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To Be Numb, or Not To Be Numb


I went to the dentist last week
I had to get a filling done.

And then the dentist asked me..
"Would you like to be numb or not to be numb...?"
Oh.
I have a choice….
“What do you recommend?”
“Well if you can handle a little bit of discomfort you don’t have to deal with the affects of being numb after: sensitivity, being unable to eat or drink for a few hours. “

The choice became mine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IJM, you may ask, 'What is that?" International Justice Mission
You should check them out… seriously!
https://www.ijm.org/who-we-are

Waiting for my appointment
Flipping through FB
I saw the latest post from IJM
Celebrating the latest victory. The sentence of 2 men who had been sexually abusing girls under the age of 9.

And with that thought I was called into the room for my filling.

So... back to my choice.

I should also add that, should I choose not to be numb, the option of raising my hand for her to stop working if it was to much, was given. She would then proceed to numb my mouth.

My choice. To go ahead without being numb. Because I realized... we have so many means to live life in a state of numbness.
The inability to feel the pain that our bodies are designed to.
Pain To tell us that something is wrong.
Sometimes being numb is needed.
But I think we often avoid things that require a bit more courage.
Because fear is real and we don’t like to feel uncomfortable. And because we have the choice to not have to feel it.

So enter into my ‘world’ as it were.
Mouth open. Mind fully aware that things were going to get real very quickly. My mind was swirling with thoughts.
But what kept coming was what I read before.
Girls age 9 and under.
No one to protect them. Taken advantage of, abused and harmed All without the choice of being made numb to the pain and horror inflicted on them. Fully aware of everything going on and yet having no way of knowing truly the pain they would feel or the fear that would take hold of them I wanted to cry. Not for the pain I felt as the drill did it's job. But for the injustice and horror that they have experienced. Innocence robbed. Their choice taken. The men who believed it was their right to take from them To use them. To abuse them. And as the pain of my tooth felt too much, I took a deep breath and started to pray for those yet rescued. I realized how it is a privilege and not a right to live where I have. To have received all we have in the way of freedom, education, health care.... And so I tried something new. To breath through my discomfort and set my heart to thankfulness. Heaven help me for the entitlement I have felt. For wanting to feel numb at times, to the relative littleness of my trials I understand life presents all sorts of hardship and difficulties. I do not want to take away from that. The very real pain many of us feel. But sometimes I need a reality check. Sometimes we need to be awakened. Made aware of the pain around us. To motivate us to give out of what we have been so richly given. To be apart of bringing freedom and justice to those who don't have anyone to speak for them. Thank you IJM for all you are doing for the lives of those who have no voice. For being courageous to bring freedom and justice.


Comments

  1. Recovered Essence12 May 2016 at 17:12

    Sheena this is beautiful! You have a heart of compassion. ❤️

    ReplyDelete

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