Otoconia

If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:19-26 ESV).

 

Some of you may be thinking that I have way too much time on my hands to have written this introduction for our devotional. Well, that is partially true; however, I love trivia. Today’s search began with the old quip: “You have rocks in your head.” Well, as it turns out, that’s true. In fact, we all have rocks in our head. According to The National Center for Biotechnology, they are tiny little crystals (see picture), and called “otoconia,” or ear rocks. They couple mechanic forces to the sensory hair cells in the utricle and saccule, a process essential for us to sense linear acceleration and gravity for the purpose of maintaining balance.

 

It is not unusual for them to shift out of place. The main symptom is what has been called vertigo. Sometime ago I went to my PCP with tinnitus. He did a cursory examination of my ears first. After taking all the ear wax out that had built up, he also did a few exercises with me. He asked me to lay down and sit up quickly, bend at the waist and straighten to an erect position quickly, and asked, “Are you feeling any dizziness?’ When I answered that I was not, he simply said, “You have tinnitus. That happens as you continue to age.” My thought was, “Thanks! Not only did he just call me old, he also said my only choice was to put up with the ringing or die.” Finally I asked him why the little exercises. That’s when he said he was checking to see if the rocks in my head had shifted. Thinking he was kidding and not wanting to show my ignorance, I did not respond. As I did the research, I now know he was not kidding… I have rocks in my head!

 

I do have a new appreciation for my ear rocks; they are tiny, indispensable wonders.

Do you know we have “ear rocks” in our community of faith? They’re the folks that look or act a little different than we do. They may seem weaker, but they are indispensable. Maybe you are that “different” person who feels worthless and thinking you contribute nothing worthwhile to the church’s life. Our reading today would declare that you too are indispensable. Even when we don’t know what contribution someone makes to the life of the Church, God knows. Each of us is indispensable. I have found that when I remember that truth it is much easier to be patient and kind toward others. As we go through these crazy times in our history, remember, we all have rocks in our head; and, we couldn’t walk without them!