Scoliosising

I was in middle school when my doctor told me I had Scoliosis. In case you don't know, Scoliosis is a curvature in the spine. Sometimes the curve can be so severe that a person needs surgery. My situation was not that severe, but I remember the doctor talking about me wearing a brace at some point with my parents, but I never wore a brace. It has never been a huge problem, but I played a lot of sports in high school so I would get back pains from a young age. Now that I am almost 50, I hear certain sounds coming from my back that are strange and sometimes scary. My pain has also increased significantly, especially when I get up in the morning. When someone tells me to stand up straight, they snicker and try to fix me because my standing up straight is not what people see. My standing straight from what people will see is one shoulder higher than the other so in order for me to look straight, I have to intentionally lower my right side to look normally straight. Most people stop snickering when I tell them I have scoliosis. However, one day someone came up to me and said, "Juan, why do you always walk with a slant like if you're cool or gangster style?" I laughed so much, and simply said, "Dude, I have scoliosis, where you see a slant, I am physically walking straight." Of course they felt bad and gave me a hug as if to make me feel better, and I just took advantage of the situation and told him how he really hurt me. Of course I was kidding, and now it's a fun story.

Why am I sharing this? Because I have finally chosen my word for the year. I know I may be a little late, but I saw this cool trend on Facebook in the first week of January where some people shared their word of the year, and all of them were encouraging words like "perseverance," "wisdom," etc. But I have chosen a unique word for 2021. The word is "Scoliosising." What does that mean? Well since I've made up the word, I'm sure it could mean different things for a variety of people. Here is my description for 2021 word of the year: Scoliosising.

Sometimes the world around us seems like it is crumbling. The crumbles come in different ways. They could come as an unexpected negative health diagnosis, family tensions, job loss, stress to do well in school or work, marriage issues, addictions, pandemics, political upheaval, or simply not finding peace or satisfaction in this life. So in 2021, if I face any of those issues or when I face whatever problems come my way, I will live it by Scoliosising through all the hardships with Jesus at my side. I will choose to deviate from a straight spinal course into destruction and take a new route in my journey. If I see something seethingly coming right at me like a fast ball thrown by a major league pitcher, I will take a curvature that won't break and let it pass right by me. Why? Because I'll be scoliosising. Sometimes we face angry and bitter people and at times they get crazy on social media. Sadly, some of those people are even considered friends or family. I will choose to love them. It doesn't do anyone good to come into a straight course of lip or texting or posting battles. I will choose the curvature of love and not go into the direct path of indignation.

Life with Scoliosis at times has been painful, but I continue walking through life because Jesus is taking these steps with me. And when I'm too tired to walk, He carries me. So what have you faced in this New Year that you were not expecting? What disappointments are dragging you down? What paths of destruction are you in? What is crumbling under your feet threatening your every step? Whatever it is, I invite you to deal with it by Scoliosising and let Jesus carry you.

This morning I read the story of a rich, young official in old Israel when the Romans were in charge. This official went to go see Jesus because he had no peace in his heart, although he was an influencer and was financially blessed, as well as a person that obeyed the Commandments. He was however, deeply sad and unsatisfied with life. He asked Jesus, "What can I do to have the assurance of eternal life?" Jesus said, "Surrender all to the less fortunate, take a different path, choose a curvature from your straight spinal path, come follow Me as we go Scoliosising together." (That was the JRV - The Juan Rodriguez Version of that story's response). The story is found in Luke 18 and clearly shows someone that was good and had everything going for them, but they lacked peace and total satisfaction. Sometimes, it's not about the bad stuff that happens to us that leaves us lost. Sometimes, it's withholding our total surrender to Jesus. (Someone should twee that) If you are feeling this way today, please listen to that loving response by Jesus because that young official left sad, and he could have had everything he needed in Christ Jesus. True peace in this life is only found in Jesus.

So my word for 2021 is Scoliosising. What does that mean?

"To move around destruction, and trust that there is a different way you can take in the journey. To let negative things coming at you swoosh straight by, as you curve around them. To trust that when the pain makes it hard to walk, allow Christ to carry you. To love instead of going into a straight battle with the angry and bitter. Lastly, to trust Jesus when He says to surrender." Surrender will come in different phases throughout each season of our lives, but it's the best decision you can make.

I invite you to go Scoliosising with me and have this word be part of your vocabulary too. Maybe it will make it into the official dictionary one day. Do you have a different word for 2021? Please share.