An Ear Popping Experience

Today I went to my chiropractor. This is not unusual. I love going to the chiropractor and getting adjusted. I believe with all of my heart that the Power that made the body heals the body, and that in order to function at your optimum level your body must be in alignment—the way God designed.

When I went to Lone Oak Chiropractic (shameless advertising) today, however, I didn’t expect to receive such a practical application of God’s love.

Let me back up and fill you in on some details.

I’ve been going to see the guys at LOC for years, and God has given each one of them a special gift to touch people’s lives and change it for the better. I got sick Saturday night (fever, cough, fatigue, earache); Tuesday morning I went to the office where Jason moved all my bones around while I laid on the table and grimaced. However, I didn’t think things were going terribly bad… until he adjusted my ear. It hurt like crap. Not joking. I cried. Pretty hard. Then I got the hiccups, which made my ear hurt worse. I don’t have the highest pain tolerance in the world, but I’ve never experienced pain like that before, it was almost unbearable. Last night I went to bed and it was still hurting pretty bad, but God finally allowed me to rest.

So this morning: I wake up, feeling much better, and go back to the office for another appointment (because of the sickness I’m getting adjusted every day) and I warn Jason that if he touched my ear I’d do something that would make him wish he hadn’t (I said something to that effect anyway). His response was, “But you need it. And you said you feel better.” I had no comment to that. I knew he was right.

After he finished putting me in my place (structurally), I told him he could adjust my ear. He said, “I’m not going to force you.”

I didn’t think much about his responses at the time, but as the day went on they kept running through my head. The reason: it was a teachable moment. A little life lesson from the Chiropractor’s office.

“But you need it.” For some reason that line would not get out of my head, I kept thinking about it over and over again. Then it hit me. I did NOT want him to adjust my ear. Why? I was scared. I didn’t want it to hurt like it had yesterday. Yet, even with the pain it was what I needed.

God does that too, doesn’t He? He allows things to happen that may bring us pain but it is always for our best. Always for our best. Always what we need. He loves us that much. Crazy amazing!

Then Jason said, “I’m not going to force you.” He was going to let me make my own decision. If I wouldn’t have let him adjust me because of my fear, would I have been right? No. He’s my doctor and he knows best. Just like God is God (enough said right there), and we need to trust Him just because of who He is. But, Jason was going to let me make the decision; he wasn’t going to talk me into it or list all the ways it would help me. In the same way, God lets us make our own decisions. He doesn’t force us do anything, that’s why He gave us free will. He wants our obedience to be just that- our own. Not something mechanical, but genuine. He loves us enough to give us a choice.

Well, Jason did adjust my ear and now it isn’t aching, just a little sensitive. He really knows what he’s doing.

One final thought- just like we as humans need our bodies to be in alignment to function at our highest level, we as Christians need to be aligned with God’s Word as He designed. I so desperately need to remember this. I struggle so much with wanting control of every situation and when I’m not focusing on God and the good plans He has for my life (Jeremiah 29:11), I think I know what’s best for me. When, obviously, I just want to take the easy way out instead of trusting that someone else knows best.

Thanks, Jason, for adjusting me so much this week and letting God use you to teach me an ear popping lesson.

1 Peter 5:10- “May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

Jeremiah 29:11- “”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.””

Romans 8:28- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”