Happy Friday!!
It is Friday afternoon and the weekend is about to get started. I hope each of you have some enjoyable plans for your weekend. I have experienced an odd week so I am absolutely ready for the weekend. My first full week of radiation has been a mix, some days with a pretty good headache and a few days when not too bad. Chemotherapy not so much. That started late and has been very very unpleasant. It has taken my head pain to a new level and makes me very nauseated. My hope is that my body will adjust a little to the chemotherapy and will settle down, time will tell. A couple of quick thoughts this afternoon since I am feeling much better!
One of my big challenges is that I am not able to work right now. That hits me in two ways. The first is I miss the work and the time counseling with others who are courageous enough to do that work. In fact most days of counseling, even days I saw 8-9 clients, never seemed like work. I always felt fortunate and blessed that I was able to do that work. The second challenge is when I was working I really was never motivated by the money but it was helpful to bring home a nice paycheck. Today I am officially unemployed and not making any money. That is a big challenge at this point in life. I really don’t worry too much about this and am hopeful something is going to work out. I really believe once I get through this round of radiation I will be able to get back to some work. Never the level I was at but doing some would be meaningful and making a little money would be nice.
Here is a little bit of a wildcard thought. I will put it out there and maybe it will help motivate me. The last couple of months since I found out I had a brain tumor and my time was probably limited, I keep thinking about writing a book. This is not a new idea but it has always been pretty easy to push that back because of my other day to day work. Maybe with my health issues and inability to work right now, it is time to WRITE!!!
There are two books that have really stuck out to me lately. Both are written differently and both are books that really connected with and spoke to me. I have mentioned When Breath Becomes Air, written by Paul Kalanithi. This book really connected with me and Paul wrote it while he was dying of lung cancer. The other book that really spoke to me and actually surprised me was GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey. If you enjoy reading and have not read these, get them, both are worth your time and money.
These books encourage me and remind me that each of us have a story. I guess some stories are more interesting than others, or maybe it’s more how the story is told, the content that is given to the story. When I think about my story, it’s not so much about me as it is about the different people and experiences that have been a part of my story. Shoot, at this point if the simple fact that I have a brain tumor creates a little interest I will take that. I did not choose a brain tumor, but I do get to choose what I do with this reality.
I want to write something. Something that would encourage my wife and kids first and then maybe a few other folks as well. When I think about my life, about relationships, ministry work, the work I do as a counselor, it’s the other peoples’ life stories that make this life interesting and meaningful. So,,, maybe,, if I can write about my experiences it might encourage others. Maybe it would be some simple ways to connect with others and encourage others.
Life is challenging and maybe one of the ways we truly grow and learn is going through the challenges of this life. Matthew and Paul both encouraged me not with their huge successes. They both encouraged me with the different struggles they each confronted, worked through, and ultimately grew.
I have a brain tumor. My time is limited. It’s time to use my time a little differently. Writing is one of those ways, and it is time to start.
There is probably something you need to get started on. What is it for you? None of us know when our time is up. So, let’s encourage each other to get started on some things that ultimately matter to each of us. Some things that can possibly make this world just a little better!
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Peace,