openness after a wound

have you ever noticed that right after you skin your knee, it's beyond painful when you bend it?  i remember once when i, in my utter clumsiness, ran into a parking lot pole on a bicycle at the beach.  the worst part wasn't even the humiliation of face-planting after having attempted to rescue myself by grabbing onto the pole itself; rather it was walking home after the fact.  the. whole. stinking. two. miles.  it wouldn't have been so blasted awful if my knees hadn't been attempting to scab over while i was bending them in the process of, oh you know, walking?  thinking back to that delightful experience makes me cringe even now...and reach down to rub my suddenly tender knees. 

granted, my thoughts today aren't about skint (is that even a word?) knees.  more, i'd like to focus on the healing power of the Gospel. 

to put it lightly, my knees are skint right now.  figuratively speaking, thankfully.  graduating from college, attempting this whole "grown-up" thing, teaching (although i love it, it's no walk in the park), breaking up with someone i truly thought i'd grow old with, and charting my next moves in life have all proven to be more challenging than it appears in the movies.  however, every time i get down on myself and how rough life can be, i am put into place by either a sagacious friend speaking truth into my walk or the Word itself.  most importantly, i have so very much for which i am thankful.  i have a roof over my head, a sweet and loving family, a debt-free college experience (thanks mom and gramps!), fabulous friends, and so many fun experiences. 

however, there are days when i forget all of this.  there are days when i'm upset that my knees have ever been disrupted at all.  do i deserve this, Lord, i ask?  my wants are surpassed only by my inability to meet them; my needs have never failed to be abundantly met, but do i choose to focus on the good?  everyone has something that challenges them in their life, and some more than others.  the presence of evil and "hard knocks" does nothing to disrupt the goodness of God, and that is the truth which we are called to bind within our hearts.  in fact, it is often the down times that bring us to our knees in prayer. 

may we always be reminded that the Lord is wherever we are, that He is good, and that His goodness will never falter or be swayed by our errant hearts. 

For the Lord is good, and His steadfast love endures forever: His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100:5