The little things

As in little pinkys. I'm making some trundle beds for my boys and was a little sloppy with the circular saw and now I have less pinky on the left hand. God had mercy on me and I only cut the next two fingers, one may require a bit of surgery to repair the nerves.

As I was laying on the ER bed I was contemplating all the things that little pinky will affect. Bass playing, piano, holding a golf club, holding my wifes hand. It's truly amazing how all our parts work together and provide a synergy beyond themselves.

I was amazingly peaceful about the whole thing. It happened. I wish it hadn't, wish I paid more attention to the wood, but I didn't. And now I lost part of my finger. But for perspective, I think of China, or other recent world disasters. I didn't lose a child, a house, job, my overall health. I'm inconvenienced. It's real, it hurts, I'm sad. But it's really really small compared to watching your child get swept away in a cyclone or hurricane, or buried under a school building.

Or dealing with family turmoil. I was just talking to a friend who remarked his family was experiencing some things. I'd much rather lose a finger than lose a childs heart, or a spouses friendship and partnership.

It's also an interesting teaching moment for the kids. For experiencing the need to ask for help, and the opportunities for people to serve not out of duty, but out of love. Not out of some misguided social justice paradigm, but true samaritan love. I want to go somewhere with that but my hand is starting to hurt. God is good. And merciful.