KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-9 

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation.

RELEVANCE

for the past few months, I have been in agony with my right leg. First, I had disabling pains in my lower calf muscle, which lasted about a month. I couldn't limp more than 50 metres, wincing as I went. With some ointments, massage and rest, it eventually fixed itself, and I could walk again—for a short time. 

Then, about three months ago—a week after my lower calf sorted itself out, I felt pains in my hip flexor, which multiplied around my hip and down to my kneecap as well as the muscles around my shin and foot. So the pain is crippling and ongoing. 

Before the calf issue, a right elbow ligament nearly tore from the bone, and that pain was also debilitating, prompting about three month's worth of osteotherapist visits. 

So far, for my hip, I have been to a chiropractor, myotherapist, physiotherapist, and various masseurs, and I've been trying some home remedies. I've just started visits to my osteotherapist.  I'm in pain all day and night, and with my kidney transplant, I can't take anti-inflammatories (which I would gulp down now if I were allowed) or ultra-strong painkillers, as the side effects are just as harmful. 

As strange as it seems, I've thanked the Lord for the opportunity to go through it. Although it's painful, it's a high-value experience. I don't enjoy it, but I meditate on the body parts and sensations as I search skeletal images for more knowledge. Despite the pain, it's often a privilege to go through stuff, as that is where God births many understandings.   

Where am I going with this?

Well, all of my issues are nerve-related. So, what does that have to do with anything spiritual? 

The Church is a body, just like mine, but hopefully, it is in better shape. It runs on a similar information system where the Holy Spirit moves God's Word through His congregational channels. 

I recently attended a Bible study about transmission, based on John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name: Think wireless communication—receiving and transmitting—listening and speaking to God and people. 

When baptised in the Holy Spirit, we become receivers and transmitters of God's Word. What sort of receivers are we? What do we do with that Word once we receive it? Do we turn that signal from God into the image of Christ within us and then transmit it effectively?  

These are valid questions about effectiveness within the Church.

The following is from a physio website and speaks of the nervous system:

Nerves are like cables that carry electrical impulses between your brain and the rest of the body. These impulses help you feel sensations and move your muscles. They also maintain certain autonomic functions like breathing, sweating or digesting food. Nerve cells are also called neurons.

The 4 main functions of the nervous system are:

• Reception of general sensory information (touch, pressure, temperature, pain, vibration)

• Receiving and perceiving special sensations (taste, smell, vision, sounds)

• Integration of sensory information from different parts of the body and processing them.

• Response generation.

Also, emotional expression depends greatly on the sympathetic nervous system. 

The nervous system affects almost everything a body experiences. My cramping muscles have trapped several nerves in my body, which impinge on other body parts. When we feel that numbing pain, this is a typical cause.

Cramping muscles in the Church are people who have pride, hatred, resentment, self-indulgence, etc. They hold onto hurts and grievances and limit the free-flowing transmission of the Holy Spirit, causing the pains we often see in the Church with poorly working ministries and disconnect.

Congregants are meant to solve these issues at the communion table, but we know they don't always do that. Therefore, like different parts of my leg that don't work correctly due to restricted nerves, the Holy Spirit cannot freely flow as it should through Church members for healing, caution, and blessings. These obstructions hinder the liveliness of the priesthood within that small body.

The disputes and problems live on in the Church until they are confronted and healed. And they have to be healed, as the pain is the other members crying out to have the issue fixed.

 Anyhow, I'm off to a massage!

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for the human body and its complex and intricate networks and systems. Praise you for your Holy intelligence. 

Photo by Camilo Jimenez