Hey, that hurt

After exactly 10 months of life away from the blog, I have returned to cyberspace ready to share with the world the wonderful, amazing, daring adventures that make up my life. OK, it’s probably only that exciting to me, but you have to keep reading anyway. Don’t you miss me?

This blog is not the only neglected part of my life. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to wait a long time when it comes to some important tasks.

Like going to the dentist.

Last week I made my first visit to the teeth cleaners in (gulp) more than 10 years. This is NOT recommended. I can say without a doubt that more frequent dentist visits must reduce the amount of pain and torture one withstands from the hot seat. When you wait 10 years, they pull out this tool that’s more closely related to a power drill than anything else I can think of, and they go to work on your poor, unsuspecting mouth. The drill powers on, and all of a sudden an excruciating procedure begins, tooth by tooth. It feels more like they’re trying to jackhammer the teeth into a million little pieces than actually clean them.

I should have known.

It’s probably not a good sign when the dental hygienist says that there’s A LOT of buildup and then apologizes for how much it’s going to hurt. Such a nice, gentle voice coming from the very person whose hand wields the tool of death.

The good news is that I miraculously came away with a good report and no cavities. The dentist said I “dodged a bullet.” But perhaps the better news is that I am learning (can’t say ‘learned’ just yet) a valuable lesson: don’t neglect the important things in life. Sure, a dentist visit might not be at the top of that list, but it’s a very real (and painful) example of the consequences of long-term procrastination, laziness or fear.

It makes me think of those things that we cannot afford to neglect, like relationships. I believe that they are the most crucial elements of a person’s life. Material things come and go; careers, hobbies and circumstances will all eventually fade away. But one’s relationships are at the very heart of who a person is and what kind of impact a person is making in the world.

So my challenge is this: Don’t neglect the dentist for 10 years. But even more so, don’t neglect your relationship to God, your family, your friends and your neighbors. Spend time with God. Get to know him better. Read the Word he has given us. Pray to him. Confess your neediness and wickedness. Enjoy his loveliness and grace and worship his holiness.

Spend time with your family. Love them with all that you have. Don’t forget about them or take them for granted. They may not always be there.

Love your friends. Rejoice with them when they’re happy. Cry with them in tough times. Don’t use them for what they can give you, but rather sacrifice yourself for them. Give up your selfish use of your time, energy and money and offer it away with joy. You’ll reap the benefits one day.

Lastly, think of your neighbors. Those right next door and those across the world. Don’t be so consumed with yourself that you forget there are billions of people going through life just like you – the ups, the downs, the joys, the heartaches – and pray for them. When you see a man broken and helpless, don’t pass him by like the others, but stop what you’re doing and help. This type of relationship, however small it may seem, could last forever.

And I will do my best not to neglect this blog. See you again soon.