I got the hiccups this afternoon after I ate a bunch of grapes a little too fast. It made me wonder what hiccups are all about anyhow. I certainly don't like to get them and it's frustrating not to be able to turn them off like a switch when they start. Somehow when you eat food too quickly and it can't move down the esophagus through the normal muscular action the food puts pressure on a particular nerve, called the phrenic nerve, that leads from the neck to the chest and this triggers a contraction of the diaphragm which contracts and sucks in a rush of air, like a power vacuum. Scientists think that this is one way for the body to help move the food along and avoid choking. We all know that once the reflex is set in motion it can take a while to stop (By the way, I think I discovered a new way to end hiccups...you just tuck your head down and touch your chin to your chest...while you're down there you might as well pray, because you look like you're praying). Anyhow, I think it's great that even something that can appear frustrating and a little embarrassing has a purpose. Sometimes we're around folks who are just struggling...somehow they can't quite get past an issue or a problem. They may need our help as spiritual hiccups to help them move past the problem without getting stalled. If you feel the urge to help someone who seems hungup like this, put your head down and touch your chin to your chest...and ask the Lord if He wants you to be a spiritual hiccup...
Job 4:1-6Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up:
"Would you mind if I said something to you? Under the circumstances it's hard to keep quiet.
You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words
that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit.
Your words have put stumbling people on their feet,
put fresh hope in people about to collapse.
But now you're the one in trouble—you're hurting!
You've been hit hard and you're reeling from the blow.
But shouldn't your devout life give you confidence now?
Shouldn't your exemplary life give you hope?
"Would you mind if I said something to you? Under the circumstances it's hard to keep quiet.
You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words
that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit.
Your words have put stumbling people on their feet,
put fresh hope in people about to collapse.
But now you're the one in trouble—you're hurting!
You've been hit hard and you're reeling from the blow.
But shouldn't your devout life give you confidence now?
Shouldn't your exemplary life give you hope?
blessings,
Rob Smith
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