Around 200 years ago, people were dying of “wurstgift” in Germany – sausage poisoning – without really understanding why. Don’t you just love the German language? It really was the worst gift; it was botulism. Scientists started studying it and finding uses for it in the nineteenth century that led to the multitude of treatments available now. The most well known use is the cosmetic treatment for wrinkles. A less well known use is to treat muscle spasms.
The latter is the purpose I will be getting Botox injections for. I received the paperwork last week informing me that I have an appointment on January 12 to have dozens of shots of botulism into my bladder to deaden the muscle and preserve my connected internal organs. There’s still a little confusion in the communication between myself, the doctor, and the insurance, so I don’t have one hundred percent confirmation the insurance has agreed to cover the cost, but I’m pretty sure they will.
Sausage poisoning may be the worst gift, but modern medicine is pretty wonderful. I actually had a couple conversations today about that wonderful gift God has given of modern medicine. See, I’m still convinced God has the power to heal me, but I also know God doesn’t want me to be irresponsible with my body. I have a responsibility to follow my doctor’s instructions to protect my kidneys. Listening to medical professionals is sort of a no-brainer, but I also delight in amazing them with my miraculous recovery thus far.
My recovery thus far is a gift. It’s not the best gift though. This past week, I had the joy of having conversations after school with three different students in vastly different places in their walk with Christ, but all of them were open to discussing with me details of who this person Jesus is and what he’s done. Each of those conversations were a gift, but they weren’t the best gift. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life with Christ Jesus our Lord.” That is the best gift.
Philippians 3 is getting me real excited right now. This life I’ve been dealt is rough, but so worth it for the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus better. I’ll be honest, the idea of having a needle jabbed into my bladder over and over injecting toxic chemicals freaks me out just a little bit. I know it’ll be done by medical professionals, but the whole concept is a little scary. I press on with purpose – considering the rest of the world garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
We talked about Philippians 2 in family group tonight, and I was struck by the paradox that we work while God is at work within us. God’s at work within my nerve system, but I have a responsibility to work hard with the function available to me.
