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2007-10-16 issue:

Reflections from a too-close encounter

A Grace and Truth column

by Donna Mast

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Wham. The blow to my forehead was sharp and hard. I had forgotten to duck as I came to the pipe that runs along one part of our low-ceilinged basement. After the pain subsided, I thought nothing more of the incident. Nothing more, that is, until about a month later, when I sought relief for the tension in my shoulders and back.

“Donna, have you been in an accident?” the massage therapist asked me. “This seems more like an injury than tension.” Then I remembered connecting with the pipe in our basement. Later, the chiropractor informed me that, yes, indeed, I could give myself whiplash by walking into a pipe.



As I began to heal under the chiropractor’s care, I noticed that while I was experiencing relief in my back and shoulders, my neck muscles were more tender and sore. I told the chiropractor it was as if the surrounding muscles had become stiff and sore in sympathy with the injured muscles. Because the surrounding area hurt, I was even less likely to move the injured part of my body, giving it protection and time to heal. He said that is exactly what happens.

I wonder if something similar doesn’t take place at times in our congregations—in the body of Christ. There is a misunderstanding, and someone gets hurt. Anger develops to cover the pain. Others notice, and in their caring, sympathetic anger grows in them. Still others may become hurt and angry until, before we know what has happened, we have a congregation in turmoil and a church split threatening. The congregation is unable to function as a healthy body. It can take months, even years, to unpack the pain and ease the tension.

With my neck, had I realized I had injured myself and sought help immediately, surrounding muscles would not have become so irritated, and likely I would have had a shorter recovery period. So it is in the body of Christ. If the original hurt can be addressed, anger does not need to become so entrenched. But too often in our churches, we think we are dealing with a minor disagreement and fail to seek help in a timely fashion. Those trained in conflict resolution often wish congregations would seek their help earlier. But too often, by the time a group realizes it could benefit from some professional assistance, the conflict has grown far beyond an easy solution.

Thankfully, God does bring healing to those congregations who desire to be healed. The body of Christ is, after all, God’s precious own. Healing may take a long time, but it can and does come to those who truly seek health for the whole.

My neck is healing, too. As my range of motion increases and the pain decreases, I am thankful. I have been given exercises to do in hopes that I can regain full range of motion. The chiropractor says these exercises should simply become a daily, lifetime habit if I want to maintain the movement that has been achieved. Exercising good communication skills will go a long way in maintaining life and vitality in the body of Christ as well.

Donna Mast is co-pastor of Scottdale (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

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