On a Scale of One to 10

For the last few years the nerve pain in my husband’s hip and leg has sent us to numerous doctors, pain specialists and therapists. The first question that is always asked on the paperwork or by the nurse is, “On a scale of one to 10, what is your pain level now?” On more than one occasion I’ve heard Bill and other pain sufferers say, “It’s an 11.” I’m now intrigued by the idea of measuring spiritual pain and grief on a scale of one to 10 and I need look no farther than Jesus at Gethsemane to see the spiritual pain scale of an 11. “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matt 26:36-38 NIV).