Month: May 2019

After a knee replacement, our friend, Mary, was in for her one-month appointment with her surgeon, Dr. V, where he brings her physical therapist, Chase, in to see how she’s been in therapy, and they line up the next month. Everything she does, (exercise, weights, ranges of motion) is documented on an I-Pad. Chase shares the data with Dr. V and together they give a full evaluation.

During the appointment Dr. V told Mary how great everything looked. He showed the X-ray of how tight and straight everything inside is, no more swelling, and complimented her on her work with Chase. 

Then Dr. V turned to her wish list and said, “Well Mary, we’re 1/3 through our process — And the first third was the hardest third: major surgery and lots of pain.  But we’re done with that.   Your knee is fixed.  But the next two-thirds are longer, and hence, mentally harder.  Honestly, this is where a lot of people say, “enough”.  But here’s the key Mary. The work you do in these next two-thirds will determine the quality of your life moving forward. You can simply start walking around to the extent that you want to walk the rest of your life or

you can build up strength for a totally different rest of your life.”

“So, when I look at your wish list, you look like you want a lot of life past this surgery, correct?”  

She interrupted him and said, “I got an email from our friends who are planning a trip to Italy in October, what do you think about that?” He smiled and said, ‘October?  Heck! Not a problem. You could handle that easily.”  She smiled…

But her husband Kelly said yesterday she didn’t want to go to therapy. “She was fighting it, crying… I dropped her off, praying that the Lord would meet her. Two hours later I picked her up and she had the biggest smile on her face.  She was totally energized. I said, “Well how was it?  She said, “Oh Kelly. It was great.  We had the best session.” 

We were going through our exercises and we got about half way and Chase said, “Ok. get up. Off the table, let’s go!” I said, “Where are we going?”   

He said, “We’re going to do some stairs!”   I said, “STAIRS?!”   

He said, “Yep, stairs”.  I was freaking out; I wasn’t ready for that. I told him, “I don’t know, Chase.”  

He said. “I do.  And if you want to meet up with your friends in Italy, we’re going to be ready. Let’s go!”  He held my hand and we did the first flight – four times. Forty stairs!” 

Turning point!

Pushing through physical therapy and finding the motivation to persevere has taken everything in Mary and more.  And wouldn’t you know it, our spiritual growth (soul therapy) has striking parallels: turning points that determine the quality of our spiritual life moving forward. Some people call it the “wall” where doubts, testing, questions and new paradigms arise and it’s easy to give in, stagnate, float or get bitter.  Finding our way can be like intense wrestling and disillusionment, but if we endure with our Soul Therapist, we’ll see refreshing and deep transformation and a “totally different rest of our life”.

I think we’ll be seeing our friends in Italy! 

“One way to define spiritual life is getting so tired and fed up with yourself you go on to something better, which is following Jesus.” Eugene Peterson

In a group I’m coaching, we decided to write a personal psalm to help us pause,
notice and respond to God’s movement in our lives. I offered 2 Samuel 22:4-20
as a template or example to spring from.  This came from that:

A Psalm of Lauren

“From before I was born Lord, you marked me as your own; you had plans for me, plans to call me your precious daughter, plans to walk with me. I didn’t know your Presence during some hard times in my life, but you were near all along.

When I was at my lowest, you were there with a gentle word and comforting presence. You didn’t walk away, even during the times when I turned and drifted away from you.

The voices of others grew louder, telling me I do not belong, that I don’t measure up, I’m not wanted and I should try harder to be better. I struggled to meet the expectations of those around me and my own expectations that created walls of shame and guilt.

I couldn’t see the value in me apart from the things I could accomplish, should accomplish. But the victories were shallow and short-lived. I felt alone and outcast.

I didn’t know who to trust and how to trust you, and I’m still working through all of the voices to hear yours more often and clearly. Would you continue to quiet the voices in my mind and those that seek to tear me down?

But Your voice was there all along. I am untouchable in your hands of protection; in the midst of the storms of life; I am safe, I am seen, I am heard and I am loved.

Trying harder doesn’t bring me the peace and joy that come from me surrendering to you. I want to hear your voice saying, “Well done, my child.”  Though I am not enough on my own, you declare me enough for your purpose. So, Lord, I seek not my own on my own, but I seek what you have planned through your strength and kindness.

You have a purpose for me. You desire me to draw near to you and to be content and filled with joy. You desire good for me. Turn my heart from the things I’ve known to the things you want me to know. Turn my heart from the worries of this world to see your eternal perspective.

People stumble and fail, I stumble and fail. But Lord, that’s not the end. You don’t cast me aside and withdraw from me. Because of your great love and patience, I can rise again and push forward; not to attain perfection on my own, but to catch a glimpse of Your perfection. Transform me from within, in the uttermost deepest parts. Shine light into my soul that I may repent and be strengthened.

You have declared me worthy, you have declared me as beloved, and you lead me every moment. My confidence is in you. Teach me to trust in you alone.”

An exercise for your soul: Give God some space and time and write a psalm to
capture some of what He’s doing in and for you!