A Pain in the Neck!
Have you ever experienced awaking having slept in a wrong position that resulted in a stiff neck?
This may seem like an odd topic but...a few weeks ago on a Friday (a vacation day from work) I awoke with a stiff neck. It wasn't very bad, just a twinge that allowed me to know that I had slept wrong or something. Saturday (my weekend off) when I awoke the stiff neck was much worse. I was unable to move my head side to side nor turn my head. I treated myself with some over the counter anti-inflammatory, as well as ice and heat, which as a nurse I knew would be the best thing to do.
Sunday was even worse, now my neck felt as though it were too weak to support my head. At times my head would make involuntary movements and tearing pain would strike me. Standing or sitting was bad enough but to lay down or attempt to rise were most excruciating. I continued with what I knew to do but received little relief. I don't know about you but I look forward to my weekends off and wasn't pleased that my grass was now a foot high and there were other things I needed to do that remained undone!
Monday morning I phoned my doctor, a real gem by the way, and explained the situation and asked for a muscle relaxer. That was the logical next step he agreed. I phoned work to tell them that I would not be able to come in. They were ok with it and told me to take care.
Tuesday, no relief! I phoned the doctor again and this time got an appointment, just incase I was in error about the situation. While there I realized my right ear was feeling a little strange and asked him to check it. Yep, An ear infection! Now there's also an antibiotic. But, I was on the right track about the stiff neck so continue with the muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory. I phoned work again, they understood-"just take care."
By 8pm Tuesday I had taken 2 doses of the antibiotic and would be able to take the third dose at midnight. At 10pm my right arm got itchy and I noticed a fine red rash, checked my other arm and sure enough the rash was there too, a classic allergic reaction. Then the diarrhea joined in. I didn't take the midnight dose.
By Wednesday morning I looked like a strawberry and itch, oh my! I was certain this could cause some questions, so I was there to greet the supervisor when she arrived in the AM. She agreed that such a situation could only happen to me. I phoned the doctor to report the reaction. I was told to stop the antibiotic (which I had already done) and let him know in 48 hours how I was doing.
Thursday my neck wasn't much improved and I now had more than a rash. My hands front and back were covered in blisters. I was due back at work, because I only had 3 day work excuse. So, another call to the doctor, another appointment. A steroid to stop the reaction and get the situation back under control. Also, now my other ear was feeling strange. Yep, that ear's infected too. This time, a different antibiotic with both of us praying that I would not have a negative reaction to this one. But… what about work? Not until Tuesday (my next scheduled day off and Wednesday I was to start vacation for 5 days)!
The supervisor was pretty good about it, but we're a small unit and don't have many staff members to draw from. It would be tough to cover the unit for a weekend but I was in no position to do it. God provided and the residents were cared for.
Well, this is Monday morning. 10 days and I'm not quite over the stiff neck but the ear infections seem to have cleared nicely. Not all of the rash has cleared and only itches from time to time, not badly just slightly annoying. The blisters on my hands have dried up leaving the skin very dry and hard which is causing the skin to crack open in spite of the cream that I'm applying.
I kept thinking…all of this from a simple stiff neck. Most of us get them from time to time and they are somewhat annoying but usually go away easily.
All of this reminded me of the times God spoke about us as being stiff necked people. There are about 15 references in the New International Version of the Bible which refer to "stiff necked" people.
How much pain has been suffered because we choose to stand firm in our own will and not bend or turn to God's will? How many people are affected because we are not doing what we should be doing? Whether it's because we should be some place we have chosen not to go like Jonah or not to reach out and touch someone that God would want us to react with on his behalf. Have our friends and families been affected because we've chosen to be unyielding? Let me assure you that my neck would not move no matter how much I needed or wanted it to.
How many of their experiences and ours would not have taken place had we been willing to keep ourselves soft and supple, yielding always to HIS Holy Will?
How many people are affected because we are not doing what we should be doing? Have our friends and families been affected because we've chosen to be unyielding? Let me assure you that the pain I experienced in my chest shoulders and back was great, my vision was limited because I was unable to turn my head. My neck would not move.
We may feel that our decisions only affect us, but that isn't correct anymore than a stone tossed into a stream will not cause a ripple. Whether it's because we should be some place we have chosen not to go like Jonah or not to speak with or reach out and touch someone that God would want us to react with on his behalf.
How many times did God speak of destroying "stiff necked" people?
How many times did people of God refer to themselves as well as others of their faith as "stiff necked" people?
How many times did God allow hard times and situations to fall on his children until they would turn to him?
There are those who do manipulation on a neck attempting to correct the problem but God isn't like that. He won't force us to do his will. He may cause other things, situations that encourage us to reconsider our stand.
Kathy D.
Bible References to "Stiff Necked People":
Excodus 32:9; 33:3; 34:9
Deuteronomy 9:6; 10:16; 31:27
II Kings 17:14
II Chronicles 30:8; 36:13
Nehemiah 9:16
Proverbs 29:1
Jeremiah 7:26; 17:23; 19:15
Acts 7:51