Part 4 "Life Lesson" The Conclusion

The following morning, I awoke to a painful mystery.  When I went to get up, my right knee had a sharp, deep throbbing pain.  My first thought was the run had made me sorer than usual.  But when I slid out of bed and took a few steps, I knew that it was something much more than soreness.  Something was wrong with my knee.  I could barely walk because of the aching pain.  What had happened to my knee?  I couldn’t make sense out of what was going on.  It didn’t hurt any yesterday, during or after the run.  In fact it felt good all Thanksgiving Day! To make a long story short, I spent the next 10 months trying to let my knee heal itself, finally realizing that it wasn’t going to get better on its own.  So, I went to the doctor and he confirmed that I had a torn meniscus.  The surgery date was set, took place, and so far seems to have been a complete success.  The pain was all gone!  Oh, the knee was sensitive and swollen from the surgery, but the problem creating almost a year of unstable mobility and hurt had been removed.  It’s now Thanksgiving Day, 2011, and my knee is great.  Walking does not hurt, and I am getting back to my normal, I think, I hope.  In all this I learned a “life lesson.” I learned in those few months, I’d forgotten what it felt like to feel good.  And this makes me think….  I think about the person who can’t see as they once did, or the man whose hearing is almost gone, or the women, whose heart has weakened, leaving her little strength, or the one who’s wheel-chair-bound for life, due to a debilitating disease, or the child who once ran, played, and leaped for joy, who’s now elderly and bed-ridden, or the friend, family member, or spouse whose body has returned to ashes and dust.  Let me ask you a question, have you forgotten what it feels like to feel really good?  Is the brokenness in your body, your life, of the irreversible sort, that no surgery can heal, allowing you to once again experience what it feels like to feel good?  The answer for us all, is eventually yes, and this is the “earthly truth.” But a Christian’s journey doesn’t end in pain!  The Lord Almighty promises that there is coming a day, where believer’s will be gloriously healed, never again to forget what it feels like to feel good, because; ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” So, Dear God, thank you for the “life lesson” that came by way of a Thanksgiving Day jog with my daughter, and ultimately pointed me to your great spiritual promise of THE COMING MORNING OF JOY!

Part 3 "Life Lesson"

What happened?  I was pooped.  I was exhausted.  My brief and glorious burst of energy wore me out.  I was like a shooting star with no shoot left.  My excellent jogging form transformed into what now looked more like an old, overweight, galloping elephant.  I thought to myself, “Where did my mojo go-go?”  But I determined not to let Ashley see that I was spent.  So I smiled through the pain and pretended that I still had some gas in the tank, but I knew the tank was running on empty.  The most embarrassing point for us both was when a father and his daughter (who was probably about 6 years old) passed us by.    That was more than Ashley’s pride would allow for and  I heard her loudly mumble, “No way am I going to let a little girl beat me in this race.”  So she picked up the pace, I followed, and passed them we went with the finish line in sight.   You could hear the crowd cheering in the distance.  Ashley’s side was aching.  She had placed her hand on her side trying to massage out the pain.  She was laboring along.  She was giving it all she had and I was proud of her effort.  I on the other hand, had gotten my second wind and was just waiting to make my big move for the final sprint.  I edged up, we were now even, and I was easily matching her step for step.  I envisioned crossing the finish line ahead of her, arms raised high in victory, winning all the bragging rights for the ride back home.   As we approached the last 25 yards to the finish line, this feeling came over me, “Let her win.  Don’t pass her.  Just let her win.”  So, I dropped back, and watched as she crossed the finish line ahead of me.  The race was over and together we headed back home, in a warm car to the greatly anticipated Thanksgiving meal.  Although my body was tired from the run, I felt good. Good that I finished the race.  Good that I spent the morning with the daughter I love.  Good that I made a memory that I will always hold dear.  Good that I let her win.   But the following morning brought nothing good for me.

Part 2 "Life Lesson"

I felt a little stiff as we trotted along, but with each stride I loosened up and thought to myself, “This isn’t so bad after all.  Could it be, that maybe, I was in better shape than I thought?”  After going half way around the course, on the first of two and a half laps, I became aware that our pace had increased a little.  No problem, I reflected, because I had a lot of juice left in the tank, the legs were limber, and I was feeling the mojo.  Ashley was now ahead of me by a few steps, when the first bead of sweat ran down the side of my forehead over my cheek.  It’s a weird feeling (not a great sensation) to have a warm drop of sweat running down your face when it’s cold outside.  Anyway, we now had completed lap one.  As we continued along talking smack back and forth to one other, I made a decision.  In retrospect it was an unfortunate, fateful decision.  I had decided to turn the heat up on Ashley and pay her back for her earlier taunts.  The strategic timing of my decision was based on the fact that she was complaining about her side aching, plus her breathing had grown heavy and sounded like a mule with severe laryngitis.  No mercy!  So I kicked in the after burners, went at an all out sprint and passed by her like she was standing still.  The whole time I was laughing and repeating, “Who’s the old man now?”  After running far ahead, showing her my superiority, I stopped and jogged back to her and once again we were side-by-side in perfect cadence. But something unsurprising had happened to me.

Part 1 "A Life Lesson"

This is the first, of a four part story I will share with you.  In this historical account, I learned an earthly truth that pointed me to a glorious spiritual promise, which I shall reveal to you at the conclusion of this telling.  Let me begin.  A year ago, I was forty-seven years old and for my age in pretty good shape.  Other than a few extra pounds I was carrying around, I felt great physically and had no aches or pains to speak of.  Early in the morning, last Thanksgiving, at the urging of my daughter, I joined her and her boyfriend Jonathan (now her husband) in a 5K race called a “turkey trot.”  It was against my better judgment, but I agreed.  Ashley has a way of persuading me into just about anything.  This time, it was probably her taunt, “What are you, an old man?”  Her teasing worked and pride got the better of me. Besides I thought, what a great way to crank up the appetite and burn some extra calories in preparation for the big meal my wife, Danielle was making.  The terrain of the race course was hilly, wet, slightly muddy, and it was cold outside. I did little stretching or warming up for the race.  Every time I started to complain about what she had gotten me into she’d simple reply, “Go big or go home dad!”  Hundreds of people had come to run as we stood in line waiting for the race to start.  Then the shot rang out and the race was on, ready or not, there was no turning back.  Now the only thought in my mind was, “Just cross the finish line before Ashley.”  So off we went side-by-side in perfect cadence. 

Today I Feel Sad

I miss so many things today.  I miss Lonnie.  I miss grandpa and grandma West.  I miss my dad. I miss others too.  Today I feel sad!

A Kind Word Is Like B12

Yesterday, I spoke with a long time friend and fellow minister.  I shared with him a recent, heartfelt comment made to me in an ordinary conversation.  The person, whom I’ll call M.B. said, “You’re a blessing to our family.”  Those few words were like a feast set before a man of famine.  As a morsel of food brings sustenance to the body, so his acknowledgment brought nourishment to my soul and strength to continue another day. A kind word is like a vitamin B12 shot.  Proverbs 18:21 is true; “The tongue has the power of life and death—” My minister friend, D.S. is also a man of famine and he concluded the discussion by saying, “It really doesn’t take much to inspire us.”  Speak a kind word.  It’s needed more than you’ll ever know.

All Good Things

Late this morning, returning home, I was driving my wife’s Mini-Cooper slowly down the dirt road (picture left) so I would not splatter mud on it.  I had just taken it through the car wash.  As I traveled under the large maple trees, (also in the picture) dawdling and enjoying their beauty, the sun broke through the branches warming my face, and hundreds of brilliant colored leaves began floating, spiraling, spinning down all around me.  The leaves appeared to be falling in slow motion.  It was a beautiful experience.  A small thing like this really is one of God’s greatest gifts.  Be careful not to overlook unique moments in your life.  Recognize and give thanks for each one of them.  So, I thank you Father, Creator, for falling autumn leaves and all good things.

Awesome Day

What an awesome day to be alive. Taste… Hear… See… Feel… Appreciate… Celebrate… Rejoice… Be Glad…  Live life!  It’s a crisp autumn Michigan morning, I have a hot cup of Folgers coffee in hand and I sit here quietly thinking about tomorrow’s sermon.  The only distraction is the sound of geese honking as they fly over our house.  I made it to the front window in time to see them soar in perfect harmony above a cornfield surrounded woods, whose leaves are bursting in red, orange, and yellow.  What an awesome day to be alive.  ^“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

 

part 3 Walk Slowly

The solemn stillness was interrupted by the minister, “Who gives Ashley to be married to Jonathan?”   I responded, “Her mother and I give our blessing on this marriage.”  Gently I lifted the wedding veil that covered her face, up and over her head, until it rested peacefully on her shoulders.  Kissing her on the peak of the forehead (our special spot) I told her, “Your mother and I love you so much and are very happy for you.”  She took a deep breath.  Her eyes watered.  She smiled.  Moving towards Jonathan, I shook his hand and gave him an embrace and joined their hands together.  Turning back, taking a few steps, I sat down beside my bride of 26 years…

part 2 Walk Slowly

So slowly with Ashtree (my nickname for Ashley) I walked down the short passageway to the marital altar.  Like brilliant lightning bolts across the dark night sky, random memories flashed into my mind with every step.  Flash— the scene of her birth in Kansas City, Missouri.  Flash— the moment she laughed for the first time, near St. Louis, Missouri, she was just a baby.   Flash— the memory of her first day of kindergarten in Nashville, Tennessee.  Again, flash— her first bus ride to elementary school in Eagleville, Tennessee. So many flashbacks of Arizona, Atlanta, and so on…   Then suddenly the music stopped and so did we and the memories followed suit.  For the briefest of moments, it was as if Father Time had winked at me and time stood still and quiet.  

Walk Slowly

Slow down Father Time was my plea.  He answered, “There is a time for everything.” I replied, “But time is moving too quickly.” He listened not.  The long awaited moment had come.  It was pomp and circumstance at its very best.  Father dressed in tuxedo and daughter in brilliant white gown.  Double doors flung open with great energy and anticipation as trumpet played, signaling the grand entrance and the changing of a great many things. My thought at that instant—she looks like an angel. Walking side-by-side down church aisle lined with hydrangeas, my wife standing in the distance watching, my next thought arrived—walk slowly, walk slowly, hold her hand closely, and walk slowly, cherishing these few precious but fleeting steps.  Oh Solomon, you wise teacher, you were painfully right when you wrote so long ago, that time stands still for no one.  There is a time for everything and a season for ever activity under the sun. Make the most of the precious time you have.