Numb

I went to the dentist yesterday. That is always exhilarating. I had some fillings to get done, this time on both sides so I got shots on both sides. Needless to say... numb. That's a strange feeling - when your tongue goes to sleep and everything just seems to die in there. Like most dentists, mine allowed me to just sit there for a while, waiting for the drugs to kick in. During that time, my main concern was that someone was going to ask me a question. The last thing I wanted to do was say something.

Doin' okay? Yep.
How we doin'? Good.
Not going to warm up today, is it? Ummmm mmm.

The truth is... my mind was telling me that if I had to talk, things were going to get ugly. I can't feel my face. I'm pretty sure I'm drooling. Just leave me alone. But then a miracle happened - quite by accident. I don't even know what was said to me, but I spoke a complete sentence. It was almost unslurred to the extent that I wondered if the assistant even noticed. Then I spoke another one. That is CRAZY! I can still talk! I felt like Nicodemus. How can this be?

Our pastor says this, and I have found it to be invaluable. When we lose passion (ie. feeling) we fall back upon discipline. Our Christian walk should be about passion. It should be heart-driven! But there are times when the enemy gets a shot in. We deflate. We wear down and out. It's during these times when we fall back upon what we know how to do. Get up. Go to church. Pick up the bible and read a chapter. It doesn't seem meaningful at the time, but it keeps the spark alive - or perhaps even fans the flame to life again.

If you are numb, keep doing what you know how to do, even if you don't feel like it.