Results

I have had a rather challenging week. I had surgery, am on an all-liquid diet for 3 weeks, and I lost a friend today. I can certainly do without weeks like this, but the end results will be amazing.

My surgery will result in the healing of a long-term affliction. It will make it possible for me to lay down and sleep in a prone position for the first time in more than 30 years. No head propped up on 3 or 4 pillows in hotel rooms. No bed at a crazy angle so I don't get sick overnight. No more pills for reflux. It will be an amazing transformation to my lifestyle.

The 3 week liquid diet is the bad part of the healing I expected from the surgery. My stomach needs to heal. It needs rest and non-abrasive foods filling it's now-small space. It's a small price to pay for a life change in my opinion.

And the hard part. My friend dying. He was my protector at my first job at the age of 14. I became the washboy at my uncle's gas station (and I mean washboy; all hand washing of cars inside and out). He had the job before me and I was hired because he got promoted to attendant and mechanic. He was only 2 years older than me, but he was tough and big and scary. He could have easily bullied the new scrawny small kid, but he didn't. He mentored. He protected. He watched out for that new kid. He became a fine man; serving in Viet Nam; serving his country as a prison guard; and a great father from what I understand. He was always protecting.

My pastor this past Sunday gave a sermon on empathy for others. He said that it's our jobs and duty to love others and have empathy toward all. I know that my surgery and past ills have always given me empathy for anyone suffering thru the same symptoms. But I don't think that's what he was talking about.

We need to be more like my friend. He was a protector without cause. He didn't have to like the new skinny kid. He didn't have to serve his country as a Vet or as a guard. He did those out of love. He did those because he cared. He did those things because he had an inbuilt need to serve others.

Jesus was like that. Jesus came to Earth as a helpless child. He came knowing full well that He would die a terrible death and be mocked and ridiculed by the very people He came to save. But He did it anyway. Someone described Him as a man of integrity and I agree. I also think He had empathy. He knew our struggles cause He had them too. He knew the temptations and needs of our race because He experienced them as well. He was a protector of our souls. He served. He loved.

Jesus isn't always honored nor are His lessons. The world is not always fair toward Him or His followers. He told us that would be the case, so we shouldn't be surprised. I want to honor Him and learn His lessons daily, but I do fail. Like my surgery and my friend, all is not perfect. But if we keep trying, I believe that things will get better. Humankind will survive. We will become more empathetic and loving if we can just follow the lessons of the Savior.

My question to us all is.... who can we serve today ? Who can we show empathy to today ? Who can we be Jesus for today ? If we ask that daily and answer it truthfully, we'll spend the rest of our lives in service to mankind. And that, my friends, is a great result !!!!!

Those are my thoughts......