Out of the Chaos
Inspiration for living outside of the chaos.
My daughter is a nurse for the breast cancer surgeons in our area. Twice a week, she goes into the operating room with one of the surgeons and assists. She holds retractors and whatever else is required to ensure the doctor is successful. When the surgical portion of the procedure is finished, my daughter closes the wound. She took special training to qualify as the closer, practicing different types of stitches and closure methods on simulated skin. In my next life, I want to be like her.
Never has she ever been asked to do the surgery. That isn’t her role. The surgeon begins the task and makes sure it is finished properly.
The patient is the passive participant. Never ever does the patient assist with her own surgery. She succombs to the effect of anesthesia and cooperates as the surgeon does the work.
Many parallels exist between life and the operating room. Listen to Paul’s words from his letter to the Christians in Philippi.
6And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6
There is a work necessary in each of our lives to restore the relationship between created and Creator. I often imagine I have an active role in this restoration, but I am not sure it depends as much on me as I think. It is God who initiates the action — he sent Jesus. It is up to me to receive the free gift God offers that restores me in relationship to the Father. After that, God sets out on a mission to restore me to the image of Jesus. In this process, I passively cooperate but I am not actively doing the work. That is God.
He is the one who cleans, washes, restores, builds up and tears down. I show up and he does he work in me.
Like with surgery. I show up, cooperate with the doctors but they do the work.
Maybe this doesn’t resonate with you but I find that the deep work of healing occurs in quiet moments with God. Usually accompanied by many tears, he does this work inside that I can’t even begin to imagine. I can’t explain it. I don’t know what it is. I just know I am different. The bitterness and hatred is gone. The gentleness and kindness is restored.
Get out of the way; submit to him, follow his leading and he will finish what he started.
Out of the Chaos 
So good, Thank you !
Could it be taken further?
God does the work, changing us from the inside out. A good surgeon will give instructions, suggestions and sometimes special equipment to those they perform the surgery on that the patient might have the best outcome possible.
I think there are instructions and equipment God also gives us so that we can mature, and be healthy and whole as possible.
The first thing off the top of my head is Community, we were created to grow to be more like Jesus in community with others who love Jesus and follow him. They love, receive us joyfully, correct, remind us who we are, and come alongside.
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Of course!! You have done a great job thinking it through and allowing the Spirit to give the thoughts life and application. Amen!!
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