It will always be interesting to me to see how quickly plans and agendas can change. Take for example today, I had planned on writing about the “Great I Am.” It was an inspiring weekend and I wanted to share some insights that I discovered. However, this morning in the office has been anything but inspiring, and I would rather tell you about the mundane….
To keep a long story short – I have knee pain. More specifically, I have torn cartilage and some beginnings of arthritis. It has been hurting for sometime and so I started the process of having it looked at. This is where it gets interesting. Don’t get me wrong – I am extremely happy that I have health insurance – but the way managed health care is operating I shutter at the horror of a nationalized government regulated health care system.
In August I scheduled an appointment (for September) with my primary care physician so I could get a referral appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. I spent all of ten minutes in the doctors office and that included the blood pressure check from his nurse. Anyhow, he ordered a set of x-rays (for what I don’t know) and I was done. A day later, the referral came along with the quote “because the x-rays were inconclusive” which is what I told the doctor when he ordered them – (I’d done this before).
It then took took 2 full months to get an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon, another 3 weeks for an MRI, another 2 weeks to get back into the orthopedic surgeon, and then finally surgery was “tentatively” scheduled for February 28th. And I say “tentatively” because when I called today they told me I was “tentatively” scheduled for March 21st….Holy Cow was I frustrated. It’s not that I am looking forward to my 4th surgery on my left knee, but having gone through this previously, I know something has to be done.
But despite all my emotion (I really felt like crying…and on Valentine’s Day of all days) I had a real peace. I was reminded of what Jesus had done for me and that my hope is in Him and not man. Yes, the pain is real, which serves to remind me that if our hope is in man and his systems then we will (at some point) be disappointed. But if our hope is in Jesus we will never be disappointed!
After hanging up the phone I was reminded of the lyrics to the song Everlasting God.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary
Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
Just what I needed to be reminded of today…and FYI – the doctor called back and I am “un-tentatively” scheduled back on the 28th!
Until next time…
Pastor Barry
Pastor Barry's Blog 