Missing a limb…
Did you see this news article:
A Japanese biker failed to notice his leg had been severed below the knee when he hit a safety barrier, and rode on for 2 km (1.2 miles), leaving a friend to pick up the missing limb.
The 54-year-old office worker was out on his motorcycle with a group of friends in the city of Hamamatsu, west of Tokyo, on Monday, when he was unable to negotiate a curve in the road and bumped into the central barrier, the Mainichi Shimbun said.
He felt excruciating pain, but did not notice that his right leg was missing until he stopped at the next junction, the paper quoted local police as saying.
The man and his leg were taken to hospital, but the limb had been crushed in the collision, the paper said.
So, can you relate this story to the church? How would you apply it? What Scriptures come to mind? Does this happen to the church? How does the church recognize it? What does the church do about a situation like this?
I Cor 12
What a story for my day today. One of our very active and loving seniors passed away today during surgery. A few members of my ministry team have moved on to new ministries or are about to. We’re going through some major transitions of schedule in order to better equip disciples, and it’s stirring things up.
There is a pressure to keep driving, barely acknowledging the pain, because we’ve got a schedule to keep. The shock of loss sometimes allows us to escape a difficult moment without completely falling apart, but then we look down and say “Aiiiigh! My LEG’S missing!” Or we just keep driving.
David,
Thanks for adding your thoughts. I hope that others share their experiences as well as comment about other parts of this news article. I’ll add my thoughts later.
-Alan
Hmmm… A hurting body with a part missing, but doesn’t even know it and keeps moving along.
This Bible verse comes to mind: “It’s my way or the highway.” Oh, I guess that’s not in the Bible, but perhaps you’d think it was, judging from how the church treats other members of its own body. 😉
Sounds like the Pharisaical system of 2,000 years ago, but most definitely can also be related to many churches and much of the church system of today.
Many people have been “left behind,” back on the road somewhere. The body continues on, not quite working properly, but yet not even realizing that crucial parts are missing.
But I know I can’t point fingers because I’ve been there before – not accepting all the parts of the body, and not even realizing how crucial each part is. I’m still growing in this.
I think that those in the worldwide church who have recognized this problem can be like the friend who brought the man’s leg to him. However, one huge difference might be that this man probably welcomed his leg back (although it appears as if it was too late), whereas many in the church might not be so willing to accept the missing parts.
But as the Spirit leads, we can embrace these missing parts and show them the acceptance of the Father, and hopefully they will be able to be who they are in the body.
I also draw other things out of this story, but this is really what my personal first and main reaction is.
Joel,
Great thoughts on this news story! It is interesting the way you pulled out different parts of the story and applied them to spiritual gifts and the church.
-Alan
Hi. After reading this, I do have some thoughts to share. Hope it’s okay if I’m honest though…
The picture I got is that even if the leg was “savable,” it would still have to be “reconnected” in order for there to be life to it; however, I do not believe that gathering in a building is what it takes for there to be life exchanged. Although I know there are lots of wonderful people, who genuinely love God that gather in buildings, my personal take on it is that we have settled for going through the motions instead of real intimacy. The leg could be “re-attached” in such a way as to give the “appearance” that it’s healed but could still be dying inside; “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” My personal thought is that life can be exchanged, even in things like having dinner together, laughing, listening to music, just doing life. It’s in the relationship, it’s in the relationship….I am hearing this continually in my spirit. We are spending so much time being busy, “about the Lord’s business” that we’ve lost our connection with each other. We pass by, say hello and ask how we are, but then we move on to the next function, still empty… God heals us through our relationships, he strengthens us through our relationships, he SHOWS UP and out, through our relationships.
Thanks so much for hearing me out in this.
Blessings,
Sheryl
Sheryl,
Great comment and welcome to my blog! I agree with what you’ve expressed here. Thank you.
-Alan
Hi Alan,
Thank you very much. I really appreciate your response and thank you for the welcome! I’m glad to be here and am looking forward to reading more.
Blessings,
Sheryl
Reminds me of a program driven body instead of a body that is focused on Christ’s members as Christ in each as their hope of glory. Whenever we function striving to achieve or maintain what we add to Christ we become insensitive to the body of Christ. Today’s moments of simple organic church life reflects how many people are noticing dismembered body parts. God is focusing on healing and reconstructing a body to move in wholeness. Jesus is the head who sees the only way worth striving in is the way of caring for the body. That is Christ’s race.