The Hairline Crack

I just went to the dentist for my six month cleaning and check-up.
I mentioned that something did not feel right in a back molar.
When I actually got to the dentist for my scheduled appointment, it felt better.
Isn’t that always the way it goes?

I do not usually have problems with my teeth.
I have had only a couple cavities in my life, which were years ago.
However, this annoying molar had an old filling in it.
It was actually my first cavity and my first filling.

It was time for x-rays.
After the shield was put over me, the film went into my mouth.
The x-rays were taken and the image immediately came up on the computer screen.
The dental hygienist and I talked until all I could do was grunt a yes or no answer.

The dentist came in and looked at the tooth that was no longer bothering me.
He looked at the x-rays on the screen.
He pointed to one spot on the annoying molar.
There is a small hairline crack right around the filling, he informed me.

I need to get a crown.
I have one other crown from many years ago.
I know the procedure.
I know that I will be in the dentist chair for a while.

I wanted it repaired as soon as possible.
I scheduled the appointment for the end of the week.
I know that a temporary crown will be put in place at that time.
Then I will have to go back for the permanent crown.

I made the appointment and put it on my phone calendar.
The scheduled day for the crown placement was a free day.
The appointment was later in the afternoon.
I was thankful that the annoying molar was not being annoying at the moment.

It was Bible study day.
I wanted to go for a walk before I came home and baked something for the women.
I wanted to get out the folding chairs and make the coffee before they came.
I wanted to get out the tea bags, the cups, plates, forks, and napkins before they arrived.

I had not eaten any breakfast and realized that I was hungry.
I made an egg and had some organic granola on the side.
I was chewing on a crunchy piece of granola.
One piece of granola was exceptionally hard.

It was then I realized that the hairline crack near my filling had split.
A tiny piece of my tooth was swallowed along with the crunchy granola.
I called the dentist office to see if there might be an open time slot a bit sooner.
I left two messages; it was unlike them not to return calls.

Finally, hours after my first call, I decided to leave a message on the emergency line.
I made sure to inform them that it was not an acute emergency.
I was just concerned about the piece that was missing in my back tooth.
I was trying so hard to chew on the other side of my mouth.

The dentist himself called me back.
The office was closed.
He was so gracious and commented about the perfect timing since I was on the schedule.
He was going to check his schedule for the next day to see if a time slot was open.

He told me that he would call in the morning and perhaps this could be fixed a day earlier.
It amazes me that one small hairline crack near a filling could cause a problem.
It was not like I ignored it.
I got it checked soon after it started to bother me.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,  and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,  so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:14-27)

One small hairline crack.
It was so minuscule that it should never have presented a problem.
However, the small hairline cracked split.
A piece of my annoying molar broke off.

We sometimes allow things to fester in our families, our relationships, and our churches.
It is just one small disagreement.
It is just one insignificant argument.
Without mending, that small, insignificant thing will cause a split, a break, or a rift.

That small, insignificant thing needs to be repaired.
Every member of the family or the church is important.
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.
One small, insignificant thing will grow into a canyon of difference if left unattended.

Within the next few days, my temporary crown will be in place.
I will not have to use caution when I chew.
I will not constantly rub my tongue along the side of my tooth.
The hairline crack will be repaired and things will be much better for the mending.