“What do you see?” the brain surgeon asked as he placed a small glass of water on the counter.
“I see a glass of water,” I replied.
The pastor’s wife said, “I see a half-full glass of water.”
Doctor Mel replied, “I see a half-full glass of water. Do you know what the radiology tech saw?”
As I sat there feeling anxious and nervous about the next words out of his mouth, I couldn’t believe I was sitting in a brain surgeon’s office talking about a glass of water. Was he preparing me for the worst? What did a half-empty glass of water have to do with my brain?
“The radiology tech who read your images saw a glass of water. It’s half water and half gas. What is that gas comprised of? Where did it go, and how did it get there? What happened to the rest of the water, or has it always been half full? What other areas are affected by the gas? Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Further, “We all saw the same glass of water, yet all three of us described it differently. He saw something that may be fluid on the brain. But from everything we have in hand now, all the tests you have gone through since then, we do not have anything that confirms there is fluid on the brain. There is nothing to do until you start showing symptoms like vision loss, headaches, nausea, or pain. You will have to deal with the pulsative tinnitus.”
What a relief to know that there was nothing in all the testing I did that confirmed there was fluid on my brain!
And when I think about that appointment, I can’t help but think of two things.
First, the brain surgeon used a glass of water to explain his findings. He used fluid to explain my lack thereof or the presence of fluid on the brain. That’s genius when you think about it. Using the visual was so helpful.
Second, I am reminded of the story from John 4 about the Samaritan woman at the well. One particular day, Jesus was waiting at the well and asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water. She went to the well to retrieve her water in the middle of the day, feeling ashamed and judged by the others for the kind of life she was living.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:7-13
The surgeon used an ordinary glass of water to explain my condition. Nothing about his water would save me, even if they found fluid on my brain. But the water that Jesus offers has saved me for eternity, and I am grateful for that water, the living water, Jesus.
What do I see?
Jesus still offers living water today, but many have refused to accept his free gift.
The world has changed dramatically in the last several years. The world stage is shifting and changing. I believe we are experiencing birth pains more and more as each week passes. With changes happening so frequently, there is no time to waste.
Hebrews 3:15, “As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
I praise the Lord for an excellent report. I love him with all my heart, and that’s a great place to start.
Blessings,
What Are We Doing With Our Time Now?
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