Tuesday (2/18/2014)

Update:

I am down to one week before my follow-up appointment with my surgeon when I should be given the go ahead to begin being fitted with my prosthesis.  I am guessing that it will be mid-March before I actually receive my prosthesis.

Over the last month, I have been gaining strength and stamina through hours of exercise.  I had a physical therapy appointment on Monday to evaluate what changes I need to make in my routine so I am prepared for my prosthesis.  The therapist gave me a number of new exercises today to replace the ones which had become too easy for me. He also helped me remove some exercises that were targeting the same muscles.  A number of the newer exercises utilize stretchy bands so I can do those any time during the day.  Although I still have weight to lose; I am feeling much more fit and healthy than I have for years.  Here is a few pictures from my physical therapy appointment. 

I had a good discussion with the therapist about what the future may look like.  By 2053 we should have personal space ships… Oophs!  Wrong future discussion!  I meant the future about the process of me walking...  I will start out with walking with a walker, then move to walking with two forearm crutches and then to a single cane, and then walking with just the prosthesis.  The exact time table will be worked out between the podiatrist, the surgeon, and the medical rehab doctor.  One of the major factors that they will look at is protecting my remaining foot from injury.  Since the bones in the arch of my left foot collapsed, they are concerned that it might happen to my right foot too.  So it may be a long journey back to walking again.  I’ll just have to be patient and take it one step at a time (yes, I did mean to include that play on words).

I had an eye appointment on Monday and have been referred to a retina specialist.  I've got excess fluid in the eyes from the diabetes.  Otherwise my eyes looked fine—that was a relief to hear.  Once the fluid is removed (by laser surgery or meds) my vision should clear up substantially.   With my blood sugars being well-regulated now, there shouldn’t be any new damage to my eyes; we’re just taking care of old problems.  Unfortunately the first available appointment for the retina specialist is almost a month out.  I am hoping that there will be some cancellations so that I can get in sooner.  I am anxious to regain better vision; but I’ll have to remain patient to see how long that takes (another play on words). 

So recovery is slow but sure. Just taking the next step when it's time and trying not to rush it too hard or become impatient with the process.  If it quits snowing, I’ll have much more freedom to come and go on my own now that I can load/unload my wheelchair (I can’t get up my ramp with snow on it & I can’t clear snow and ice off the windshield of the truck).  Like most people in Wisconsin this year, I can’t wait for warmer weather and the snowfalls ceasing.

Here’s a quirky note to end the update: I woke up a few times last night.  Every time I was dreaming about parking in handicap parking spaces (I’ve got the permit so it’s legal).  In my dream everyone was nice business or restaurant with gigantic parking lots filled with hundreds of cars but there was always a handicap spot open right next to the front entrance.  I snickered as I pulled into the spot as everyone else had a long hike to the door.   What do amputees’ dream about?  The perks of handicapped parking spaces apparently!

Thought for the Day:

Think about all the bible stories that you know and you will recognize that God often sets up scenes that appear to be negative on the front end, but God has orchestrated these events for His glory and they turn out positive in the end [this idea comes from Os Hillman, Prime Time With God daily devotional email (2/17/2014) from Church Growth Institute].

-Without Pharaoh's pursuit of Israel at the Red Sea, there is no miraculous deliverance.

-Without Lazarus's death, there is no rising to life.

-Without the woman being ill with an incurable disease for years, there is no miraculous healing.

-Without giant Goliath’s challenges, there is not an astounding upset victory by teenage David.

-Without Peter stepping out of the boat and sinking, there is no miracle on the water.

-Without persecution arising in Jerusalem, there is no scattering of Christians to share of the gospel.

-Without the defeat and occupation by the Romans, there is no Jewish hunger for a Messiah.

-Without suffering from leprosy, paralysis, fevers, blindness, being deaf, etc., there is no miraculous healing.

-Without hunger, there is no feeding of the 5,000.

-Without the violent storm on the sea about to sink the boat, there is no calming of the wind and the rain.

-Without Judas' betrayal, there is no resurrection.

-Without the recognition of the hopeless caused by sin, there is no desire for a Savior.

I could go on and on with biblical examples and you could probably easily add to the list as well.  Often God uses things that are negative to set the stage for something positive in the end.  That principle is used in every movie you watch or book you read.  They present a problem or difficulty and then enters the person who will solve the problem or remove the difficulty.  Often it is a common person who rises to the challenge and becomes a hero.

And that got me thinking.  If this is true why then do I normally react with frustration and aggravation when negative things happen in my life?  Why do I assume that bad things are bad and have no redeeming value?  What if I had a change of attitude whenever these things happened and responded with anticipation and wonder?  “Okay, I’ve got a flat tire and I am going to be late.”  Who knows; maybe someone will show up to help me and be as a “ministering angel” to me.  I may never find out, but perhaps this delay keeps me from being involved in an accident further down the road. 

If I assume that there may be good somehow connected, then I might look for it and see it.  I will at least face this difficulty with a more positive mindset and not be hindered by negative emotions along with the situation.  However, if I assume life is rotten, unfair, and the whole world is against me; then I’ll probably find enough evidence to convince me and keep me in a perpetual bad mood (and that is so pleasant for everyone around you to experience—NOT!).

This is definitely not the normal fashion for how to react to events in our society.  I guess that if the world is truly a random, chaotic, haphazard experience; then a negative attitude might be appropriate.  But I don’t believe that.  I believe that there is a God and that ultimately He is in control.  It is not a perfect world; but it is not random either.  I don’t believe God is a control freak who has to dictate every minute detail of existence; but I do believe that nothing happens without His oversight and allowing it (why evil is allowed is a totally different discussion).  If that assumption is correct, then at a minimum God has a good result that may come about from a bad situation.  For instance, last night my wife told me that she believes that I am a better pastor/preacher since my amputation (and I have thought the same thing).  My medical situation (that could not be called good) has resulted in me being more effective as a pastor (greater opportunity to speak, new insights into life, more empathy for those hurting, a renewed relationship with God, etc.).

So when bad things happen to you today—how are you going to respond?  Will it be a knee-jerk negative one?  Or will you withhold judgment and seek to find a positive result and have a more positive attitude about the whole thing?  I know which one will be better for you in the long term.   As the phrase goes, “Don’t sweat the small stuff; And remember, it’s all small stuff.”