The Pancreas-A Meditation for January 31, 2012

The Pancreas So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as he could.   Acts 11:29 My mother was a diabetic.  Diabetes occurs when the pancreas begins to malfunction.  Not only is the pancreas involved, but anyone who is a diabetic will tell you, this small body part, when it begins to malfunction, affects life in general for the diabetic!  It is not just the pancreas that is affected.  Diet needs to be changed.  Other body parts are compromised as well.  A diabetic has to take special care of their feet.  They have other health issues as a result of this small body part not working properly.  My mother suffered various other health issues besides diabetes.  However, just the diabetes alone caused a lot of lifestyle changes in her life and a lot of changes in her health.  Now, to those who are not diabetic, how often do we even think about our pancreas?  The pancreas is certainly not a popular topic of conversation.  I must say that I have never, in the course of a conversation with friends inquired, “So, how is your pancreas?” That certainly does not lend itself to a friendly conversation! However as any doctor or any diabetic can tell you, that little body part is vital!    There are other body parts that are small and go unnoticed until they malfunction.  The spleen, kidneys, liver and hypothalamus are among them. They go unnoticed and certainly are not a hot topic of conversation.  But they are certainly important to good health!  All of these body parts are hidden from view but very important.  Each of us is a part of the body of Christ.  There are people who we may feel are “more important” than others……but to Christ, that is not true!  We may feel that someone else who has had more publicity or is richer or smarter is more important.  We may feel that our contribution really amounts to nothing in the whole realm of things.  But that, too, is not true.  There is not one person in God’s world that is unimportant. God has created each of us to do certain work.  No one else can do what we can do in God’s world.  As important as the pancreas is, it cannot do the work of the spleen.  It cannot do the work of the liver or a kidney.  If someone is waiting a kidney transplant, if a spleen becomes available, it will not do the patient any good at all!  They need a kidney not a spleen, not a liver and not pancreas!  And that is the way it is with each of us!  No one can do what we can do.  Our contribution may not be noticed by man….but it is noticed by God. It may not be visible but it is essential.  It may not be what man considers “big” but it is essential. A diabetic can look outwardly like they are healthy…..but a malfunctioning pancreas causes a lot of health issues.  It is not like a broken arm or leg that everyone can see. Our efforts, if we fail to do what God desires, will create a void in God’s plans….and create issues.  Our efforts may to us appear to be small and may not be seen by man…..but they are none the less essential.  We all should give as we can of our efforts. We should use are gifts and talents to the fullest.  We may be like the spleen, kidney, liver or hypothalamus and our efforts may be hidden, but like these and other body parts that are not visible, our efforts are still important and essential to a “healthy” balance in God’s world. PRAYER: Lord, grant me the desire to use my gifts and talents to the fullest and to realize just how important each of us is to You in completing Your work. Amen