To be or to do - that is the question

One thing I have been learning during my recovery is the value of being.

Society puts a great emphasis on doing. It is used as a measure of success, to ascertain the value of the contribution that a person's life makes. People are defined by what they do, rather than who they really are.

But when circumstances do not allow you to 'do', you have no choice but to 'be'. 

For the past three weeks, I have been being still and knowing that He is God. In the days immediately following the surgery when I could not get off my bed, I had to be still. When I had a headache that would not allow me to read,  I had to be still. When it hurt me to cough or sneeze, I had to be still.

Many people did not believe that I could be still, because of my very active life. While I admit that it was not easy, I know that it is a necessary part of my recovery, and that the less I do right now is the better it will be for me in the future.

When you find out that one of your loved ones is about to undergo surgery, most people want to know what they can do to help. One of the best things you can do is just to be.

Be in prayer

It is easy to take recovery for granted, to think that once the operation has been a success, everything will be OK, but this is not always the case. I made two friends while I was in the hospital - women who underwent the same surgery that I did. One of them suffered from severe nausea as a side effect of the anesthesia, and she threw up everything she ate the day after the surgery. This must have been very painful for her, since the stitches and the cut were still fresh. The other friend developed an infection where the IV line had been inserted into her arm. Her arm was swollen and very painful. There are many who have been praying for my recovery, and God has been faithful and has answered their prayers.

Some of my church family that
has been praying for me!

Be in touch

Since my surgery I have been advised to stay away from driving and any other activities which would involve the use of my core muscles. As a result, I have been based at home. The first Sunday that I was at home was very weird for me. Usually if I am not in church on a Sunday, it is because I am on a camp or a mission trip, so just being in my bed was strange. Even though I listened to a sermon online and had my time of worship, something was missing - the fellowship. I am truly grateful to all those who were able to make time to visit me in person. I am also thankful for those who have been keeping in touch - through whatsapp, emails or phone calls. It is uplifting when people take time off their busy schedules to check in just to see how you are doing.

Communion with my friends who spent last weekend here with me :)

My pumpkin spent the day at home with me

Over the Carnival weekend I saw the value of being present. Once I am in Trinidad over the Carnival weekend, I serve with Ekklesia Ministries at an evangelistic camp in Point Fortin. I usually teach a class where we have an opportunity to present the gospel to over 200 young people and adults from the community. This year I was not able to serve as a teacher, so I was not able to do as much as I usually would. However, I realised that sometimes you just have to be in the right place to have the right conversations with people, or to pray as situations arise, or to contribute to class discussions, or to encourage others just by your presence.

This year's theme was God's Gym

Some of the children and adults who attended

Evidence that I rested at camp ;)

Truly happy I could have been a part this year :)

My prayer is that we would not be so busy doing that we neglect what we need to be.