Just glad to be moving without crutches...

OK, so seven weeks ago I completely ruptured my patellar tendon in my left knee. This tendon is responsible for extending your lower leg. When it tears, you cannot walk... much like the Achilles tendon. Well, being the over achiever I am, mine was pretty much destroyed playing backyard football.

So, I have had my leg locked in extension unable to move for quite some time. My Orthopedic Surgeon (OS) says that I need to take my time with this injury since it is rare and hard to recover from. So, it looks like I will be in this brace for at least another five weeks. I don't mind that so much as just not being able to bend my leg.

It has been a real challenge. Only being able to sit... watching so much TV that I actually contemplated ordering Gorilla Glue, Sham-WOW, Snuggie, etc. Walking only on crutches-no weight bearing. Waling on crutches-partial weight bearing. Walking with the walker. Walking with the cane, Using the cane in extreme circumstances. Only being able to sponge bathe. Yuck... I am sure I had an unpleasant aroma... note sarcasm.

At any rate, I want to thank my wonderful bride, Tracy, for taking care of me the last few weeks. I know I can be handful. This woman has the most patience, love, and understanding that a man can ask for in a wife. I really don't know what I would have done with out her. She just stepped right up and started getting things done... I guess that is why she is such a great Mother as well.

For now the plan is to go back to the OS next Friday. Hopefully, he will allow me to increase my range of motion (ROM) during my exercises to 60 and then 75 degrees. Then maybe I can start to walk with the brace unlocked some.

In all humbleness, I am just grateful to God to have a leg and that I can move without assistance for the most part. I have taken the stance that God is good and worthy to be worshipped and praised regardless of my situation. I just try to focus on the positive things and remember that life is more than the physical realm.

In the blink of an eye...

Life can change quickly.In fact, it can indeed change in the blink of an eye. I had never really given that saying much thought until recently.

I injured my leg playing backyard football on Valentine's Day. I know, not much of a present to my wife, right? A trip to the Emergency Room and pain killers! At any rate, I was running the ball and a defender tried to tackle me, they fell down and grabbed my ankle while another defender tackled me from the front. My patella tendon literally split in half. It ruptured in two parts. I heard the "pop" and knew I was done with that game. I really thought I just dislocated my knee cap but the ER X-Rays proved otherwise.

I went from being an independent, athletic, young man to being basically an invalid. I haven't been able to bathe on my own for two weeks. Thank God I have a loving a caring wife! I have always taken care of myself and others around me. It has really taken a lot to get used to having someone take care of me.

My point in this post is that we all go through life in the moment and rarely do we realize how good we have it and how fast things can go bad. I can only imagine the kind of change getting blindsided by another car at an intersection can change things, or a quick heart attack, stroke, or aneurysm.

We should all take time to enjoy, reflect, and not take things for granted. It can all be gone in the blink of an eye.

Keep on keeping on.

When I was about 12 years old I decided to play football. At the time, I was an extremely obese child. I kid of got talked into it by my older brother who had started playing the year before. So, I went out and tried. I did not understand the game of football nor what it took to play the game.

The first practices of football are not about the game of football at all. They are about conditioning. Our coach wanted to ensure that we were "in shape" enough to play. So, we started out by running. At the time, running was the bane of my existence. The farthest I had ran was to the remote. My only form of athleticism was wrestling my brother for GI Joe toys. We ran and did drills for about two hours each day those initial practices. It was torture. I vomited several times. I would get passed by everyone else. I was the slowest on the team. I got picked on and made fun of and tortured by the older kids. Eventually, those conditioning sessions got easier.

Then practicing the game of football began. Like I said before, I really didn't understand football. My coach told us that it was not a contact sport, but rather a collision sport. Did you know that the average hit in football is equivalent to being in a car wreck at 30 miles per hour? That first day I got hit so much that I literally could not move. My mother had to feed me the next morning. My body was black, blue, and green all over. I kept on going and kept on trying. We won all except one of our games that first year. I kept playing football all through high school and even some in an amateur Semi-pro league after college.

Looking back now on my athletic career I can honestly say that I was not a great football player. However, I had resolve and just wouldn't give up. It is amazing what a little bit of grit and determination will do.

In today's world we are all pressured. Pressured by the economy, by the demands of works, by family and friends needs, by obligations. Sometimes it is just good to remember that if we"keep on keeping on" we can have success and things will work out. Paul told the Philippians-forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. He pressed on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ, and he said in Romans 8:28 that "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those that are called according to his purpose."

We all need a little resolve and remember that no matter how bad things are right now, things are going to get better. We just might need to take a few hits, get some bumps and bruises, and vomit a few times!

Tempus Fugit

Time really is a funny thing. I mean funny in the odd way, of course, not HAHA funny. When I was young time dribbled by. Christmas break never got here and then it would last forever. Summers were endless opportunities to play GI Joe and ride bikes.

Alas, now time is my most precious commodity. There just isn't enough of it.There is hardly enough time for the "big" things that are important in life, like family, much less time for the little things.

I started really thinking about time the last couple of weeks. My oldest son just turned four. My youngest is about to be one. It seems that once you have kids, time literally flies. They get big so quick and constantly amaze me. The saying is true, "babies don't keep."

I just hope to "make the best use of my time". Eph 5:16 I only have the amount that God has given me. I hate to waste any of it.

Speaking of wastes of time. Here is my list of top time wasters:

1. TV (really, come on, what did you think I was going to say?)

2. Being Angry or Upset

3. Disorganization

4. Chit Chat (Yes, the weather is nice. No I don't care about who did what on Grey's Anatomy.)

5. Gossip.

Humility

Being humble is sometimes a very difficult thing, especially for us men whose ego is larger than life. We think so highly of ourselves at times. I can remember growing up and my mother saying, " If you don't blow your own horn, no one else will." So, needless to say, I grew up with a healthy dose of self confidence and worth.

I try not to think too highly of myself. In fact, I make it a point to never really just come right out and brag or be cocky. I try to live a life that is that of a servant. Recently, I have struggled with the fact that many people mistake being humble with being weak minded or weak willed. I just don't get it. Humble does not equal weak or passive.

In the same vein, I get really aggravated when someone assumes that because you are poor, you must be stupid or the assumption that because you are physically dirty you must be poor.

I hope that I can be as God would have me be and "look on the heart." 1 Sam 16:7

People are not always what they seem to be and all of us have more depth, character, and life than what is shared or displayed to the world.

Running

OK, now several months ago no one in their right mind would have ever guessed that I would become a runner. I started running because it was the only way I knew to lose weight and manage my diabetes. I thought running a half marathon would be exciting, especially if I did it with my wife, Tracy. I didn't realize that running would get me hooked for life. I have now ran several 5k races since the 1/2 Marathon in April and plan on running a race at least every other month.

I usually run 3-5 miles every day. I'm not a fast runner by any means, most people would call me a plodder, only averaging 12 minute miles. At any rate, when I run I use the time to pray and meditate on things. It is so good to have a few minutes and really be able to think on things.

I would urge anyone reading, if they are physically possible, start running. It has made a world of difference for me. Not only in physical conditioning, but emotionaly and spiritually.

Being a Dad

It is great to be a Dad. I love my sons. I love being a role model and being watched. I always enjoy doing projects around my home. My oldest son, Owen, constantly begs to be a part of whatever the project might be and will get his little play tools out and copy whatever I do.

The other day I was having a conversation with someone and it appeared that they were sheltering their child from the harsh reality of life. I'm not trying to be overly judgemental, just a perception and a personal opinion. One kid had pushed their child and the parent didn't want their child to be friends with the offending child or even ever be around them again. It was a one time thing and the kids rarely even see each other. It was an over reaction, if you ask me.

I think as a father, it is so important to expose children to the reality of the world. Naturally, no one wants to see their children hurt. I can totally agree with that. However, it is very important that kids see their parents actually deal with issues. Now, personally, I would have just asked the little kid who pushed my child to stop or even better, I would have told my child to ask him to stop pushing. Then, problem solved. Instead, what this child learned was that he would be protected by his parents and that he doesn't have to deal with people being aggressive.

What a shame! The reality is that people don't always get along. Someone always has a toy or something that someone else wants. The reality is that many people feel that might makes right and people, especially boys, will be aggressive. Somewhere along the line, the child is going to have to learn to deal with situations like this. What example did they see from their parent? Run away, don't confront the issue, and someone else (parents) will defend me.

As a Christian, I think of how Jesus went into the temple. He was angry and even went to the extent to overturn the tables of the money changers in Mark 11. He let the people know that the situation was not right. There can be confrontations in life. It is perfectly fine to let someone know that their actions bothered you. It is OK to be angry. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:26 to be angry and sin not. I can understand this parent's anger and urge to protect their child. But, I can't understand why the parent wouldn't deal with the situation.

My hope is that I always realize that little eyes and ears are always around and those eyes and ears are bound and determined to mimic everything I do, right and wrong. My hope is that my example is a good one. My hope is that they see me do more right than wrong and that my goal is to love the Lord. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:4, my hope is that I raise my children in the "discipline and instruction of the Lord."