A Crisis without a Process leads to an Abscess

These weeks since my total knee replacement I’ve been reminded of this pithy saying of George Verwer, the founder of OM, the international mission agency we are part of. ‘A crisis without a process leads to an abscess.’ Of course, George wasn’t thinking of knee surgery, though I reckon it counts as a life crisis. George was thinking of these God encounters, mountain top experiences when faith is refreshed and we feel invigorated to live for Him. God gives us a heart to love him and others, but we have to put it into practice.

Process

Follow through after any life changing event is crucial. We use it or lose what we might have gained. An experience in itself doesn’t ‘fix’ us. For me, it’s meant physio for my new knee, which at times has felt brutal. Exercising to strengthen, believing that the new joint is more than capable of doing the bends and extensions required of it, and that any discomfort is not doing damage but actually making the next time easier.

Putting love into practice is similar. The heart Jesus gives is well able to love the unlovely, to refuse to take offence, to be quick to forgive. It often feels uncomfortable even painful and the instinct is to self protect, but we need to press on through.

Accountability

Our individualistic nature doesn’t take kindly to the notion of accountability, yet it has to be part of the process. From day one while still in hospital the physiotherapist was there, encouraging, affirming and challenging me to do a bit more. The journey would have been so much harder without the regular one on one meetings. Aids and tips on how to manage my mobility at each stage have been timely, bringing me joy with each new achievement.

It’s like this with faith too. In my early months as a new Christian, I found myself meeting regularly with the Chinese Christian Fellowship in Glasgow. Each time these student nurses were interested in how I was growing, what I was reading in the Bible and learning from God, who I was praying for and how they could pray for me. It was accountability at its best. Even now, fifty years later, I’m so blessed to be part of a group of caring friends who mentor each other to love well.

Abscess

After knee replacement surgery there’s always the danger of a clot forming, a DVT in the calf which could be life threatening. It’s therefore important to be active, to exercise and stimulate blood circulation. This has to be balanced with rest – putting my feet up, elevating my leg to encourage the healing process. Without these practices it’s possible to fail to achieve the bend and extension necessary for walking straight and strong without a limp.

A good balance of service to others and alone time with God is what we all need to live and love God’s way. Otherwise, blockages can quench the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives and bad habits of the heart get more difficult to change as we limp along unawares.