Proverbs 6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

I had plans. Suddenly those plans have been dashed. Am I at a loss for a remedy? Probably not but it does not feel that way. I still have choices but none of them include even the slightest resemblance of my original plan.

As I searched out the scriptures this morning to discover my part in this calamity, I see neglect on my part. I’ve focused on what I believe I must do for my love to the point I have neglected my own wellbeing.

Good intension aside, what do I do about these feelings of failure? Can I see myself in the surrounding text? If I am honest with myself yes, a little. Not that I have overtly intended mischief but isn’t neglect of responsibility a kind of mischief?

A few of my readers know what I’ve being going through these past five months. I’ve tried to keep this out of my devotionals, partly because it is personal and painful, partly because it doesn’t relate to your spiritual growth, but to be honest, I am at a loss for words. I have often turned to the book of Job, read his plight and became determined not to sound like that. As raw and painful as his words are, they were honest.

On a human level, if I neglect my own wellbeing to the point of ruin, who will be here to take over my caretaking? No one? I do not know, I have not asked, nor do I want to ask. I am afraid of the answer. It seems the lesson here is clear on one point, I care about her more than I care about myself. That sounds noble but where is nobility if I fail her when I fall?

Lord light the way, that I might follow your plans and not mine own.

Mark 2:3-5 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

As many times as I have heard this passage taught, I have not recalled once any telling in which these four friends had risked their own lives. Think of it this way, if Jesus was in your house and these men destroyed your roof, would your first response be to lend them a hand or call the police?

Put the destruction of private property aside for one moment and look at the symbolism. The roof is protective covering, shelter, sanctuary, structure that is meant to make one feel secure. It is a covering over one’s head.

2 Samuel 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

Covering of the head is a matter of hiding one’s countenance in the face of their own failings, weaknesses, and shame. Here in Mark chapter two these four men destroyed that covering in order to bring their friend before Jesus. These men did more than destroy a roof, they broke tradition.

Up until Christ rose from the grave it was tradition for religious men to cover their heads. It still is tradition in some religions. It is not for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

1 Corinthians 11:7a For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: