All thorns are woven into a crown

In chapter twelve of Second Corinthians Paul tells us: “A thorn was given me…” What was this thorn? We don’t know. Sometimes Paul was totally disabled by it. The best guesses are that the thorn was epilepsy or migraine headaches or a malarial fever. I tend to believe it may have been sciatica or an aging spine. What exactly the “thorn” was is not that important. A “thorn in the side” is whatever causes you pain or frustration or sadness.

Your thorn may be a physical pain or disability. Anxiety or phobia may be a thorn. Even fear of failure may be a thorn.

Benjamin Franklin once wrote: “The sentence which has most influenced my life is, ‘Some persons grumble because God placed thorns among roses. Why not thank God because He placed roses among thorns?’ I first read it when but a mere lad. Since that day it has occupied a front room in my life and has given it an optimistic trend.”

What was God’s response to Paul’s prayer that his thorn be removed? “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

The story is told of a ten-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. “Sensei,” the boy finally asked, “shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger and more experienced.

For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.” Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and the sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind: “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

The greatest demonstrations of God’s power have come when men and women have felt the weakest. Remember that the next time you caress the place of your thorn. The love of God and the power of Christ banish our shame in our weaknesses and transform our pain and lostness and loss into purpose, place and resurrection. It is the will and way of God’s Christ—who is God’s Grace-With-Us— whose sign of sovereignty over all that exists are thorns woven into a crown.