REALITY!

Nothing is more existential than the reality of the moment. There are many things in life that bring us face-to-face with this reality. Life is quite full of reality and all we must do is to just take the opportunity to soak up the moment.

A New baby! Each one has his or her own personality. Did you ever see two people that were exactly alike? I don’t guess I’ve had the experience of seeing identical twins in a long time. Perhaps they are all quite alike, but, ordinarily two babies are quite different. I really guess diverse would be a better word.

Diversity is really a word that depicts our humanity and our reality. No two of us are exactly alike. Out of all humanity, you are unique, a one-of-a-kind person. Isn’t that neat? When you were born, the mold was thrown away. And, that brings us back to uniqueness.

I stopped taking Vioxx immediately upon the warnings being given in the news. I did not even wait on the Dr’s. letter. Let me tell you about reality. Boy, did it ever set in, and, I might add, almost immediately: Pain! They tell you, that you will have to take this about two weeks to see it work. Get off it for about two hours and, Wow! Nothing quite brings us as close to reality as pain. I quickly found out Mobic didn’t work, but of course, it took about two weeks. Then I started Celebrex which I actually began with years ago. After several days, Wow! again. It began to work. Man-o-man this is great. Then I went to see the Internal Medicine Doctor-type guy and he told me I had to quit taking Celebrex 10 days before what I hope will be major total reconstructive surgery. That was Friday when I quit. Bang, here it comes again! I had to go to school on Saturday. I only ran over Alecia in the wheelchair. I guess that was lucky for the remainder of my class. I think Dr. Logan made some exceptions for me and my condition. He’s a great guy. They are both great. Alecia didn’t even hit me back.

I don’t think I can blame Vioxx for my femor falling to pieces. There is a unique possibility that most of all It was my own fault, like Jimmy Buffet and that tattoo in Margaritaville. Well, you must have a sense of humor all the time. I don’t really blame my former two-time surgeon. I got faulty products both times—I don’t believe for a moment it was any other person’s fault.

You have heard of No Fault Insurance? Right? As much ridicule and advice as I have received over my problems, limp, gimp, and all—I just think that things occur and you don’t have to go around blaming someone. Yes, that’s right: things just happen! No one all the way from the surgeon to me is probably at fault. Probably it was just Sulzer, Smith and Nephew, and the French company that turned out both their faulty parts. You would have to research that one to fully understand.

I just want to say one thing for sure: Pain is Reality!!! Nothing is more real than pain. If you are without pain, count your blessings. If you suffer from pain, don’t blame anyone. Well, there is the FDA. That’s a safe group to blame. They will never know it and may not even care.

WE ARE FAMILY!

What in the world is more important than family? Very little! We would sacrifice almost anything for family. Family is that ever present proof of personality identity and personal belonging. Nothing stands out in this very moment as more important than our families. How can we put so much emphasis on but one aspect of our reality?

I really don’t believe that last question is so terribly difficult to answer. Blood and genetics! But that’s not all there is to it. What about those persons your children married or others related to you that are not in the blood line? There is really no genetic connection there. But, there is that son-in-law or daughter-in-law who was partially responsible for those precious grandkids.

Immediately these individuals take on a completely new dimension among the larger group of people called family. They are not just separate entities that just happened along to help produce family members; they are family. They become just as important as any other member of the family.

Sad are those groups of people who call themselves family but differentiate and delineate and subjugate individuals because the blood flowing through their veins is not from the same genetic source. When we find that some families can’t get along, it’s no wonder we see the Jews and Palestinians having so many problem-solving issues—and , somewhere back there they all shared the same bloodline, and there is still probably a trickle or two flowing through their veins today.

The Holiday Season is approaching. Family becomes so important this time of the year—at least it does to our family. Times spent together can only be viewed as golden moments frozen in time—existential moments more valuable than price can be placed on them. They aren’t even here yet and I am already excited.
FAMILY—it don’t get no bettern’ that!

COLUMBUS REVISITED

Do you remember what you were thinking as you were being born? Of course not! But, you were leaving a place of peace and comfort and safety to enter uncharted territory, at least from your perspective. A few billion may have done it before you, but for you it was a brand new experience. You might have thought, I’ll never pass this way again!

You had your very own Columbus experience. Everything was new and different. Where am I? What am I doing here? Life is different since I left my safe little bubble. What’s really going on here?

Do you remember asking all those questions? Of course not! You were a cute little booger, though. Your parents probably loved you very much. Everything went pretty good but then, you had to grow up. Now everything has changed. You suddenly find yourself on your own. Ah ha! There’s another Columbus experience.

Did you then ask, Why am I having to leave another safe bubble? What am I here for anyway? Of course not! But there it is in all its entire splendor: Life! Yes and that life is real. It is an adventure for those who choose to live it as the adventure it can be. Just think! You are provided with something new for you to experience every single day. And, each new day is somewhat like that original experience—uncharted territory. Let me ask you this: What if every day were the same old experience over and over again? Dullsville! Right?

Do you know where you are going? Are you heading in the right direction? Someone has said it and he/she said it something like this: I don’t know what my future holds but I do know who holds my future. I did personalize that a bit. So, I can live each new day basking in the greatness of the life God has given me to live. Lamentations 3:22-24 should give great meaning and conclusion to this little treatise that seems to be a never ending story.

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

But, don’t forget. Life will end much like it began. Perhaps it will happen suddenly, perhaps with much struggle—but, it will end. So, live every day as though it were Columbus revisited. Enjoy the adventure of living this great new day.