Disappointment

I was scheduled to have bariatric surgery last week to correct a long-running digestive system issue, but that surgery turned into a corrective action different than what was planned. I still had surgery, but I awoke to the sounds of the Recovery Nurse telling me that my procedure was "aborted". What does that mean, I thought to myself. Of course, I was still on some very powerful drugs at the time......

I am now scheduled to have my original surgery at a later date, so all will be well. But this was a disappointment. I was excited about having a 30-plus year issue corrected for good. I just knew that the future me would be better and more ready to live a longer and more fruitful life. No more reflux. No more acidic lungs. I could lay down flat in a bed to sleep. It was gonna be EPIC !!!

After much thought and introspection, I have decided that this is a good thing, not a disappointment. I am recovering very well. The surgeon is happy that other issues were fixed and are out of the way for the original surgical action. Good times are ahead.

This is not unlike the disappointments we all face from time to time over missed opportunities, money not made, cars not bought, loves not realized, or goals not met. Maybe we thought we were a shoo-in for a job only to find out that someone else garnered the prized corner office. Or maybe we passed on a somewhat risky investment opportunity only to realize we would have been a multi-millionaire if we had only had the guts. Or maybe our choice for a political office was not elected. No matter the circumstance, there are disappointments in life and we need to make a choice.

We can choose to be bitter, inconsolable, and angry at everything and everyone. We can blame others for this seeming illogical outcome. We can wear our disappointment on our sleeve everyday and twice on Sunday just to make sure that everybody sees and understands the depth of our despair.

Or, we can choose to accept the disappointment, accept the outcome, and accept that others' joy is OK. We can decide to be gracious to those who voted against your candidate, got the coveted job, or made the millions that you could have had. We can decide to avoid the ulcers and sleepless nights of disappointment.

In my humble opinion, we should practice the humility and gracious attitude modeled by Jesus throughout his life. He was the Creator of all that He surveyed, yet He came as a baby in a lowly manger, lived as an itinerant preacher with no funding, and died on a cross meant for criminals. He did all this for us. He did this so that we can live without fear. He did this so we can love our neighbor without hate and without malice toward any. We need to remember the old slogan, WWJD.......

Just an old man's reflections. Thanks !!!