People that saw me today had the same general reaction. “Oh my gosh, is that contagious?!” with a subconscious step back. Oh, and complete with a look of total disgust, unhidden, on their faces. It was fantastic.
Last Tuesday was a really great day, mainly because I finally got to see Jimmy Eat World live in an intimate, acoustic setting with a good friend after some good pizza. I had a grin on my face the whole night. Except there was a scrape on my arm that itched like a mofo. I commented about it several times to my friend, but just thinking my skin was acting dumb like it sometimes does.
The next day was worse. And then Thursday it became very apparent that my skin was not just acting dumb, but it was severely pissed off. The scratch on my arm had somehow spread to my other arm and then started to make its way to my legs. The bumps were almost like pimples, itchy, itchy pimples.
Cut to the chase, I was going out of town for work on Friday and I needed to find out if it was contagious (I really thought I had chicken pox). Two hours and $150 later, the doctor took one glance at me and said, “That is poison ivy.”
Two weeks beforehand, I had helped out at Transform, my church’s local summer missions project in inner city Dallas. I had the privilege of helping a sweet old lady named Irene clean up her backyard. I remember three things she said:
- “I don’t like chicken. I like pork chops.”
- “I wonder if there is still weed out here.” (no, she was not referring to the weeds that had overcome her backyard)
- “Watch out for poison ivy.”
I had never seen poison ivy before, but didn’t really see any “leaves of three.” So I didn’t let anything be. Oops.
This could not have happened at a better time. I set out for Asia next week for a short-term mission trip and had been warned about spiritual warfare. I don’t doubt this is part of some crazy plan to shape up and talk to the Lord more. Also, when my team saw my afflictions today, one team member smiled and said, “Praise God! Suffering in the Lord’s name!” I smiled because this very thought is only thing that’s keeping me from breaking down and taking Benedryl to sleep the week away, in hopes to awake with no more blisters on my skin.
Also, after the meeting, I went to church in which Matt Chandler spoke on I Peter 5:6-10.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Chandler reminded us that although some may build their house on foundation of sand and others rock, both will hit by the storm. Suffering is undeniable and usually necessary - to remind us that we are small and helpless, to humble us, and so that God, at the proper time, will exalt us.
So here I am, feeling very unprepared for this trip, insufficient, and itchy, but what better place to be than at the feet of Jesus, humbled, weak, and thankful?
p.s. - I almost took a picture of the massive blisters on my arm, but decided it was not for the faint of heart. Or for anyone else.
