I had my arm held out and open for the nurse.
"Bend over, honey."
But that's what she said to me when she walked in with the syringe of cortisol for my poison ivy that had been festering all over my body this past week.
I think I laughed so hard, I nearly choked. I chuckled, "For real?"
"Baby, we do shots in the butt here in Georgia. Now bend over," she said with her sassy southern accent.
So I did, and I giggled like a child on the playground the entire time.
This was nearly my final memory before I left from my training camp on Friday evening. My poison ivy had made quite a home for itself all over my skin with it's bubbling blisters draining down my arms and into my clothes.
I can't help but compare my humbling "bending over" experience at the doctor's office to what my experience was like at training camp.
If you asked me if I had a good time – I would say I had some good times.
If you asked me if it was hard – I would say yes, it was quite hard. (Ask me about a bus)
If you asked me if I learned anything new about myself – I would say that I was surprised how much I learned about myself.
If you asked me if I'm more excited – I would say yes, I am more excited.
If you asked me if I am less nervous – I would say no, I'm more nervous.
If you asked me if I am ready – I would say, God will give me the grace to be ready right when I need it.
If you asked me if it was an interesting experience – I would say it was the strangest week of my life.
If you asked me if it changed my perspective – I would say that the problems I came back to at home sounded awesome.
If you asked me if I would do it again – – – –
Sorry, thinking…..
Yes.
And I'll tell you why.
Because God asked me to "bend over" in complete submission and reverence with the pieces of my heart that I didn't know needed a doctor. Was it painful? Yes. Was it embarrassing? Actually, a bit. And that's because I had to be completely vulnerable with people who barely knew me. Was it healing? Yes, just like my poison ivy is right now reminding me about how to "bend" to the will of my God who is the loving, gentle healer of my heart.
So was it worth it?
Seems obvious to desire healing.
So yes.
My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
