By
the time I reached the end of my teen years, I had fragmented my front tooth.
Having chipped it via a bullet’s graze or saving my sibling from a ravenous
raccoon would have been a terrific story, however, I cannot remember how it was
chipped. According my dentist, I either used my tooth as a tool (highly
likely), or bit into a bagel incorrectly (again, highly likely), which are
equally unimpressive.
Deciding
to get the tooth fixed meant sitting in the dentist chair and going through the
process required for a replacement veneer. In the throes of tooth sheering and
shaping and Novocain ejections in places where soft food feels like an
irritant, I would have terminated the entire process, but for the desire to
escape being used as a cover model for People
of Hillbilly Land magazine. The prepared tooth was small, slender and ugly.
After
the grueling procedure of getting fitted for a veneer, I had to suffer through
several temporary replacements until the ceramic tooth hue, shape, and fit was
perfected.
Right
from the beginning I knew that Mr. Temporary Tooth and I would scuffle. He was
disobedient, unkempt, and foul. I grew to hate him as each new day began and
nearly every day he tried to run from me but I shoved him back in place with a
vengeance, bitter and frustrated with his inconsistency and ill-fit. I may have
complained to the point of seriously frustrating my husband, but it is not
legally documented.
Temporary
things are not faultless, neither are they meant to fit well and last long.
They fall apart, have flaws, fall off, look big, look small, feel
uncomfortable, hurt, annoy us, cause complaining, and disappoint. Temporary
things break, need attention, aren’t a responsible solution, fail, and
frustrate. Their main job is to work for a very short period of time. They cannot
to be trusted to work correctly.
Hebrews
13:14 says, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward
to a home yet to come.” Our earthly lives are temporary. As believers in Christ
we should not feel comfortable living in the world knowing that we have a
Heavenly Father who is preparing a permanent home for us in heaven. Feeling
uncomfortable and disappointed with an ill –fitting world is normal. The
essence of temporary living is turmoil. Although we make the best of what the
world offers, God’s design is for us to feel uncomfortable here on earth and to
yearn for our encounter with Him and living with him forever, right by His
side.
After a
month my permanent veneer arrived. Mr. Temporary and I have parted ways. I love
my tooth and it loves me. I have given up eating bagels and using my teeth
instead of scissors, and, if I take care of the rest of my teeth, I can abstain
from another affair with Mr. Temporary. He was awful.
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