PEG LEG

Joe And His Peg Leg

 

Joe is a 68 year old former Marine with a peg leg, who shows up each morning at a swimming pool to work out. Years ago, during training maneuvers, the wind blew his parachute into high tension wires. As thousands of volts coursed through his body, his leg was burned off and a significant portion of his flesh sustained severe burns. Clinically, Joe died, but the crash to the ground revived his heart and somehow he survived! From all appearances, Joe has made peace with his peg leg, as he hobbles from place to place, swims, and generally gets on with his life.

Perhaps Joe’s experience illustrates the paradox of the Christian’s earthly pilgrimage: We live with pain and imperfection. Yet we learn to get on with our lives.

The Psalmist wrestled with life’s “peg leg” – his pain and imperfections, when he cried out: How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?  Psalms 13:1-2

Yet amidst his anguish, he tasted faith and joy: But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalms 13:5-6

The reality is that even with Christ, we will live life with a peg leg, so to speak, in our:

Struggle to gain victory over sin: For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Romans 7:15 

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:18

O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25

Striving for triumph, surrounded as we are by crushing pressure: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 2 Cor 4:8-9

Could it be that our biggest problem with discontentment or disillusionment is that we want – even demand Utopia with Christ while on this earth? And could it be that God allows imperfection, pain, and struggles into our lives – a peg leg if you please – to teach us the uncommon traits of patience and contentment?

It is comforting to know that Christ assures us of His conquering power and inner peace amidst life’s afflictions:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

QUESTION: With His help, are we “Marine” enough to choose to live graciously with our “peg leg”?