Update 2012

Exactly one year ago yesterday, I was released from the hospital after a seven-week stint, following what was to have been a 4-day recovery from lung surgery.  It has been a challenging year in many ways.  But God, in His mercy, has supplied abundant grace and given me the strength, one day at a time, to gradually progress.  As I have spoken to many of you who read this blog, I know your prayers have been a vital part of what God has been doing.  Thank you so much for being faithful in that.


It seemed appropriate at this milestone to reflect a bit in order to sum up my overall experience and, for the sake of those who have tracked my physical progress, to give a brief update.

“So, how are you feeling?”  That’s the question I hear most often.  Strangely, the question often seems to catch me off guard as I think to myself, “I actually feel fine.”   That is, as long as I’m relaxed in a comfortable chair!  I quickly realize, of course, they’re really asking about the state of my general recovery.  My usual response is that I’m making progress but it’s slow.  The difficulty comes when I want to get up quickly and walk briskly across the room, go upstairs to get something, or bring in some items from the car.  Several minutes of any such activity can put me out of breath. 

I estimate that I’ve recovered about 50 to 75 percent of my physical strength, depending on the muscle group, and about 75 percent of my body weight.  Endurance is the big one…I used to walk two miles easily at a fast pace every day, but now I’m not quite up to a mile at a moderate pace and feel like I’ve run a marathon at the end. 

Often, sitting down to eat a meal feels more like work than enjoyment.  Doing significant yard work, fix-it jobs and useful activities around the house are all still in the future, and my driving has been limited to an occasional errand around town.  Instead of a normal seven hours of sleep at night, I find that I need 8 ½ to 9 hours now and often require another hour’s nap during day, especially after going to my rehab gym.

Well, now that’s probably more information than you wanted, but I have an engineering mindset…

Even though my progress seems slow by my own criteria, I am grateful for the strides made during the year.  This so-called slowness, I have learned, is actually God’s perfect timing.  I used to think I had (and often have been credited with having) patience, but this experience has shown me a whole new dimension for personal development in this trait.  I also realize that with all the physical and mental effort that is required to maintain steady improvement how blessed I have been that it truly has been improvement.  What a great source of hope and encouragement that has been.  Sadly, for many of those whom I have seen and talked with, their condition has declined in spite of their rehab efforts.

Looking ahead, none of us know what challenges tomorrow, let alone 2013, will bring into our lives, but we can be sure of one thing:  We will face challenges!  (The Bible calls this tribulation!)  With all the uncertainties and evil forces at work in the world today it could be a scary time.  Thankfully, we do not have to face the future alone or with fear.  The One who holds the future, individually and globally, says to His own, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful…These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”  (John 14:27, 16:33)

Will you join me in praying that God may grant us the repentance and faith in Jesus that will cause His peace to reign in our hearts and in our nation in 2013?