Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks
Today brought spring like weather. The snow is melting and the sun is out. The leaves are starting to bud on the trees. It is a great Colorado day.
This morning Kellie, Nurse Practioner from Halcyon Palliative Care came by for an initial visit. She was accompanied by Bob who is the Clinical Social Worker on the team.
I also had an appointment with my neurologist. I surprised him by standing up and shaking his hand when he entered the room. He took a lot of time reviewing my last infection episode and evaluating my current level of strength and nerve response. He was impressed and encouraging about my progress. He was very positive about my septic shock episode not triggering a Myasthenia Gravis crisis. He even mentioned the he believe the Myasthenia Gravis may be dissipating as a result of the thymectomy, which was what had been anticipated. I told him that he just removed my excuse for fatigue. He did remind me that I have other reasons that can be an issue and we are still doing a blood draw to see what the Myasthenia Gravis panel reveals.
So I am making good progress, albeit ever so slow, but the good news is that the weather is warming up so I can be outside with some of my therapy and it makes easier to travel to outpatient therapy which will be the next step for me.
I appreciate the warm welcome and friendship shown to me and Debbie by Congressman Mike and Cynthia Coffman. They expressed their support and and prayers for me and were most glad to see us. I know they value the work of Teen Challenge as well. This couple is involved in two critical elections this year. Mike’s will be one of the nation’s most watched congressional campaigns,Cynthia is running for Colorado Attorney General and made an outstanding showing at the State Assembly. (Picture above me with the Coffman’s)
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…
“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold…I have put My Spirit upon Him…
A bruised reed He will not break. And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.  He will not fail nor be discouraged,” (Isaiah42:1,3,4)
As I read these verses, I recall a message that I shared entitled “Hope for Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks.” It was one of my “Teen Challenge” messages, because so adults and teens that come into a Teen Challenge program are on their “last leg” and are viewed without value.
I would just point out that the “reed” and the “flax” are first of all objects of usefulness. One could be used to provide music, the other light. However, their function is in jeopardy. One seems to be relegated to the junk pile before it is even given a change. The bruised reed would be like the spoiled produce you find walking through a field. It would be something that you would pass by and say, “That one is spoiled -nothing good there.”
The smoking flax has at one time provided light to a room, but all signs point to the end of any contribution that it can make.
The natural response to a bruise reed is to pull it up, to go ahead and break it off. It reminds me of childhood trips to the farm a throwing damaged or rotten produce as far as you could just for fun. After all, not good for anything else. That would be until my Uncle would ask “what are you doing?” and upon closer inspection might find something of value in what we thought was ruined.
Jesus in His grace and mercy is a God who restores, finds values and brings back to life. So the imagery is that the Messiah will not cast off the bruised reed, but straighten it and see if there is some useful function for it. He will gentle breathe across smoking embers of the flax and see if there isn’t enough warmth to reignite the fire and see a flame shine bright once again.
What a vivid picture of that we can relate to. Whether you feel like you have never been given a chance or whether you feel like your “fire has gone out.” The Lord sees value where others see lost potential or expended talents.”
The issue is there are a lot of circumstances in life that can “bruise us” and that can dampen our “flame.”When others say you can’t…God says, “You can!” When others say he is damaged beyond usefulness…God says, “I will make something new!” When others say she is damaged beyond repair…God says, “I will mend and restore!”
When life’s failures dampen your sense of usefulness… God wants to give new life and vision for the future.  When you feel exhausted and ready to give up…God wants to reignite a flame for life and trust in Him.
I like to watch “American Restoration.” It is a TV show that features the projects at Rick’s Restoration shop in Las Vegas. Old rusty metal,machines that don’t work, the damaged and the broken are made new at Rick’s shop. What pleasure the final product brings to Rick as much as the owner of the object.
How much more, our Heavenly Father’s pleasure and the pleasure in heaven and the joy in a life that experiences newness, vitality and renewal from the Creator Himself. Remember, there is hope for the bruised reeds and smoldering wicks.