Month: May 2020

I was asked the question, “Is Christianity a crutch?” during a recent Bible study.  It really made me start to think of my profession and how faith and the crutch are similar.  Here are a few things that after the Bible study, I thought about in length.

First, the crutch (walker/cane) is used after an acute injury whether this may be a broken bone, sprain, or wound.  It is vital to the healing process and in many cases takes the full weight off the injured limb.  Think now of your Christian walk.  We are all wounded and broken at times and need our faith and our God to be present and help to carry us.  I remember the quote from the “Footprints in the Sand” poem.  The author tells us that during the most troublesome times there were only one set of footprints, and Jesus’ response was to let the author know that during those times He carried him.

Second, as the healing takes place and we are progressing with our injury, it is time to rely less on the crutch.  It is a time to begin exercise and other activities that require us to be an active part in the healing.  It is a time to follow the orders of professionals to begin engaging in appropriate activities and lifestyles.  It is a time for us to read and obtain knowledge of our condition.  We still are using the crutch, but in a less passive way.  We are starting to lean on the “wounded leg more”.  As Christians this is when, after we have been wounded and broken, we begin our journey from that place where only God is sustaining us to the point that we begin to engage more in prayer, look to the scriptures for assistance, and allow our church family to be a part of the healing.

Last, we are able to rid ourselves of the crutch.  That is not to say that our healing is finished.  There is still the lifestyle change, the home exercise program to continue with and our follow up with doctors and professionals.  It is at this time the crutch can be recycled.  It is time to offer this crutch to a friend who has had an injury.  Don’t put it in a closet waiting for another injury to yourself.  Our Christian faith calls us now to share our faith, to give hope to those who are wounded and NOT to keep it to ourselves.

With one final observation regarding “crutches/canes/walkers”.  Some are never fully able to rid themselves of that crutch.  They must keep it for safety and to prevent re-injury.  It is highly important.  There are many who are so wounded, hurt, broken, that they will not be able to fully give their “crutch” away, but they can share their journey.  It is those people that I remember in my career.  They still are cheerleaders to others in their road to recovery.  They still see how far they have come in their healing process and they continue to spread cheer, joy, encouragement to those who are on their road to recovery.  They are the MARY YOUNGERs of the world. 

So, to those who feel Christianity is a crutch, I say “YES, IT IS”.  It helps us heal, it provides us support, and it can be given to others to use in a time of need.  Can it be used the wrong way?  Of course it can. Just as a crutch or cane is not meant to trip someone or even hit someone, it is possible to use it in this way.  That is why we need to be “trained” to use our crutch/FAITH in the correct manner.

– Michelle Crafton is a physical therapist who has helped an incalculable number of persons in our congregation and community find healing. She also serves as a Stephen Minister.

Every morning without question, my granddaddy would get up early and go see Miss Dolly. When I stayed overnight at his house he would ask if I wanted to go. Since it involved literally getting up at the crack of dawn and walking to her house, I generally just rolled over in bed. Miss Dolly didn’t really have anyone else and my granddaddy took care of her religiously.

One day my granddaddy waited on me to get up and I walked with him to Miss Dolly’s house. As always, he carried a pail with him because every time he went to see Miss Dolly, she would give him something to take back. We walked out the back door, past the well house, through the yard and across the pasture until we got to Miss Dolly’s place. My granddaddy went right inside, but I just could not do it. Miss Dolly scared me, always had. Sometimes, I would see her out when I was by myself, and I would try to be nice, but she looked at me with that long face and those great big eyes and intimidated me.

On this day though I told myself I was going to throw caution to the wind and go for it. With my granddaddy’s encouragement I waited for just the right time, and then I ran toward him with all the speed a 6-year-old could muster, and I made it. Miss Dolly had managed to barely swat me as I ran by, but now I was safe in the arms of my granddaddy. Miss Dolly turned and looked at me and with the loudest up-close MOO I had ever heard she let me know she knew I was there.

Granddaddy asked if I wanted to try my hand at milking and I did, without much success, other than eliciting a few more MOO’s, and for some reason I don’t think that was the objective. When granddaddy was finished milking, he said it was time to go and I ran past Dolly’s swinging tail, this time without being swatted. As we walked back to the house with our bucket of milk, my granddaddy said he was pleased I made it past the tail that morning.

A few years later my parents informed me that my cousins, Ike and Art, were visiting granddaddy. Since they were from another state, we did not see them often and I was excited. Ike and Art were a little mischievous, to say the least, and were several years older than me. Knowing this my mother had a cousin briefing and checklist before visiting. Wear old clothes, take no toys of value with you, and be ready for anything, you know the usual cousin things.

As we got to granddaddy’s house Ike and Art were waiting on me in the back and grabbed me before I could even go in the house. As we walked toward the pasture, they said the magic words, “You know how we have always wanted a horse?” They had me. What kid has not dreamed of having and riding a horse? As we walked, they convinced me it was not the horse, but the riding of the horse, that was important. Then they explained that they had been riding Dolly all day and wanted me to have the experience. They turned the water faucet on that filled Dolly’s water bucket because we all knew she would come to the pasture gate if we did.

As she walked toward us my cousins taught me the ins and out of cow riding. Perhaps the most important thing was that when I wanted to go faster, I was to shoot Dolly with a water gun, and she would run. Being the smart kid, I thought I was I asked my cousins to show me how to do it first. They explained that Dolly was getting tired and only had one more ride in her and they had saved it for me. With Dolly waiting impatiently, and with the encouragement of Ike and Art, I climbed the gate and had one leg on the cow when my cousins quickly grabbed me and said we were just kidding.

As Dolly walked away, I could swear even she gave me a look of, I can’t believe you fell for that. Ike and Art were just playing a joke on me and are some of the finest people I know so laugh at the story but not at them please.

Over the last few weeks, I have watched and listened as numerous people have tried to convince me what is best for me during these tough times. As with you, some things I hear and laugh at and know they are instantly not true or good for me to do. Some things pique my interest and I may investigate a little and then I usually see the truth of the matter. And some things are like horses. I want to believe them so much, that I often overlook the facts and truth of the matter, and I am ready to climb on for the ride. But then, I am pulled back by people of faith who know the truth.

In 1 John 4:6 it says “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and spirit of falsehood.”

Sometimes we fall for things because our minds, the internet or others convince us that something is right, even though we know it is wrong. But the true spirit of truth is that we must continue to support our church, listen to our ministers, and pray for a time when we can all safely worship together. Recognize that and you will also be recognized as a person from God. There is an old saying that goes “If wishes were horses beggars would ride,” and that pretty much sums up the truth about wishes.

As we continue through this unique journey, pray we all keep our eyes on the truth that is Jesus Christ. Otherwise you must be careful, because your cousins may not be there to pull you back at the last minute.