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Filling the Void
For the last few months, things haven’t always felt that right. Now I know why. I had a void in my life and now it is filled. Yesterday I had my regular (semi-regular in my case) dentist check up appointment. I mentioned that one tooth in particular was still giving me a difficult time. Linda, my ever faithful dental hygienist looked kindly at me and then at my tooth. “Did you know that you lost your filling?”
Now I’m new to this whole “filling” business. As you might recall, I had my first cavity less than a year ago. Sadly my hopes for tuning in more radio stations with a silver filling were not realized. So I don’t know when or where or how I lost my little silver dude, but it’s gone. Linda and the dentist were ever so gracious in taking the time to give me a new filling. This time, white because the material allows you to use adhesive. Trust me, a hot glue gun pointed at your mouth is an unnerving experience.
So we’re going through the whole filling thing and I tell them that I’ve definitely experienced pain and discomfort from this tooth. I tell them that its kind of feels like it’s always there, a general malaise if you will. Then Linda says to me, “Well of course you are feeling that way. You have a void and it’s exposing the inside. We need to fill the void.”
For a split second I thought I was in spiritual direction … then whirl of the drill and the smell of steaming adhesive sobered me up. But for a moment there, I thought wow, there’s a lot to be said for that metaphor of having a cavity — a void — and filling it. Sometimes the stuff we fill it with just doesn’t work (e.g., silver fillings DO NOT tune in more radio stations) and can even adversely affect us. We have to find the stuff that’s really going to stick, adhere to our hearts and souls and bring us peace.
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{ 11 comments }
Deep sister… very deep! Thanks for the thoughts.. it really does put a new perspective on things
Your meditation is very beautiful, but your comment on silver fillings having adverse effects is not supported by the science and, in fact, might distract and worry readers who have silver fillings.
RE: adverse effects — honestly I was only referring to the adverse effect of not being able to tune in radio stations.
I’m a nun, not a dentist, and defer all dental inquiries involving detrimental effects to the distinguished American Dental Association which has many dental details, directories, and documentation at their disposal.
As a Sister of Mercy AND a Dental Hygienist I loved the analogy of the void caused by a lost dental filling and the sense of void, at times, in one’s spiritual life. The right filling for both is important and may take a bit of time to “get it right” but once filled correctly, there is a sense of wholeness and well-being. Never thought of it that way but it is so true. Thanks for the thought today. You never know where enlightenment will be found!
Nice analogy. Spiritual insight strikes in some of the most random places!
What a neat story! Thank you
Great thoughts, SJ! Wisdom to sink our teeth into
In response to Anne’s comment, what we call “silver” fillings are actually an amalgam of metal mixed with mercury. It’s the mercury that can have adverse effects.
Thank you for an awesome post!
i swallowed a filling last year, the same day that i got it. but i was aware of it!
great story, comadre. i love you madly.
Little did Linda the hygienist know she was ‘directing’ you, Julie, beyond healthy teeth. She would enjoy the story. Do you mind if I tell her at my upcomg appointment?? PS Julie and I have the same Linda the hygienest.