The Itch

By Rayla Stewart Hogue

Special to the Daily Statesman

Her shoulder was driving her crazy. The fuzzy feeling was hard to describe--not painful but irritating. She reached back to see if something was on her shoulder. The spot was just out of reach.

Twisting, she tried to reach over her back--almost . . . no luck. She reached back and tried to reach up to the itch . . . no luck. Okay, maybe the other arm could reach . . . almost . . . ARGH!!!!!

"Son, could you help me a minute . . . uh, scratch my back? Over . . . higher . . . down . . . back . . . almost . . . oh yeah . . . . Thanks!"

What a relief to stop that itch! No, twisting . . . reaching . . . it was back. The kid was gone . . . the itch was worse. It was driving her crazy. She rubbed against the chair back . . . no relief.

This has to stop . . . she found a door opening, and bear-like rubbed sideways against the door-jam. Oh, blessed relief.

Sheepishly, she returned to her tasks. Relief that the itch was gone, and slightly embarrassed to be so "bear-like" in resolving the problem filled her. Now she could concentrate on . . . the sensation was back. No, she would just ignore it.

It was driving her crazy. Scratch . . . okay rub and find relief, then back again. Scratch . . . relief. Itch . . . it was driving her crazy! No matter what the itch would NOT go away.

Sometimes in life there is an "itch" that simply cannot be scratched. Perhaps it is an insect bite. Perhaps it is a lesson in patience. Perhaps we need to reach out beyond ourselves to stop the itch. We are not in life alone. Perhaps, God is speaking to us or motivating us to move out of our comfort zone.

God, when we find an itch that we cannot rid ourselves of no matter what we try, help us to lean on you and allow you provide the relief we seek. So be it. Amen.