My wife and I are about to embark on a vacation that has been saved for and planned for 3 years. — 6 weeks on tropical Mexican beaches and visiting the museums and art galleries in Mexico City. – In preparation for this journey, the surfing, snorkeling, hiking, touring…we have been dieting and exercising like Spartans. Between us, we have lost 80 lbs.! We’ve been riding bikes for 10 miles and swimming a mile almost everyday for months. – Our vacation is just a few days away. — We were ready!
Then, somehow, while lifting a small batch of clothes, a sudden and terrifyingly agonizing pain shot down my right leg! I had agitated a sciatica nerve. This was new to me. The searing pain lasted for 3 days. It was unending and barely endurable.
It’s been 9 days now. It is still difficult to sleep at night when the barometer shifts. And there is often a dull continuous ache and weakness. But I can walk again. I even peddled on my stationary bike for a few minutes today! – We cross over the ½ mile border walking bridge between the US and the Tijuana Airport (CBX) in 2 more days.
My Point
It is Ironic that after so much physical preparation for so long, I will arrive in Mexico using a cane and unable to walk very far. (And taking slow strolls, exploring streets and back alleys where I have never been before has always been one of my personal delights.) It may not happen. I may not be able to surf or even to snorkel. – Things like this happen in Life. It is irony. And in an odd way, it is a little bit humorous. — I’ve had several big guffaws considering this. Why not?
This is not going to be the vacation we had imagined and dreamt about. It will be something different. But we know that Attitude is Everything! – We are going to have a different kind of vacation. Who knows what things we will do, and what surprises and new adventures await us? – I may even heal!
By my age, I have had myriads of disappointments, losses, and injuries. We all have! These are some of our most Important Moments. They are opportunities to build our character. They are pathways to greater endurance, strength, and patience. We are provided a means to grow and to mature thereby.
I close this with scripture, a verse upon which I meditate in times as this:
“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” — (James 1:2-4)
