Today’s Daily Bread ~ Anesthesia

Micah 5:10-13 – “At that same time,” says the LORD, “I will destroy all your weapons – your horses and chariots.  I will tear down your walls and demolish the defenses of your cities.  I will put an end to all witchcraft; there will be no more fortune-tellers to consult.  I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars, so you will never again worship the work of your own hands.”

My Nonna, Florence diZerega Ashbrook, died on December 14^th, 2003.  I remember exactly where I was when I found out. 

It was a Sunday, and I was driving south toward Uptown, Dallas on I 35 E.  I saw my mother’s name on my caller ID and smiled.  “Hi Mammy,” I sang.  “What’s up?”

I hung up a few minutes later, tears streaming down my face.  I called my boss, then my fiancé.  I changed my route just slightly, taking the exit to his apartment instead of mine.  And then we did what we always did when Rebecca was upset and trying to cope: we went out for margaritas.

Mike and I sat across from each other in a booth at Ojeda’s on Maple Avenue.  I scarcely touched my food as I scooted empty glass number two toward the edge of the table, and motioned the server to order drink number three.

Anesthesia:  Local or general insensibility to pain with or without the loss of consciousness, induced by an anesthetic.

It is our human tendency to avoid pain at all costs.  Some of us drink.  Some of us eat.  Some of us busy ourselves to the point where we have scarcely have time to think.  Some of us spend.  Some of us exercise.  Some of us ruthlessly seek out others’ shortcomings to make our own seem less.  But all of us are guilty – to one degree or another – of anesthetizing.

1 Peter 4:7 was a convicting verse for me when I was trying to stop drinking: But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (KJV).  But the Lord is showing me that alcohol and drugs are not the only things we use to numb the pain.

I remember getting in a fight with Mike a long time ago – probably before we were engaged.  I woke up the next morning, saw that he hadn’t called, so I turned off my phone.  I went for a long run.  When I got home, I was afraid to check my messages, so I showered, got dressed, and went to the movies.  When it was over (Legally Blond 2 – you know I was anesthetizing if a horror flick connoisseur like myself went to see Legally Blond 2), I was again afraid to turn on my phone, so I turned around, bought another ticket, and sat through another two hour movie that I didn’t want to see.

Television, movies and video games are perhaps the biggest source of anesthesia we have today.  And to make matters worse, we aren’t just administering it to ourselves.  We’re anesthetizing our children.

I’m guilty.  I’ve had friends pop in, and just so I can have an uninterrupted conversation, I’ve given them junk food they don’t need, and Sponge Bob when their little brains have had enough TV for one day.

Our children have televisions and game systems in their bedrooms, so we can watch mindless garbage in peace.  The world makes it easy.  When I was a child, we had Sesame Street in the morning, Scooby-doo in the afternoon, and that was about it.  Now we have Nickelodeon for our pre-teens, Nick Jr. for our pre-schoolers, and baby Einstein for our infants.  The Cartoon Network runs twenty-four hours a day, in case our little ones wake up before we’re ready to parent. 

Local or general insensibility to pain with or without the loss of consciousness.

So many anesthetics to choose from.  Satan, the great anesthesiologist, is clever, isn’t he?

There is only one way to truly escape the pain and stress we all face on a daily basis.  Bring it to our Daddy.

Psalm 147:3-5 – He heals the broken-hearted, binding up their wounds.  He counts the stars and calls them all by name.  How great is our LORD!  His power is absolute!  His understanding is beyond comprehension!

When my children hurt themselves, they don’t want anyone other than me or Mike.  Others have been the first to rush to the scene of a bumped head or bloody knee, but the children reach for mommy.  Oh, that we would do the same. 

He heals the broken-hearted, binding up their wounds.

The day is coming when the Lord will make all things new, and do away with the walls we build, the idols we worship, and the defenses we put up.  He will destroy false religions and the false prophets who preach them.  The day of Christ’s return is coming, and He will stand to lead His flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.  Then His people will live there undisturbed, for He will be highly honored all around the world.  And He will be the source of our peace (Micah 5:4-5).

He will be the source of our peace.  And the great anesthesiologist will be out of work.

Dear Heavenly Father, this is so convicting and difficult to hear, but please don’t ever let us shy away from Your truth.  We know that TV and video games (and other “anesthesia’s”) are not, in themselves, evil.  But please convict us when we misuse them.  Please remind us that they will never bring us peace or rest like You will.  Lord, help us to run to You with our hurts.  Help us to pour our cares and concerns out to You so that You can fill us with Your Holy Spirit.  We pray that the healing salve of Your Spirit would wash over us today, filling every last empty space.  Bless us in abundance, God, so that we can be a blessing to others.  Give us the strength and courage to face the world head on, knowing that Your mighty power is in us.  Let us only find peace in You, Lord.  We love You so much, and we pray these things in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.