Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Scratching my acnestis...

There's actually a word for it!  "Acnestis" is the place where it seems impossible to reach so that you can scratch the itch (usually between the shoulder blades).  So the next time you're thus afflicted, ask someone to "please scratch my acnestis", and see what he/she says!  You might get a few weird looks, too.
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This made me wonder about Job, who was struck "with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.  Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes."  (Job 2:7-8)  He was hurting all over, so we can assume his back was stricken, too. Do you think maybe he handed the shard to his wife, asking her to please scratch his acnestis?  (Or whatever it was called in whatever language Job spoke...)  It must have been frustrating to not be able to quite reach those one or two places that itched!
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Sometimes we have an emotional/spiritual/mental "acnestis" that we can't figure out how to "scratch". It bothers us, but we don't know what to do.  As with the physical version, the best remedy is to ask someone else to help ease the "itch". 

"Two are better than one...if one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up."  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)  How about a paraphrase?  "...if one can't reach his itch, his friend can scratch it for him.  But pity the man whose acnestis bugs him and has no one to help scratch it!"
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The very best Friend we can ask to do for us what we can't do for ourselves is named in this cool passage:  "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us...in accordance with God's will."  (Romans 8:26-27)  He knows exactly what and who is needed for our relief.  He can reach the places that are impossible for us to reach! We just have to ask Him to do it, and then allow Him to do it.

Father, help us to remember that...

                  "Since we live by the Spirit,
                    let us keep in step with the Spirit."    (Galatians 5:25)
                        

                    

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