Letting the Dust Settle

The Withered Hand

While teaching from the Old Testament in a synagogue in Galilee on the Sabbath, Jesus noticed a man with a withered hand. Jesus heals him (Luke 6:6). Maybe he had Parkinson’s? I say that tongue in cheek, but you never know, since Parkinson’s often leads to extreme stiffness, shriveled limbs, and rigidity in arms, hands, legs and even in the face (hypomimia). My arms/hands/fingers might have seemed “withered” in that era. Jesus heals this man in the presence of onlooking strict religious leaders of the day who were threatened by his ministry of compassion, love and good news of a saving heavenly father. These religious zealots were more interested in keeping the legal tenant of doing no work on the Sabbath; like healing someone. This was a common occurrence in Jesus’ three short ministry years: constant pestering, challenges, and trouble from rigid rule keepers. Although he was God, Jesus lived a human life and like us, and there were times he had to get out of the intense fray of life’s attacks and let the dust settle.

Gain a New Perspective

In this instance, Jesus and his close disciples take a break and withdraw from the heated religious hatred, hiking into the mountains of Galilee to let the dust settle. Life is not easy for any of us, and we all need to make time for dust settling. Those moments of peace are when our minds grow quiet, we hear from God, and we get next steps of direction for the road-trip. Sometimes we even gain a new perspective on how to love people around us who may be stirring up the dust. My husband Chris is currently an entire dust storm. My road in retirement has me at mid-January and Chris has been retired like me now for a month. I’m ready to hit the road and visit friends across the country, buy a home in Wisconsin, relax a few winter days in Caribbean sunrays, or shop and dine in New York City where my oldest lives. But he says we need to put on the brakes and allow some time for the dust to settle.

Clear Skies Always Prevail

So let the dust settle, I must. I think Chris is right, but I don’t have to like it. Life’s highway ahead of us seems twisted and dusty, especially now with two of us on the retirement road. God is not leaving us to drive blind though, and he’s providing supernatural GPS to navigate new routines, new opportunities to focus on improving our health, new ways to socialize with those we love, and new ways of managing and spending money within a fixed-income reality.  So, we are working to assist the air filtration process, and when the air is clear watch out, I might be knocking on your door. I’m ready to move down my road in retirement a few more miles. 

On to the Next Life Adventure

Anticipating life’s next adventure is a powerful hope. Promises await those who take pause, pray, look to God for direction and help during dust settling. Let’s take a break from whatever is causing our air to be dirty. Life’s daily clutter and noise can crowd our day like a thick agonizing early morning fog. But we have the power to change that sometimes, but not by fighting back but by getting away, spending time with God, and focusing on restoring our souls. So, let’s gear up and face the next exciting challenge waiting for us in this adventure called life. 

More on Dust

To close, let’s go back to our initial place on the highway where Jesus withdrew to the mountains. In other instances, he goes to the sea (lake place?), to a friend’s home (cabin in the woods?), to an olive garden park, and probably countless other getaways to let the dust settle. Regardless of the circumstances, we should acknowledge that taking a break and allowing matters to settle is perfectly acceptable and absolutely essential. For me, one dust settling element is that I am waiting for insurance and medical process to hopefully acquire a fully adjustable wheelchair and a new communication device. The rigidity in my neck and back makes it tough to eat, engage others, and communicate. Currently I rely quite a bit on my lift chair to position for these functions. And with my limited speech abilities I summon Chris with a raised arm. He really hopes the dust settles soon.