walk it where it was needed. I had done this countless times, but this time was just a little bit different. Something popped in my back. I went to my knees and dropped the bag. The pain was intense. However, I was young and strong and could do anything. This pain would pass. I got to my feet, got the bag to my shoulder again and walked it to where it was needed.

    But the pain didn't pass. It stayed with me. Not as bad as that moment, but it was there. Finally, a year later, I let a guy at church talk me into going to his chiropractor. "All you need is an adjustment!" The chiropractor introduced me to real pain. It wasn't a chiropractic problem and the chiropractor made it all worse. After that I would get to be in such pain that I couldn't straighten up. But, again, I was still young and strong and could do anything, so I pushed on. Never missed a day of work, never missed a class and never missed a Sunday with my Youth.

    In 1984 it got so bad that I went to an orthopedic doctor just east of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. They ran me through all the tests they had at the time, and he told me I needed surgery. But, he cautioned, there was only a 50/50 chance I would ever walk again. I thought about that and decided I needed to think and pray some more. On the way home we were driving along a stretch of white beach that was completely empty. Our son wanted to go swimming, so I stopped. He and I walked down to the water and stepped in. He was in shorts, so it was OK for him to get wet, but I had pants on. I was just going to wade out to keep an eye on him. But the water felt really good and I went out a little further. And a little bit more. And a little bit more. Finally, I was out about my shoulders, playing with my son. The water was warm, the day was breezy, the son was having fun. My spirit and God's Spirit were in communion. No matter the circumstance, God would give me rest because God had a plan. 

    After a while we left the water. Marsha scolded us all the way back to the car because we were going to get the car wet, but mothers and wives are like that. I had peace in my spirit.

    Over the years the pain has come and gone. I can't begin to know the number of X-rays I have had. I have had ten CAT scans and now a half dozen MRIs. (I hate MRIs. So loud in that tube! You would think they could quiet that some.) I have managed to stay ahead of the pain. All sorts of little exercises and stuff. For years it never kept me from shoveling snow or laying under my car to change the oil or crouching next to it to put on new brakes. But finally, I broke down and separated with some money and bought a new car that wasn't a fix or repair daily. In time my son bought me a snow blower. I would take our Youth out to work in the yards of our older members and they would refuse to let me do any real work. I played softball into my 50s, but finally stopped that when swinging a bat got to be too painful. I have adapted to the pain. 

    Ah, but now it is different. For many years I have had arthritis on the outside of my spine, which has irritated the muscles and nerves there. Pain that can be ignored to a degree. Now, though, arthritis has moved into my spine, irritating my spinal cord and causing it to swell, which is causing the pain to radiate outward. My left leg will suddenly go weak, and I will stumble a little. I don't like this at all. But I have always lived my life knowing that God has a purpose and a reason for what happens. And I have to face a cold, hard fact: I am a senior citizen! 

    I debated writing this blog, but I decided that we are a praying church. We are all prayer partners. I go to the specialist on January 11. I will know more then. Meanwhile, I wait. Since I have been at this church, I have had one thing after another, Things I have never had to face before. But you all have prayed for me and lifted me up. The Elders have stepped in when I couldn't do that part of my job. We have people in the church who are good preachers. I am not happy with my performance here, but, again, God has a purpose. 

    And now it is a new year! We do not yet know what 2023 holds. The one thing we are certain of, though, is that God does indeed have a purpose!