Page 32 - Dainfern Precinct Living 8 2021

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

DON’T WASTE THE PAIN

BY PETER STOFFBERG

ur young son has been introduced to the world
of physiotherapy. He knows a few new things
Onow (apart from rethinking the height that
it’s safe to jump down from). Here are some of them,
perhaps you’ve learned them too?

People who become physios or biokineticists often
share certain definitive characteristics. They’re
frequently small in stature, warm and personable in
their manner, freakishly strong and fascinated by pain.
They are genuinely kind and passionate about helping
people and they seem to be able to use pain to do so.

Our son actually loved the experience. It also taught
him that pain can be transferred from one area to
another. When we get injured, our body responds
to minimise overall harm by immobilising certain
areas. When we compensate in the way that we limp
or otherwise change our movements to cope, this
causes discomfort and less mobility in other areas. In
his case, what started as an injury to his upper thigh
culminated in back spasms. Physios are trained to
assess the pain, trace the original source and then
begin to reverse the process and yes, that hurts.
Consequently, he learned that pain is valuable. When
someone like a physio understands pain, they can use
it to ascertain how best to bring about healing. They ON SITE SUNDAY SERVICES @ 9h30
journey with us through the pain and help and direct www.familychurch.online
our healing accordingly.
DAINFERN COLLEGE AUDITORIUM
In the Bible, in
Mark’s book,
chapter 8 verses This intriguing approach would make sense if the
22 to 26, there’s man’s problem was more than just blindness. His
something blindness, like the pain in our son’s back, may not
similar. A blind have been his most serious problem. It seems he
man is brought needed time with Jesus, talking and learning to
to Jesus. He trust Him, letting Him bring healing and relief to
could have emotional and spiritual pain. Ultimately, the time
restored his sight spent with Jesus must have been far more valuable
in an instant as than the recovery of his sight alone.
He did on many
occasions to Jesus understands pain firsthand and He has a
others, but with way of journeying with us through our pain and
this man, He suffering, and using it to diagnose and deal with
does something deeper and less obvious difficulties in us. The pain
different. He becomes a doorway through which we discover
takes him by the deeper and more wonderful relief.
hand and walks
with him, guiding Whatever you are dealing with right now, you
him to a remote can ask Him to take your hand and lead you
place outside the through it. He is faithful and caring and will not
village. There, waste our pain, but use it for far greater things
He begins a slow than we can imagine.
but progressive
process of
healing.

2 30
DPL