In medical terminology, patients are often said to have “referred pain.” Referred pain is when you have an injury in one area but feel the pain somewhere else in the body. It happens when a problem causes a signal to travel down a nerve and be interpreted by the brain as being in a different area. It happens because our nerves are connected in a network throughout the whole body. I wonder if referred pain helps us to cope…as if the primary wound somehow weathers the rigors of painfulness a little more easily when shared by another body part.
I’ve been thinking of the 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians in this light, where Paul discusses unity and diversity in the church body. He talks about the importance of the entire church body which, though one, has many parts. The emphasis is on our spiritual gifts, and in this season of so much physical suffering and stress, I see how LPC’s network of giftedness rallies around and even absorbs some of the suffering in our family as referred pain. We exercise our gifts of mercy and serving, wisdom, hospitality, helps and giving to lend physical and spiritual comfort and support to our brothers and sisters. When the Spirit leads, Paul’s words are made manifest in our midst:
“…its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
PRAYER: Father God, we pray for renewed strength and healing today! Some in our family are struggling with health-related infirmities; others have different stressful issues; and many of us come alongside our brothers and sisters feeling referred pain. You are our Strength and our Shield! We invoke Your blessings and tender mercies according to Your wisdom and every person’s need. Move throughout our church body and enable each of us to manifest the gifts of the Spirit while we suffer and rejoice together as the family of God. In the name of Jesus, Amen.