Walking Miracles & Life-Saving Hope

When a Trip to the Dentist Reminded Me of Christ's Resurrection Power

I forgot I was walking around with 47 platinum coils in my neck.

It was a simple dentist's appointment last month. I thought nothing of it when they needed updated x-rays from a fancy panoramic contraption. (Excuse the graphic visual and evidence of my childhood fillings - ha!)

“Hmmm, I have no idea what that is,” the hygienist said slowly. Even as I looked at the photo on the wall, it took a minute for my brain to catch up.

“Do you have metal in you?”

Still registering, I thought of the coils in the aneurysm in my chest, not my neck. Then I saw the yarn-like ball of metal on the left side of the screen.

“Oh, yeah!” I told her what she saw — a mass of metal coils in my carotid artery, clotting off a large aneurysm, and mesh metal sheaths keeping blood flow to my brain. Almost an afterthought.

I’ve been walking around like this for 13½ years. I forget it might be a novelty to healthcare practitioners taking a peek at my insides. I explained my connective tissue disorder to the dental hygienist.

The dentist (aware of my condition) checked my teeth and gently suggested it might be time to get my wisdom teeth removed. I told him I was chasing down some other health things right now, and optional oral surgery wasn’t really on my priority list. He’s a good dentist and never pushes.

When I left, the hygienist told me not to worry one bit about my wisdom teeth. I concur.

The truth is, that little messy metal ball is life-saving.

I forget about it, except for an uncomfortable sleeping position or occasional spasm that sparks a reminder that it’s there.

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It's also true, as Christians, we’re all walking around with life-saving matter inside of us.

The power of Christ’s resurrection is keeping ultimate death and separation from God at bay. It isn’t visible, but it’s vital. Because of Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), we can:

• Not fear death (1 Corinthians 15:53-57)

• Persevere in suffering (James 1:12)

• Resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)

• Grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

• Comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

• Pray with confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16)

• Rejoice in trials (Romans 5:1-5)

We are changed from the inside out. May we remember, in Christ, we are all walking miracles — held together by His grace and goodness (Colossians 1:17).

Download Bible Verses on Resurrection Hope

...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:18-20