Unbent And Unbound Series

A little over a decade ago, still somewhat early in our marriage, I was in seminary – we didn’t have any kids, Scott was working – life was simple, carefree! But we were first-time homeowners…and had had some recent plumbing work done on our 1940s Decatur, Georgia home. The contractor wanted to show Scott the details of the work and invited him into the crawl space beneath the home so he’d know how the system was supposed to work, going forward.

Clearly, the gentleman had overestimated the both of us, assuming that either one of us had any knowledge or desire to see what lay beneath our home. I mean, truly, if anything went wrong in the future, we’d just be calling him to come out again. Scott, however, obliged – probably to affirm and appreciate the difficult work this man had done – and off they both disappeared into the crawlspace. I watched until their feet were out of sight, then retreated to my study, seminary papers to write.

Not long after the contractor left, I noticed Scott sort of hobbling around the house, not quite standing at his usual height. Over the course of the next few hours, his back seized up to the point that he was confined to the sofa or bed, unable to move at all.

Now, I know about man-colds…and the legendary variance in pain threshholds between men and women…and I have given him appropriate grief about this on other occasions. But this time was real. He was in a lot of pain. He truly was immobilized for the entire weekend. Any time he’d get up to wander into the kitchen or bathroom he’d walk, completely doubled over unable to straighten his spine and stand up.

It was excruciating to watch, and at the ripe old age of 27 I saw my distant future unfolding before my eyes much sooner than I had bargained for and began to panic! He made a doctor’s appointment for Monday, and of course couldn’t drive himself. We also shared one car at the time, so I somehow folded him in to our 1998 Honda Accord (not a spacious vehicle) and drove him the 2 miles to the doctor, listening to the groans at every turn.

Here’s the real gem of the story. We pulled into a parking spot at the doctor’s office and I said, “Here you go, hon! I’m going to that nail spa over there for a pedicure. Just text me when you’re done!” I opened his door, unfolded him out in his crumpled over state, and hopped back in the driver’s seat. I watched him hobble, bent at a 90 degree angle, all the way to the door – made sure he got in – then drove off to the nail salon until he called to say he was done.

This is a story, first, of what a TERRIBLE wife – really what a terribly HUMAN – I am. (I mean, I just LET him walk himself in – “You’re on your own man. Good luck!”) I guess I wasn’t ready for that whole ‘sickness and health’ thing quite so soon! But I’ve gotten better. A little.

But secondly it’s a real life story that makes me consider what those 18 years must have been like for the woman we meet in the Gospel of Luke today.

As Pastor Choongho read, Luke 13:11 says for 18 years she was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 18 years! Think about that for a moment – think back 18 years in your own life. You were probably younger and a little more spry than you are now. Maybe you were still working and now retired. Maybe you were just starting a career or family? Maybe you were in high school, or a newborn – or not even born! For me, I had just graduated college and was living and working in Mozambique. Basically 18 years is my entire professional life.

Think about all that time in between 18 years ago and now. And imagine if you had spent it with your body entirely bent over. Actually, we’re going to get a little crazy here. I’m going to ask you to physically get in that position. Wherever you are – at home, at the breakfast table, in bed, out walking a trail – if you are physically capable of doing so, stand up and bend your body over 90 degrees…as if you’d thrown your back out like Scott. Go ahead, do it. If people laugh at you, that’s even better. If you’re driving – maybe wait until you get home. But everybody else, go ahead.

Hold that position for a minute. I want you to feel your body bent over like the woman. And then just try doing a few ordinary things like this. What is it like for you to actually move and see where you’re going? What does it take for you to make eye contact with someone? What’s at eye level – what are you seeing most of the time? How high could you reach if you needed to buy something from a merchant’s stand at the market?