strange cure

Does anyone else think this is a strange way to heal someone?

from John 9:

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. ⁴ I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

⁶ When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. ⁷ And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

I’ve been reading these words from John chapter 9 yesterday and today and I keep thinking how unusual this miracle is.  Jesus spit into the dirt, made mud, and spread it on the blind man’s eyes.  But, when he went and washed his eyes in the pool of Siloam, he found that he had been healed.  For the first time in his life he could see.

The Pharisees were sure the man or his parents had sinned, and that was why he had been blind from birth. But, Jesus said he was blind in order that this miracle could be performed and bring God glory.

The strategy, in this man’s case, was that his handicap and its complete reversal would glorify Him.  Sometimes His plan seems strange to me…

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Last week we went to Vanderbilt to meet a new physician, Dr. Zic.   A lot of information was gathered, and I began a new treatment.  Since then I’ve been taking the time to process what I learned.  Here are the two main highlights:

1. While t-cell lymphoma is chronic (which we sort of knew already), Dr. Zic feels confident that he has the tools necessary to keep the disease at bay.
2. Because it is so unusual for someone in my demographic to have this diagnosis I can and should ignore the statistics – the good ones and the bad ones- because they do not apply. He suggested I just live my life and deal with the disease as it comes.

What do these things mean to me?

In one sense I have a new level of confidence with a physician who knows how to treat this rare diagnosis.  But on a deeper level there is this:  Jesus, The Healer, who uses strange cures and remedies, has intentions that I don’t totally understand. And, I’m realizing more clearly that there is more to heal than just my physical condition – there’s my heart to deal with as well…

So, I’ve been gathering myself to arrive at a new place of surrender; a place where I truly believe and trust that my entire story belongs to God, and that He wants to use my part in His story to bring Himself glory.    Okay, I’ve known these thoughts in my head for quite a while,  but helping my heart believe that in my “here and now” is more complicated.

When or how He chooses to bring healing, no matter how unusual it is, it is up to Him. My health and my future are His.  Honestly,  I am truly finding it a bit difficult to be at peace with His will, but every day He’s bringing me closer.   I’m praying that my surrendered heart and eventually my healed body will bring Him glory.