Recently, I had been through a series of dental
appointments. Few weeks ago were actually my very first dental appointment in
Canada. I had a feeling of both excitements as well as a little bit of fear. I
was excited in the sense that I finally had dental appointment after a long
time, but a little bit fear also because I don’t like seeing dentist. I
remember my first tooth extraction were I run away while the dentist was about
to inject anaesthesia. The dentist along with his assistant has to run after me.
So it goes with those mixed feelings that I went to
the dentist. The first few sessions were really good. The dentist examined my
teeth, had some x-rays and found a lot of problems with it. So I had cleaning
and fillings. Then my dentist told me that one tooth has to have root canal if
it has to be saved. I honestly didn’t understand fully the root canal
procedure, but I was thinking if this will solve my dental problems, then I’ll
go with it. So another schedule was set, actually, two sessions for the entire
root canal procedure.
When I had the last procedure that lasted for an hour
or so, I was really praying while the dentist was operating on my tooth. The
Lord somehow put some extra sense into what was happening at that moment in my
life. I realized while praying, God is a dentist!
Wear and Tear of Eating
I realized if life is a tooth and God is a dentist,
then my root canal procedure is but one of those instances in my life journey.
It was not the dentist fault when dental problems were found on me but it was
because I didn’t took care of my teeth. Teeth problems were my own doing! Or
probably, I was having some bad teeth because of the normal wear and tear of
eating. Same with my life, it was not Gods fault that I have some problems in
life but it was because of my own choices. I made some bad decisions and so
suffer the consequences of it. My life’s problems are my own doing! Or probably
it’s part of normal life to have pains and sufferings, the normal wear and tear
of life because I have no control of all situations. So when life’s tooth aches
come, I go back to God and allow Him to check me up. Only He can have right
diagnosis over all the tooth aches of life.
Going Through the Procedure
The moment the dentist told me about the real
situation of my tooth, I know, I have to go through the root canal procedure,
even if it hurts. There is no other way for my tooth to heal, but to go through
it. So I decided to have a schedule of the operation.
There are root canal procedures in life that we have to
go through. Painful as it may seems, there is no other way but to go through
it. These are necessary pains for long term gains.
It’s Good Not to Know Everything
When the root canal procedure was about to start the
dentist said, “Are you ready for the long haul?” At that moment it dawned on
me, this is no minor operation, this is something major! So what I did, I just
closed my eyes and pray for the entire procedure. I didn’t even bother to ask
how the procedure is going to be done. I don’t want honestly to have an idea of
what will happen, because it will just scare me more. Occasionally I will open
my eyes, and I will see big needles and other scary dental things being put on
my mouth. I can feel how long the needles being inserted in my tooth. So I chose
to close my eyes again or else I will see some scary materials again. It helps
not to know some of the procedure because if I know, my mind will already be
picturing the scariest possible situation. That was probably one of the longest
hours in my life.
Sometimes in life, I want to know everything. But the
moment I come know, I ended up just hurting myself. What I’ve learned is that,
I don’t have to know everything. There are things that are just meant to be
like that. There are things that have no explanation at all. I just have to
accept that I don’t know everything and that He is God and I am not. I don’t
have to know everything about the root canal, my dentist knows better than me.
Sometimes it’s good to just be silent, closed my eyes and prays, trusting that
everything will be alright. Isn’t it when you are in a dental table, a blinding
light is usually on top of you? That for me is His overwhelming light of
embrace, telling me, “It will be fine, I will tell you everything about the
procedure I did, after the operation. I tell you, you don’t want to know what I
did to you now, but when it is finished, you will realize that this procedure
is necessary for you to have a healthy life.” Some of the pains and hurts that
I have will only have its meaning when the end goal is reach.
Anaesthesia is Helpful
I could just imagine how painful any operation will be
without anaesthesia. No root canal procedure can be done without it. My dentist
told me that the procedure’s aim is to kill all the nerves in my tooth. Drill
my tooth, clean it and fill it. That’s basically root canal procedure. Without
anaesthesia I would die in pain!
Life’s anaesthesia is also necessary. There are times
when I am so much in pain that I just need the anaesthesia of God. I prayed,
Lord I cannot handle this anymore, I am too hurt to go on, hide me in your
wings.
There was this instance in one meeting that I had in
our community when I was so down and out, and when I was looking around the
venue I found a frame hanging on the wall with the following words:
“There shall be times in your life you shall need a
place to hide, away from evil and unreached by your enemies. Make me your
hiding place and I shall surely preserve you from trouble and hide you in my
secret pavilion. There, you shall be safe from oppressors, gossip and evil.
‘You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with
song of deliverance.’ Psalm 32:7”
It’s not a coward thing to hide for a while and be in
his embrace, because only in His embrace can I face my life’s challenges head
on.
Pains are Useful
As the root canal procedure continues, despite the
anaesthesia, I still get some pains, especially if something is pushed hard.
The dentist would ask, “Does this part hurts?” and I would say, “Yes, it does!”
I realized pains are useful. The moment my dentists
know that some part of my tooth was still hurting, right procedure was
immediately applied. Imagine if there was no pain, and fillings are in place
already, my tooth will probably develop a much worst problem than the previous
one.
Pains are also useful in life. It allows me to look
deeper into myself and seriously consider reflecting what is wrong with me. It
forces me to find a remedy instead of just burying and covering it with
fillings that usually is but a facade of what is really happening inside, or
else, the pains will continue unabated. It must be exposed, so that real
diagnosis will be possible and the right procedure can be applied.
Pain Reliever is Necessary
After the operation the dentist gave me a pain
reliever aside from the antibiotic that I have to take. I just had a major
procedure and pain reliever, the dentist told me, will make the healing process
bearable.
It’s okay too to have some pain relievers in life
after a painful life root canal situation that I have. These pain relievers can
be my family, friends, or places where I can recuperate. It will make my
healing process bearable!
Trust the Dentist and Follow Instructions
When I had the root canal procedure, I went through it
with full trust on my dentist. My dentist knows better than me. Trust is very
important. I believe my dentist has the right and more than enough knowledge of
my tooth problem. So when prescriptions are made, I follow the instructions.
I should trust God, He knows better than me. When He
makes some holy root canal operation in my life, I trust that he has something
good in mind for me. If I trust my human dentist, how much more God dentist!
And because I trust God, I follow His instructions; I drink my medicines,
including pain relievers of course.
God is a dentist indeed!
by aats
Very inspirational! God bless you more.
ReplyDeleteawww :) very nice :D God bless you. :)
ReplyDeletethanks, gb to you too...
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing! God bless! ^_^
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing to find inspirations in everything? That God can use even a dental appointment to teach you a lesson? God is funny that way -- He is witty and has a sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteYou are becoming such an inspiration. When I grow up, I want to be just like you! Errr...maybe just a bit cuz I still want to be me, too. :)