Knowing When

The beginning of last week began my son’s persistent demands to have me take him back to the doctor to get a release form for his strained ACL. Tuesday marked the second week of recovery, and the doctor originally advised he stay off of it for three weeks. Nick…was determined to convince me that it was healed.

I waited until the latter part of the week, spoke to his coach, and decided to take him for his word, that it indeed was healed and that I would take him in on Friday to have the doctor look at it again.

My concession didn’t come easily and after the news of 3rd baseman for the Atlanta Braves Chipper Jones collapsing on the field mid-week from a torn ACL, I began to wonder if this would indeed be the wisest thing to do.

I’m not entirely sure that the doctor was easily convinced either as he spoke to Nick in the exam room. The middle aged man asked Nick to promise him that if at any time it began to flare up again, he would back off of practice and give it more time to heal. Nick nodded his head as if to understand in compliance with “Doctor’s orders.”

The good news is his first day back at practice is today. One day shy of the three week mark. I’m trusting Nick is familiar enough with his body that he knows when it’s back to normal…and that he’s not merely saying it’s better because he’s itching to get back on the field.

Sadly, one of his team’s strongest players collapsed on the field this past Saturday with an ankle injury. Apparently this is a recurring injury that requires him to wear an ankle brace; however he failed to wear it which may result in having to sit out for a bit as well.

All too often we spend our lives rushing into things with the hope of satisfaction of some sort. Typically, when we rush, whatever satisfaction we acquire tends to be “short term.” And because we rush…we risk the possibility of becoming disappointed and often times, wounded.

Something looks or sounds good and we dash to grasp. We rush towards it with tunnel vision and don’t heed to the warning signs, telling us to stop, yield, slow, or even turn around. Seldom do we seek the advice of others because the last thing we want to do is entertain the idea that someone else may see the bigger picture of potential disaster.

As I heard the words “I’m ready” come out of my son’s mouth last week, my stomach turned with doubt and concern. I cringe at the thought that he may face the possibility of further injury.

Sometimes I find myself telling God those very same words. “I’m ready,” I say as I proceed without waiting for God to respond. Failing to realize that even when I can’t hear Him speak, He’s preparing the way for me and if I simply wait for Him, He will make my way perfect.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” My timing isn’t His, and trying to make everything beautiful on my own only destroys the beauty He’s preparing. And knowing that I can’t fathom what He’s already done and continues to do should be more than enough of a reason to sit in peace…

And so I begin this week in prayer, praying that Nick knows when he's strong enough to push forward and when to heed to the instruction to ease up when he's hurting. And I also pray for my own discernment, that I know when to wait on God's timing and not my own...