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Documentary Blog Series #3
Posted on May 26, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Permanent Link: http://www.tangle.com/matthewwest/blog/view/42224
Flight To Health
During my recovery from vocal surgery, I sat with a Christian Counselor and friend, Al Andrews. He gave some great insight that you heard on the documentary, but also in person. My time with him was good for the soul. We talked a lot about how people tend to handle tragedy in life. We talked about how tragedy is often associated with death, but that "tragedy" is extended to any loss of innocence and perfection in our lives. My vocal surgery was a tragedy in my own life; a season where my life was less than put together.
My friend told me about a term called, "Flight to health." I guess this is a counselor's term used to describe a patient's common way of coping with tragedy. There is a tendency for a person to convince themselves they are back to "good" before fully allowing the heart to grieve, or receive all that the tragedy might be wanting to show a person about life.
During the 3rd segment of the film, my life was beginning that "flight to health." But my conversation with Al, was never far from my mind. I had just come through this incredibly intense time of brokenness, and seeking God. But now that my surgery was behind me, and the doctors were telling me I could slowly get my life back to normal, I kept feeling myself wanting to jump right into a sprint. Photo shoot, recording studio, I couldn't wait for everything to be back to normal. I had to keep reminding myself not to fly to health too soon, both physically and spiritually.
When I was silent for two months, I felt like God was waking me up every morning long before the sun, sometimes 4 or 4:30 am. I was so tuned in during those broken times, that I would wake from even the deepest sleep, retreat to my music room, and spend time with the Lord. But as life began to speed back up, those precious mornings alone with God were less and less frequent.
I have learned the importance of spending time with God, and putting him first not just when I my life is in crisis, but also when everything is getting better. We must not fool ourselves into thinking our strength is enough to make it through the day, even if it sometimes feels like that.
"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always. (Psalm 105:4)"
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