Counting to Three

One of the eight Gosselin children on Discovery's "Jon and Kate Plus 8" decided that for her special day with her parents she wanted her ears pierced. It reminded me of my own experience. Back in the day, it wasn't quite as simple as it is now. You either had to get a doctor's appointment or you found someone to help you do it at home. My sister and future sister-in-law were my sponsors. You could either put a clothespin on your earlobe or else ice down the earlobe as the local anesthetic. We used the ice to deaden the area and sterilized the needle over an open flame on the stove. The right ear was done, but then came the harder part of making the left ear match the right. The first poke was a little low. The second poke was a little too far out. I had tears running down my face, but I was prepared to go the distance. By the third attempt my mother had seen enough and promised that if I let my ears heal that she would take me to get it done. She couldn't believe I was prepared to sit there as long as it took.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, we are prepared to suffer for our own desires, but often we are too queasy to endure discomfort for your mission. We give in too quickly and find excuses why our needs are more pressing than your appeals for justice and compassion. O God, like a parent who has reached their threshold of tolerance; stuggle with us to fulfill the work you have charged us to do. We can have great endurance and stamina when our minds are resolute. Help us to have a mindset for righteous living and for patience because working towards a call to justice and compassion will take multiple attempts to balance this wavering world. We know that you act as a constant source of symmetry and love. Amen