From My Perspective - - -
Pain Hurts is an understatement! If one walks in the woods, the chances are that a Gnarled and Knotty Tree will be observed – a tree that has been part of a tract of land for many years – withstanding many storms and much wind – and in the course of its existence has grown with marks of age that has left it gnarled and knotty. It has been left there because people involved with Lumber want trees that are able to be cut into long boards with grain that is attractive (rather than twisted and less desirable). Some day it may fall of its own accord, or be cut down to be used as firewood – but it will never achieve the desirability for beautiful furniture or flooring.
Human life has some parallel with the Gnarled and Knotty Tree in the forest – those who started out as an adorable child – but time and the storms of life – perhaps sorrow or injury – or some inner physical malady – has left one with a body distorted by the ravages of age or pain. Some whose hands were once creative and skilled and possessing strength have now become gnarled and knotty due to arthritis and no longer have the grip of strength or the ability to perform any longer. The definition of arthritis is: “acute or chronic inflammation of a joint, often accompanied by pain and structural changes and having diverse causes, as infection, crystal deposition, or injury.” Some medication can bring temporary relief; some therapy can give limited, but increased mobility – although there is no long-term remedy for this pain and malady. Pain Management Clinics and the Practice of Physiatry have focused on this area of need and the goal is to enable people with such a malady to gain greater mobility and function. The focus of Physiatry is Physical Medicine and Physical Therapy. It is “the branch of medicine that deals with the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of disease by essentially physical means, including manipulation, massage, and exercise, often with mechanical devices, and the application of heat, cold, electricity, radiation, and water.” There are some procedures used to bring relief such as Nerve Blocks, Ultra-Sound or Acupuncture – but these are temporary and can be utilized only on a limited basis.
The simple statement – “Pain Hurts” – is a reality that more and more people experience and endure. There is a positive aspect of Pain - although pain is not pleasant, it does alert one that something is wrong in the body and medical attention should be sought. Pain is an indicator of a toothache, or touching something excessively hot, or a bone that has become injured or broken, etc. No one looks forward to having Pain nor would one necessarily desire it for others. In the death of a loved one – a friend or family member – there is the Pain of sorrow and separation, a deep sense of emptiness and aloneness. There are the “what if” moments; the things left unsaid; things said that are now regretted; the circumstance of being unable to express one’s love to his/her mate whose life ebbs and slips away. Yes – pain hurts!
A Commentator discusses Bible References to “Pain” (70 references) and states: “Spiritually speaking, one of the benefits of pain is expressed in James 1:2-3, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance…when we endure painful trials, we can take joy in knowing that God is at work in us to produce endurance and Christ-like character. This applies to mental, emotional and spiritual pain as well as to physical pain.”
There is the nagging question regarding endurance of pain, sorrow, affliction, etc. How does – how can one do it? How can a goal of endurance be achieved? In II Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul touches on this when he writes: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh…to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It’s good to know that God cares for each one particularly and that He will provide both endurance and strength for the journey. Some may limp across the finish line a bit scraped, gnarled and knotty – but by His grace alone we’ve endured and finished our course. Consider these things with me!
Pain Hurts is an understatement! If one walks in the woods, the chances are that a Gnarled and Knotty Tree will be observed – a tree that has been part of a tract of land for many years – withstanding many storms and much wind – and in the course of its existence has grown with marks of age that has left it gnarled and knotty. It has been left there because people involved with Lumber want trees that are able to be cut into long boards with grain that is attractive (rather than twisted and less desirable). Some day it may fall of its own accord, or be cut down to be used as firewood – but it will never achieve the desirability for beautiful furniture or flooring.
Human life has some parallel with the Gnarled and Knotty Tree in the forest – those who started out as an adorable child – but time and the storms of life – perhaps sorrow or injury – or some inner physical malady – has left one with a body distorted by the ravages of age or pain. Some whose hands were once creative and skilled and possessing strength have now become gnarled and knotty due to arthritis and no longer have the grip of strength or the ability to perform any longer. The definition of arthritis is: “acute or chronic inflammation of a joint, often accompanied by pain and structural changes and having diverse causes, as infection, crystal deposition, or injury.” Some medication can bring temporary relief; some therapy can give limited, but increased mobility – although there is no long-term remedy for this pain and malady. Pain Management Clinics and the Practice of Physiatry have focused on this area of need and the goal is to enable people with such a malady to gain greater mobility and function. The focus of Physiatry is Physical Medicine and Physical Therapy. It is “the branch of medicine that deals with the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of disease by essentially physical means, including manipulation, massage, and exercise, often with mechanical devices, and the application of heat, cold, electricity, radiation, and water.” There are some procedures used to bring relief such as Nerve Blocks, Ultra-Sound or Acupuncture – but these are temporary and can be utilized only on a limited basis.
The simple statement – “Pain Hurts” – is a reality that more and more people experience and endure. There is a positive aspect of Pain - although pain is not pleasant, it does alert one that something is wrong in the body and medical attention should be sought. Pain is an indicator of a toothache, or touching something excessively hot, or a bone that has become injured or broken, etc. No one looks forward to having Pain nor would one necessarily desire it for others. In the death of a loved one – a friend or family member – there is the Pain of sorrow and separation, a deep sense of emptiness and aloneness. There are the “what if” moments; the things left unsaid; things said that are now regretted; the circumstance of being unable to express one’s love to his/her mate whose life ebbs and slips away. Yes – pain hurts!
A Commentator discusses Bible References to “Pain” (70 references) and states: “Spiritually speaking, one of the benefits of pain is expressed in James 1:2-3, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance…when we endure painful trials, we can take joy in knowing that God is at work in us to produce endurance and Christ-like character. This applies to mental, emotional and spiritual pain as well as to physical pain.”
There is the nagging question regarding endurance of pain, sorrow, affliction, etc. How does – how can one do it? How can a goal of endurance be achieved? In II Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul touches on this when he writes: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh…to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It’s good to know that God cares for each one particularly and that He will provide both endurance and strength for the journey. Some may limp across the finish line a bit scraped, gnarled and knotty – but by His grace alone we’ve endured and finished our course. Consider these things with me!
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