On Getting Braces

I woke up almost a year ago and couldn’t open my mouth.  Literally, my jaw had been clicking and complaining for years.  But, I had ignored it.  Now, it just refused to open.

It took a while to find help.  Finally, Dr. Murphy, an orthodontist in Rockford, turned out to be the guy with answers for my rebellious TMJ jaw.  He determined that the problem was my bite and that I needed braces. 

I balked.  I don’t have a lot of vanity; I do have a little.  Braces don’t fit with the image I am cultivating.  Besides, I am a tight wad and braces are usually not free.

But, Dr. Murphy gave me great advice.  He said, look you need to think beyond the sacrifices and discomfort of the next two years and consider the next 40 years.  And, so I took his advice and for the first time in years my jaw isn’t pitching a fit when I eat.

Many times we have nagging spiritual issues that are like my TMJ.  Our conscience tries to get our attention and we ignore it.  We know there is something that must be addressed: an addiction, our weight, our marriages, or involvement in a local church.  We put it off.

If that is where you are at, then don’t wait until the problem becomes acute.  Take some advice from Dr. Murphy.  Stop thinking about the discomfort of the next couple of years and begin to think about the rest of your life and eternity.  Get involved, and I mean really involved, in a church that values the teaching of the Bible.  It may take you a couple of years and may require spiritual braces.  But, be assured, there are answers and they are worth finding.  Find someone to talk to about what you are going through.  Study what the Bible teaches about how you can have victory.  You may be amazed at how quickly things can turn around for you.

I am Chris Brauns, the pastor with braces, at the Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley.