Squeezed

Squeezed

If you were squeezed, what would come out? A consistent theme in the Bible is what goes in eventually comes out.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Proverbs 4:23 -Solomon “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Luke 643-45 -Jesus See also; Matthew 12:34/JAMES 3:11

What if you were in a situation where you cannot control what comes out? What would be the overflow of your heart?

I have had two situations where I was basically unconscious yet I was still communicating. I had no control over what “flowed” from my heart and out of my mouth.

My freshman year at Asbury University on Labor Day weekend a few guys decided to go exploring in a cave near campus. Somehow I got invited to tag along. To get there we rode bicycles. I didn’t have one so I was given a rickety old 10 speed bike with bad brakes. (That wasn’t a problem going uphill). We spent most of the day caving and having a wonderfully cold and muddy time. The last thing I remember was getting back on that bike and heading down a steep and winding road. When I came around, I was on a gurney in the hospital. I needed 28 staples to close the wound on my head.

Apparently I had gone off the road at a high speed and hit a tree. Fortunately my head hit the tree first so there was minimal long term damage. My friends called for an ambulance. I have no recollection of what happened next, but this is the report of how things went from there.

Here is what these guys said. As we waited for the ambulance, I lead a hymn sing. Here we were sitting on the side of the road waiting for help and singing. Then when the EMTs arrived I tried to witness to the men who came to my aid. When squeezed I sing and tell the old old story of Jesus and his love. I doubt I would have done those things if I was in my right mind. I am also thankful that that’s what came out.

This past June I had brain surgery. I am fuzzy about most of the events that happened as I came around in the recovery room. Again these are eyewitness accounts. First, I made fun of my friend who came to visit. Based on our interaction he reported back to others waiting that I was just fine.

Then Lori and our lifelong friend Helen Rhea came to visit. I am not sure why but I asked them to join me in song. We joined hands and sang the doxology. When squeezed I sing and make cutting remarks. I am just glad this is what emerged rather than other possible options. What do you think would flow out of you? What are you putting in the well of your soul. You can only draw upon what you are pouring in. Squeezed.