Another Conversation with Myself, Part Two
/(To read Part One, click here)
Don asked, “So, how’s your ankle, now? Did you try praying?”
Berry answered, “It’s mostly all I did last weekend – prayed for healing and understanding.”
“That’s all you did all weekend?”
“Well, I limped around a lot. And watched college football.”
“What happened?”
“The Sooners won.”
“What happened with your ankle?”
“When the pain in my ankle moved from the outside to the inside, I knew this wasn’t a muscle or tendon injury. They don’t move around. And when it started to swell and turn red, I knew my typical treatment - suffer until it goes away - wasn’t working, either. I started asking around about Podiatrist recommendations, planning to make an appointment as soon as possible.”
“What happened?”
“Sunday morning, I stayed home while Cyndi went to church. I knew I couldn’t play in the orchestra and negotiate my way on and off the stage in either worship service. I also knew it would take the entire Sunday School hour to hobble my way to class and back. So, I stayed home.”
“You seem to be working up to a big story. What happened?”
“Cyndi told my sad tale to the other guys in the orchestra, and they jumped on it. Thought it was an infection, and I should go to the neighborhood clinic for a shot to clear it up.”
“Leave it to the boys in the band to recommend pharmaceuticals.”
“I went to the neighborhood clinic. It was surprisingly quick and inexpensive, and it took Jeff, the NP (Nurse Practitioner), only seconds to rule out infection and rule in gout. That was something I ruled out in the beginning because I thought it only happened in toes.”
“I remember you were pretty sure of your analysis about it not being gout.”
“Well, yes. Of course.”
“But once again, always thinking you are right led you down the wrong path?”
“Yeah, whatever. The point is, a nurse gave me a shot of anti-inflammatory and sent me home.”
“Did you feel better?”
“The first thing I did was sleep for five hours. Like a stone. “
“Did you feel better?”
“When I finally woke up, I was surprised how much better I felt, how much smaller my ankle was, and how well I could walk. It was the miracle I had been praying for.”
“I thought you got a shot, not a miracle.”
“Miracles happen in all forms. God works through science and medicine, not against it.”
“So, you got a miracle in your butt.”
“Sure. But that would be a terrible title for the sermon.”
“What happened next?”
“By Monday I’d forgotten my ankle had ever hurt. I was walking everywhere. I might’ve broken out into a happy dance if I were the sort of person who does that sort of thing.”
“Did you learn anything, except to diagnose gout quicker?”
“I calmed immediately when I had a professional diagnosis and plan. Even if the plan turned out to be wrong, I was following expert advice. I needed that.”
“What about prayer?”
“Well, I believe the miracle I was praying for turned out to be more than healing my ankle. It was about healing my heart. It was about laying down my self-sufficiency and allowing God to answer through someone else. Someone I’d never met before.”
“Well done, Mr. Simpson. That was indeed a miracle.”
“Thank you, Mr. Simpson. You guided me well.”
“I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32
