Fourteen Years Later

It isn't something I dwell upon, but fourteen years ago today my life turned upside down. Okay, that pun was unintended. My youth group was in the Bahamas on a mission trip when I was paralyzed in a gymnastics routine.

For eight hours we were all paralyzed waiting for a helicopter to arrive from the States to fly me to medical care in Miami. Immediately people came together around me and my family. They supported us then and through the months ahead by helping out, sharing encouragements, and keeping us in their lives.

Over the years I've met or heard of several guys who just gave up after being paralyzed because they could not accept this had happened to them. Some have become hardened, fighting vigorously to regain the function they had lost. Some were left by everyone they knew and forced to face this challenge alone.

When I look back, there are frustrating days I just want to get up and put this all behind. There are other days I know it is because of my unique situation I'm able to have special relationships with some. Most days are just normal and I simply work through the common day-to-day things we all face.

Were it not for God at work in my life things could have been dark. Were it not for my family, I would have been helpless. Were it not for the medical pros, I would have been invalid. Were it not for dear friends, I would have been lonely.

So many people have said to me, "I don't think I could handle it as well as you." It wasn't me. Somehow we all brought each other through my paralysis and wherever I've been my community has been better for it. It is strange that tragedy often brings something beautiful. Fourteen years later I still see the lives of people around me shaped by this event that changed my life forever.

inspired: Notes about my sabbath

Saturdays are my sabbath. Somebody came up with the idea that people should take a break from work and rest on Saturdays. I think it's a great idea too many of us overlook in this hustle-bustle society. Okay, I know this audience never worries themselves with busy-ness, but some people do *wink.

With the computer and TV turned off, I spent much of my day outside my apartment savoring the wysteria across the walk. The solitude was wonderful. Princess (my Lhasa Apso) and I listened to birds, watched bees, and visited neighbors who passed by.

The most amazing part of the day was that wysteria. Oh, to bottle up that fragrance and share it with you all. Its blossoms were a soft sweetness that complimented the delicate purple flowers. Insects hurried about enjoying the nectar, surely returning to the university nearby with its honeybee boxes.

I need a day of rest. It inspires me with the simpler things. I revert to pen and paper to write out ideas and paint the natural world around me. I listen to the songs of the birds and the breeze in the trees. I am revived and ready to face another week.

There's a lot more about creativity at Water Cooler Wednesdays. Join the conversation at http://randyelrod.typepad.com/ethos/2008/04/watercooler-wed.html.

Taking the Opportunity

Today is February 29.

Okay, it didn't strike me as important at first either, then the Aha! moment as I listened to NPR this morning. This is a leap year.

Every four years we get an extra day in February. An extra day!

Have you ever heard someone say, if I only had one more day? Surely you have. Well, here it is.

So what have you done with it?

Honestly, it almost slipped right by. Then I caught the big idea: take the opportunity!

So here I'm blogging on February 29. I won't have this opportunity for another four years. I'll enjoy some other fine things this day. Maybe I'll polish off that bottle of champagne, finish a painting or story, call a friend, or just relish the fine day.

Joel Siegel: A man who enjoyed life

This morning, I watched as the Good Morning America anchors and reporters reminisced on the life and passing of their friend, Joel Siegel. I remember him as the other film critic with a fuzzy moustache. His friends recalled Siegel's pleasant demeanor and contagious cheerfulness.

You may recall my post A Reckless Life about Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Like Irwin, Siegel informed and entertained thousands on TV. Both had a platform that promoted their passion. Both had a contagious enthusiasm and joy about living. Finally, both were committed fathers.

I was impressed as I watched the segments recalling Siegel's work and life. They recounted how the enthusiastic movie critic faced the greatest moment of his life when he learned of his wife's pregnancy, then his tragic diagnosis of advanced colon cancer weeks following. Instead of brooding, Siegel poured himself into making the most of every moment with his son. He fought cancer with great gusto, driven by his desire to enjoy his son. Along the way, he built poignant moments with his son -- enjoying, laughing, and bonding with him -- to create lasting memories. And he wrote a book, so his son would have a legacy to remember his father.

Life is about far more than getting by day after day. Guys like Joel Siegel serve as reminders of the passion that drives some to greatness. He was faced with tragedy and shared a strength of character with those around. He saw hope in darkness and embraced the things he loved, following them whole-heartedly. He was not just a man who lived, but one who enjoyed life.