God in Pain and Tourette’s

Sometimes, the more interesting discussions can take place not on the blog comments but in the private emails. In reading this you may feel a bit like you’ve been listening to a radio program and the hosts come back on laughing. You wonder why but they don’t tell you. And that’s essentially what I’m doing here…

With that vague introduction, I want to spend a few minutes just contemplating faith, Jesus, Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) and life in general.

I don’t know what it is like to feel TS the way my son does. I only know it as a father.  I read a lot (see Cory Friedman – Against Medical Advice post) to try to get a better understanding. I’ll never know completely but I try to empathize as best I can so I can be a better dad.

But I have heard a few comments about the “cruelness” of the disease. A few of those have also made comments toward God. I’m not quite sure what to do with those…

You see, I do NOT see God as cruel. I know God is incredibly loving and mercy filled. I see and experience His grace and mercy every day. 

In contrast, I do know that sin is horrible, tragic and has wrought incredible difficulty on our world. [Don’t misunderstand – I’m NOT saying that Drew sinned so God is punishing him.]

We have sinned. You, me, everyone has fallen short of the glory of God. Sin has consequences. The world is not a perfect place as a result of SIN.

The ramifications don’t always seem fair. My brother grew up with perfect vision while I was legally blind without corrective glasses. While that’s a simplistic example, I’m sure you can think of many more examples of things that don’t seem “fair” in our eyes.

Where is God in all of this? He’s right there. Not as a cruel and harsh gleefully laughing judge but as a kind, compassionate and loving Father. He doesn’t take pleasure in pain. God wants us to turn our hearts to Him in obedience. He wants us to experience His love and peace.

So – what does this mean for those who suffer with Tourette’s (or cancer or Alzheimer’s or poverty or depression or job loss or whatever)?

I don’t have a fancy answer. Try C S Lewis and the Problem of Pain or Philip Yancey’s Where is God When it Hurts. (great books)

But I do have an idea – try leaning a little more on Him. Whatever your issue, trying surrendering a little more of yourself to Him. Realize that we don’t have all the answers, but He is there to offer His love.

Maybe that’s a way of getting a little closer to Him today?

Yours in Christ,

Marty

Blessed is she who has believed…

More preparations for Christmas…

The angel Gabriel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth was going to have a baby. He told her that “nothing is impossible with God.”

We then see in Luke 1:39-45that Mary goes to visit her. When Mary calls out a greeting upon her arrival, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt. (Now, I’ve never felt that particular sensation, but I did have the privilege of feeling my wife’s stomach as our children kicked in her womb. If you’ve never felt that personally as a parent, it is awesome!)

But I’d like to spend a very brief moment thinking about the three primary people involved in Luke’s account to this point – Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary – and what praise is all about.

Each person reacted in slightly different ways to the coming events.

1. Zechariah doubted. He was discussed a few days ago and we’ll still come back to him another day.

2. Barren Elizabeth was blessed with a child. She received.

3. Virgin Mary was pregnant through the Holy Spirit*. She believed.

Elizabeth didn’t have much to do here except sit back in wonder. At first, I’m sure she wondered things like: Why couldn’t her husband speak? Why did God choose their family for this? What would she do when her child was born? Overall though, I’m sure she was filled with joy. After years of sorrow, she was blessed with a child.

I do imagine Zechariah told Elizabeth via some form of written or non-verbal communication why he could not speak. The reason I think this is because of her words in verse 45. “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” I don’t think this is a “dig” at her husband’s doubt. Nor do I think it is a specific call to give glory to Mary.

I think it is a praise to God for what He is doing. I think this is an acknowledgement of what Elizabeth sees God doing in fulfillment of prophecy.

So, what is praise? Frankly I struggle with praise. It is a part of prayer, but when I’m praying, it is a lot easier to list out petitions. Praise is giving worship to God! 

Scripture is full of words of praise we need to read and feel. Here’s a great example: Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” I don’t know about you, but do those words stir your heart when they are spoken? They do mine!

But back to Mary  and Elizabeth…

Feel the words in this passage. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth praised. Those words should come ALIVE!

Mary’s response makes me think even more that Elizabeth was praising God. Mary broke out in a song of praise in response to Elizabeth’s words!

I’d like to encourage you to do more than read or dissect Scripture as we head towards Christmas. I’d like to encourage you to FEEL Scripture. Feel it in your heart.

This is what happens when we go beyond seeing with our eyes and hearing with our ears. Our hearts understand and we are healed. (Isaiah 6:10) 

Blessed are those who see and believe!

Yours in Christ,

Marty 

*For those who are frozen at this “miracle” and cannot get beyond God becoming man, I highly recommend reading noted Christian apologist, C S Lewis’s book entitled “Miracles.” As the first quote from Aristotle proclaims, “Those who wish to succeed must ask the right preliminary questions.” [Metaphysics II, (III), I)