Friday (2/28/2014)

Update:

After sitting in a wheelchair for the last three months one of my new exercises is called “standing.”  Yep, I stand up on one leg—that’s it.  I stand at the kitchen counter for as long as I can tolerate it.  It is actually kind of painful after a couple of minutes.  The joints, tendons, and the muscles aren’t used to doing that anymore.  So I am working at building up tolerance.   For years it used to be that when people asked me if I wanted to sit down, I would teasingly answer, “No, thank you!  I am trying to build up tolerance for standing for longer periods; that way I can preach longer on Sunday morning.”  Currently I am preaching sitting in my wheelchair; but my teasing response actually has a ring of truth to it now!   On Thursday I stood up to wash the George Foreman grill and then used it to cook some hamburger for lunch.  I stood at the bathroom sink washing out the prosthetic sheath stocking that I had worn for the last 24 hours.  Strange to think that within the next two weeks that I will start standing on two feet again! 

I spent time on Thursday putting my insulin amounts into the spreadsheet that I use to track my blood glucose levels.  The glucose levels automatically upload to my computer from my meter; but I have to enter the insulin dosage by hand.  I have about three weeks of data to catch up on.  Then the computer will spit out some nifty charts and graphs for me to see exactly how I am doing.  I’ve already been able to reduce my insulin amount a couple of small steps.

I don’t know why but I couldn’t keep my eyes open on Thursday afternoon.  I slept well the night before but I conked out in the recliner for four hours!  I went to bed at the normal time on Thursday night and had no trouble getting to sleep, so I must have needed the extra shut-eye; but that really took a bite out of my day.  I was planning to relax and watch TV in the evening on Thursday, but instead I worked at the computer answering emails and working on Sunday’s message to make up for my unplanned downtime.

Thursday night, I had a visit from one of my police officer buddies whom I hadn’t seen in a while.  It was nice to catch up with him. I’ve missed not being able to ride along with the officers on patrol as a police chaplain.  Sometime this spring I should be able to get back out with them.

Thought for the Day:

What are you afraid of?  What holds you back from taking a risk?   What are you scared of attempting?

“Harry Truman, thirty-third president of the United States, remarked, ‘The worst danger we face it the danger of being paralyzed by doubts and fears.  This danger is brought on by those who abandon faith and sneer at hope.  It is brought on by those who spread cynicism and distrust and try to blind us to our great chance to do good for all mankind.’” [Quoted by John Maxwell, The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset].

“Fear and anxiety are debilitating emotions.  They are interest paid in advance on a debt you may never owe.  And they undermine faith—in ourselves, in others, and in God.”  [John Maxwell, The Difference Maker…].

I know a lot of people who will worry and fret about going to the dentist.  They would rather remain in their current state of pain rather than risk the pain of what the dentist might do to them to bring relief.

Years ago, I tried to help a woman escape a brutal, physically abusive relationship.  She was home free with a place to stay and a legal separation, but the fear of the unknown—of what life would be like on her own—drove her back into an extremely bad relationship.

Couples having marital difficulties often will not seek counselling.  The family dynamic may be a mess and cause them pain regularly; but the fear of the unknown or the need to change stops them.  They would rather accept the pain they are in rather than risk some greater emotional pain.

The fear of failure stops people from spreading their wings and trying new things that appeal to them.  “I probably wouldn’t be good at it—so I better not even try.”

The fear of pain stops people from continuing to exercise when the muscles are stiff and sore.  The fear of withdraw symptoms stop people from kicking their addictions.   The fear of what others will think keeps us from exploring new options because “nobody in our family has ever done that before!”

Some fears are good and healthy.  The fear of falling keeps you back a safe distance from the edge of the Grand Canyon.  The fear of injury keeps a child from playing in the street.  The fear of your wife finding out about the new bass boat you bought keeps guys from making stupid purchases (Wink! Wink!).  So not all fear is bad.

Then again many times we worry and are afraid of things that probably will never happen.  But our fear stops us before we even try.  We need to follow the example of the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz; he didn’t let fear stop him from seeking the help of the Wizard.  Just by stepping out and trying he found the courage he sought all by himself.

There were a few times in the hospital when I was a bit like the Cowardly Lion.  I had never had surgery before; so everything was a bit scary and I had no idea what to expect.  For one procedure, the thought of them putting a tube down my throat while I was awake; with my head down and feet up (having a chronic sinus infection my head was always elevated) about made me come unglued.  One of my nurses helped talk me down.  The procedure wasn’t comfortable, but I lived through it.  Looking back I can say that it wasn’t worth the emotional energy that I spent worry about it; and it was hard to stop worrying once you start being anxious.  Having a friend help talk us through those anxious moments can really help.  Having a solid faith relationship with God is foundational. 

Four times in the first chapter of the Book of Joshua, God tells Joshua to “Be strong and courageous.”  Moses has been the leader of the people of God for over 40 years and Joshua has been hand-picked by God to take over.  That has to be a daunting task.  Trying to fill Moses’ shoes and lead over a million people, with multiple conquests ahead against the enemy who will have a home court advantage.  No wonder Joshua needed to be encouraged!

Joshua 1:7   “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9     “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Let me encourage you.  Don’t let fear of the unknown, or fear of your past failures, stop you from trying.  You don’t know how much you’ve got going for you until you put it to the test.  There is the possibility that you will succeed if you try.  Sometimes you may not succeed on the first attempt.  Then keep on trying.  Learn from your mistakes and the things that didn’t work.  Eventually you will get there.

Thomas Edison was unsuccessful many times before he succeeded in inventing a workable light bulb.  He was ridiculed as a failure before he finally got it right.  One time when someone was giving him grief, he said this, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” 

Winston Churchill, the leader of Great Britain during World War 2 gave this speech at a boys’ school on October 29, 1941, “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”