Humble: courteously respectful

On Wednesday, March 19, I met with my doctor to find out what was up with my right arm. I knew I had probably hurt it a couple of days after the pack pinewood derby while uprighting the grill that our 65 lb. "puppy" had dragged off the deck.

The doctor pretty quickly diagnosed a ruptured biceps tendon and ordered an MRI, to be performed ASAP.

I found out, putting together that meeting and the MRI results, that I would get to enjoy a surgical solution to my problem. I would be lying if I said I wasn't feeling a little sorry for myself.

That same day, while walking that same puppy (left-handed), I found out that a neighbor-friend's younger brother (in his 50's) had just been diagnosed with colon cancer, and that they had already lost two siblings at young ages to colon cancer. Ever physically see your world, ergo, your problems, shrink to naught in about a heartbeat?

I had the surgery April 7, and found out afterwards that my rotator cuff had a severe tear, as well, but got repaired during the operation. See previous paragraph about shrinking problems.

The prognosis for this type of problem is good: four weeks in a sling, 4-8 more weeks of physical therapy, and my arm/shoulder should be as good as new.

My point is this: I'm typing left-handed (I'm a righty), can't cut my own food, and discovered how easy it is to spill oatmeal on a clean shirt. Yet, it is all fleeting. In what amounts to a few weeks, it will be a memory. Can I say that about the children killed crossing Falls of Neuse a couple of weeks ago? What about my neighbor's colon cancer? Father-in-law's irreparable hearing loss?

Slowed down temporarily, yes; having my kids cut my food for a few weeks, yes; sorry for myself? Not after a couple of hard-hitting reality checks.

If you have a serious health, financial, employment, or other problem, I don't want to understate its impact on your life. But do look and see if there is anything you can bring to those around you in terms of optimism and leading by example, maybe by remembering there is a generation looking to you to show them how to live.


Oh, also remember: tradition holds that scouts in uniform shake left hands, rather than right. Well... it helps me out!