Needles

I grew up hating needles.  I do not really know why.  Our family doctor was friendly, informative, and reassuring.  The nurses were professional, considerate, and kind.  I cannot remember a “mean” experience in a doctor’s office.  Yet I hated needles.  Everything about them gave me the shivers!  Just one look and I found my head getting lighter by the second.  Even the thought of a needle caused me to stumble as I looked for the nearest place to hide.  Needles were mean, evil, and altogether wicked.
 
Somehow, something changed with time.  I think it began with two individuals.  One was a nurse my doctor’s office.  She was the first to be able to draw blood without me having a fainting spell.  The first time or two, I thought it was luck.  Over the ten plus years since. I have come to appreciate the skill, care, and something special that this doctor’s office continues to bring that makes having my blood drawn a casual non-event in my life.
 
The second person was a gift acupuncturist.  I had no idea that this holistic discipline could trigger the body’s natural healing process.  Personal experience changed everything.  Today a good friend with gifted insight and a stack of needles triggered a fresh healing process for my wrist.  It was a wonderful transforming process.  I admit I closed my eyes for most if not all of the hour I had needles in my back, neck, art, and hand.  I also walked out energized with the knowledge that healing was underway. 
 
Tonight I find myself holding onto to hope and healing, things we desperately need more in this world.  I also know that you and I are needles; painful and scary to some, gifts of healing and hope to others.  I pray this day is one full of healing and hope.  We can be gifts to others around us.
 
“Sing to God a brand-new song, sing his praises all over the world!  Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, with all the far-flung islands joining in.”  (Isaiah 42.10)