Emotional Surgery
"You will never walk again," said the doctor.
"Unless..." he carried on to the stunned face of the patient, "unless you allow for surgery." The patient had been defiantly resisting the notion of surgery for weeks. Somewhere she had heard that time heals all wounds, and she knew that motto was one that, true or not, people sometimes say about a relational or emotional fracture, not a physical condition like hers. But she liked the sound of it anyway. Beneath it all, she was reluctant to acknowledge that she was just afraid. What if this surgery was botched, like her childhood appendectomy where a bacteria spread throughout her abdomen, which welcomed with it a host of other concerns and fears. The prospect of surgery now was scary. But the prospect of not being able to enjoy a walk with her husband or play with grandchildren at the beach was just a scary.
Sometimes it's easy for us to see what someone else should do. In fact, it can appear obvious and as plain as day to us. What about the times when you're that someone else? Isn't it true that sometimes we can be slow to acknowledge our own need for healing.
I want you to join me in preparing for a very important series this coming Fall called "Emotionally Healthy Church."
Allow me to point out three things to you:
- We have been in a pandemic for 16+ months. It has interfered with your life and inner world more than you and I know. It has been emotionally jarring.
- Our church has experienced a lot of leadership transition since the summer of 2017. As we all continue to settle into our new normals and move into our future together with growing strength, we must also recognize that transition(s) always take an emotional toll on a church.
- Personally, every single one of us face the pains and wounds that life presents. No one is immune. We each carry the impact of disappointments, hurts, and strained relationships. Time does not heal all wounds.
For some, the prospect of emotional surgery seems scary, and for others it seems irrelevant (too 'touchy-feely'), a waste of time, or low priority.
It's not.
I'm the doctor saying "you need surgery."
Each of those three words is important.
You.
Need.
Surgery.
I'm the doctor saying "if you don't give attention to this... if you don't allow for surgery, your life-walk will become seriously impaired, in fact you may not walk again."
I want to ask you to join me in preparing for our emotional surgery this fall. Here's how:
- Begin giving sober thought to your need for it. What areas of your soul do you prefer to remain untouched? What relationships could be better or restored? What life-memories do you prefer not having to think about? Why?
- Begin asking The Great Physician to attend to your soul with compassion and healing. Will you trust Him?
- Prepare to join with 2 other people of the same gender on a journey of discussion, growth and prayer together for several weeks this Fall. These safe, committed mini-groups will help us all as we journey through Sunday messages and process our way through healing into greater health as a church together. Can you begin to think of two other people you could ask to be in a group with you?
Even greater health and vitality is in our future together! It's going to take your participation. It's going to take hard work. But, it's going to be worth it.
"The power of the Lord was present to heal"
Luke 5.17
The Great Physician is trustworthy!
Pastor Mike