The Gross Post

When I am stressed I sometimes get little canker sores in my mouth.  Usually only one or two, and I deal with it and they are fine in a few days. 

I currently have at least eight scattered over all sections of my gums and lips.  At least the one that was sitting at the back of my throat making it difficult to swallow anything is gone, but my lips look like I've been punched a few times, that's how swolen they are.  It's really disgusting. 

Compared to most people my life is really, really easy.  I have two jobs that I enjoy and pay enough for me to be OK and provide for my family.  My health is relatively good (except when I get canker sores).  My kids and my wife are healthy and mostly happy, and there are very few big things in my life that cause me stress. 

I suppose with the coldest stretch of winter combined with my truck breaking down and needing an alternator, and my parents not doing a great job moving so far, and the worries of what we would hear at teacher conferences this week, I guess this counts as stress for me.  Plus I tried taking some throat drops to get me through my sermons this weekend and I think I had a bad reaction to them, and now my mouth hates me. 

My life is really a good thing, but I hate to imagine what will happen when truly stressful things hit.  The patient Job I am not; but sitting on an ash heap might be preferrable to any more mouth sores. 

Preaching with a cold

I came down with a very minor head cold a few days ago courtesy of my wife.  It's a 1.2 (out of 10) on the sickness scale, no big deal at all.  I feel fine except for my nose running and an occasional sneeze.  No problem. 

Except that today was Sunday, and so time to preach two sermons and lead a Bible class.  There have been times when I genuinely thought my voice would not make it through the day, but the Lord has always gotten me through things.  And today was no big deal at all, though by tonight I found I could no longer sing in anything more than a croak and I am glad that I did not have to hear me speak for a half hour. 

Sometimes I wonder whether God sends head colds, just as he might send other bigger forms of trouble into our lives.  Let's say that my sermon is not really faithful to the gospel...perhaps it misuses Scripture, or brings in legalism, or even leads people into sin.  If I was to preach this, it might be wrong.  Would God ever strike my voice to keep me from preaching in this way?

I sometimes wonder how active God is in the littlest things of life.  I am sure that he is more than capable of rebuking my voice, just as Jesus rebuked wind and waves and disease and demons.  But I don't know if he would do it regularly...maybe sometimes he would let us fall into sin our own.  If we are looking for a sign to always determine if we are right or wrong, how would we ever learn anything? 

Fortunately my cold is about gone, and tomorrow starts another day.  I am thankful for how healthy I am most of the time.