I have tiny balls. Literally. I wasn’t aware of this incredibly affirming fact until I was examined by a urologist as part of our fertility investigations. I knew that I had been born with undescended testicles and that the local hospital could only find one of them. I knew that I had spent a lot of time as a child going back and forth to Birmingham Children’s Hospital to have the other cheeky fellow located and returned to his rightful domain one step at a time. But I didn’t know that this resulted in my balls being tiny. I didn’t know that these procedures while saving my life, could not enable me to give the gift of life.
Mr Urologist didn’t beat around the bush. After I informed him about my medical history he examined me and exclaimed “Oh yes they are tiny aren’t they.’ Call me cowardly but I decided that being flat out on my back with another man’s hands on bill and ben I wasn’t going to argue. “I have farmers come in here with balls the size of melons! Literally!’ He continued as if this statement would help my rapidly fleeing self esteem.
As I reflect on our journey so far and finish this blog series I wonder how big your balls are? Only this time I am not speaking literally, but spiritually. I don’t know how you conduct your daily affairs, I don’t know how brightly you shine for Christ, but I look at the world around me and it’s easy to conclude that as a group we aren’t doing enough. We aren’t risking it for a biscuit. Our spiritual balls are tiny. But that’s a great place to start.
Knowing I am physically disadvantaged in this area has meant all pride around it has fled. I don’t care if people know that I have tiny balls. I know it’s true, I know I can’t change it. But my spiritual balls? That I can do something about, I can be more daring, I can care less about whether people are aware that I know Christ and more concerned that they don’t.
Maybe I’m childish and just wanted to finish this series talking balls, but maybe I’ve got a point. Medical professionals would tell us to regularly check our undercarriage for irregularities – maybe you’re due a spiritual health check?
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’
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Nick and Anna would like to thank everyone who has read this series and held them up in prayer. They are pleased to let you know that their adoption application is progressing well and should they get through the next two stages they will be approved for adoption in about 8 months.
