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An Independent Man? Not Quite!

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On Tuesday February 10, I had a second spinal surgery/fusion. I was in the hospital until Friday afternoon. Thankfully, I’ve been getting stronger each day and better able to get around the house, albeit with a walker. The pain has been slowly subsiding. Right now the healing process seems slow, but I know I need to be patient and allow my body to heal properly that I might get back into the normal routines of my life.  It's during times like these that I am reminded of just how dependent I am on those around me. When in the hospital I was totally dependent on the care of the nurses and aides. I needed all the help I could get to control the pain, get to the bathroom, and get in and out of bed. Once home, I’ve been dependent on my wife and daughter, son and son-in-law, to get a glass of water, prepare my meals, and help me with some of the basic tasks I would normally do myself. I’ve even been dependent on a walker to keep me steady and keep extra stress off my back as I move aroun...
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When It's Out of Your Control!

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Although I am really into fitness and health, I am very much aware of the fact that there are some things that take place within our bodies that we just cannot control—no matter how healthy and fit we are. Such is the case for me. In spite of the fact that my heart is strong, my blood work good, my weight under control, and my lean muscle mass at a healthy level (no I’m not jacked!), I have currently been dealing with terrible arthritis in my spine—something I ultimately cannot control. With the nerves constantly being pressed upon, I’ve had pain shooting down my legs that at times has been debilitating, to say the least. Because of it, I am headed for spinal surgery this coming week.   To be honest, I find it quite disappointing and frustrating. After all, I watch my diet, do strength training four times per week, and get in a couple of cardio sessions per week.  I’ve done all I can to take care of my body so that I can do the things I love to do and live the life I know...
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When Life Feels Like Chaos!

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Have you ever had a period in your life wherein it felt as if your life was filled with chaos? I have.  Life was going along at its normal steady pace. Everything seemed to be in its place. Everything was in order—just the way like it. Then suddenly the upheaval took place. My world—i.e., my life—was turned upside down. Nothing seemed clear. Direction was lost.  Darkness came like a flood. It felt like the tossing and turning would never end. Chaos had seemingly taken over.  Thankfully, the chaos was not the end of the story. Eventually, it gave into the grace of God and the good and perfect purposes of God.  God stepped into the chaos of my life and brought new direction, purpose, hope, and life. He brought about new opportunities and took me to places I never would have gone otherwise. Thus I can say today, God truly brought about something good out of the chaos of my life.  Of course, this is the way God has acted from the beginning. After all, it’s never bee...
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Preparing For the Storm!

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Here in the Northeast, as well as across much of the country, we are preparing for an impending storm. Temperatures will be dropping.  The snow will begin falling, possibly mixed in with some sleet. Predictions for our area range from eight to twelve inches of snow with high gusts of wind. It sounds absolutely awful!   Of course, the grocery stores are busier than usual. In fact, last night Kim and I went to Shop Rite after dinner. By that time the store was not too crowded, but the produce department had been stripped as had the dairy department. (Amazingly, I think there was yet bread in the bread aisle!)  Obviously, everyone was preparing for the storm—almost as if they’re going to be stuck in their homes for the next two months!  Kim and I have been doing our own bit of preparations. We did buy food to get us through the weekend. I checked the flashlights and batteries, in case we lose power. Kim even got out a little transistor radio, again in case we lose ...
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The Uniform!

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Now that I’m working as a trainer at one of our local gyms, I wear basically the same thing every day: black joggers or shorts, a black t-shirt or quarter zip that has “The Fort” logo on the front and the word “COACH on the back, and sneakers. It’s my new uniform. It’s what’s used to identify the trainers throughout the gym and give a sense of professionalism. You might say, our uniform is used to set the trainers apart from the rest of the gym crowd.     Of course, trainers in the gym are not the only ones who, when they go to work, put on a uniform. Nurses, mechanics, doctors, police, construction workers, retail workers, etc. often have a uniform. At times their uniform is tied to the function of their job. And it is their uniform that always sets them apart and help others identify them. For example, it’s the uniform that helps one identify the police officer standing on the corner from the rest of the crowd walking by or the Home Depot worker from the shoppers. ...
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The Stress of Christmas!

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Here we are less than one week away from Christmas. I know some of you are panicking. There is yet shopping to be done. The cookies need to be baked. The meals need to be prepped and the house cleaned. Oh, and don’t forget all the wrapping!  I know at times it can be a bit overwhelming, preparing for Christmas. For sure, Christmas can be filled with lots and lots of stress. Yet, I dare to say, most of us wouldn’t trade the world for it.   As I read the gospel account of that very first Christmas—i.e., the events surrounding the birth of Jesus—I can’t help but notice that, that first Christmas was as well filled with all kinds of stressors. For one, Mary and Joseph had to deal with the reality that Mary was pregnant before they were married. After all, who would have actually believed that she had become pregnant by means of the Holy Spirit? For sure, Joseph had to make a very hard and stressful decision as to whether or not he should move ahead with his marriage to Mary. ...
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The Dark Days of December

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I was thinking recently of how the Christmas lights come at just the right time of the year. After all, December and the winter months to follow are some of the hardest months of the year (at least here in the northern hemisphere). Not only is it cold and the weather unpredictable, but the days are short and the nights long. Each day of December, at least up until December 21 or 22 (approximately), the days get shorter and shorter—and the nights longer and longer. And even after that, any lengthening of the days has zero effect upon us. Thankfully, it is during these dark days of December that we have Christmas. It is during this particular month that we find the increase in darkness counterbalanced by the brightness of the lights of Christmas. In spite of the fact that the days are getting shorter and darker, we often call this month, “The  Season of Light.” And, that’s exactly what Christmas is all about: light shining into darkness. As the prophet Isaiah wrote long ago, “The peo...
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