I usually write a blog or two ahead so I don’t have a time
crunch affecting my productivity, or for that matter, affecting the quality of
my work. Last week, for example, I wrote four or five days ahead so I had
inventory to publish day by day without pressure.
Good thing. Last Thursday, I
fell. At church.
First some background. The church is small and has husbanded
its resources carefully. It does not need fancy things to celebrate God. Nor
does the congregation have to be wowed by silver, gold or shiny brass to lift
praises to their loving God. The sanctuary is beautiful yet simple. It’s just that
the interior of the sanctuary was showing its age, wear and accumulated stains
and eradicable dirt. So the congregation felt it was time for a renewal.
Nothing fancy. Just some paint, carpet replacement and some lighting
improvements. Oh, and some new seating that would provide more flexibility in
use of space in the sanctuary.
That’s where this story begins. The new sanctuary seating
arrived by truck last Thursday, July 17th. Although I am not able to
lift and tote anything of much weight, I at least arrived at 7 am to see for
myself that the crew was sufficient to do the job. Somehow I got involved and
climbed the truck ramp to help someone carry a pallet of light weight parts
down and into the church. It was a little disconcerting because the ramp was steep,
but I was slowly walking backward with my share of the load.
Having accomplished that small feat, I climbed the ramp
again to take a small collection of loose wooden parts off the truck and into
the church. I should not have! Hind sight, you know.
The ramp was far too steep for me. My body weight provided
the forward momentum down the ramp but my feet and legs could not keep up. So I
began a slow tumble. I managed to remain upright down the ramp, across the
sidewalk, and into the church entry whereupon I collapsed in a heap on the
welcome mat. I landed on two knees, an assortment of elbows and arm extensions.
Fearing I would hit my head or land flat on my face, I scrunched my stomach and
back muscles fiercely. The strategy worked. I landed without hitting my head.
Winded and considerably short of breath, I lay there for a
few moments, collected my thoughts, and slowly pulled my arms and legs together
so I could rise. A colleague moved a chair near to me and I managed to get onto
the chair where I sat for 8 minutes or so. Nothing much hurt. No sharp pains.
Just abrasions, bruises and contusions. And soreness.
I said my apologies and admitted my humility. I claimed
willingness but inability to help. Slowly I left the building and carefully
climbed into the van and drove home.
Bleeding a little from knees and elbows and one finger,
Rocky daubed and spread appropriate ointments. I then sat in my recliner. Even
fell asleep. Upon waking I felt back pain. I could not move, sneeze, cough,
burp or talk without pain. Breathing was labored.
Fearing a broken rib, I agreed to visit the emergency room.
They felt no x-ray was needed but examined me and found nothing glaringly
wrong. They admitted I would be in a lot of pain for a few days and that they
could provide drugs to relax muscles and take the edge off the pain. Armed with
those drugs and prescriptions, I left
the ER and went home. Rocky went to the drug store to fill the scripts.
Today is Tuesday, six days later. I am still hurting but
improving. Knees and elbows are healing and swelling lessened. The back pain
continues but lesser so. I am beginning to cut down the drug intake and aiming
for normal soon.
Meanwhile humility calls me. I need help to get in and out
of the car. I need someone to drive me. Although I can set the table I cannot
carry food laden dishes. I can take my own shower, shave and brush my hair.
Donning underpants is a terror but possible. So, too, putting on socks. Shoes
are not such a problem; I just jam the foot in and hope for the best!
But there is more to the ‘meanwhile’. Writing a blog, a
newspaper column or news reports, takes a level of concentration that is
challenged by drugs and pain. Words come slowly if at all. You may have noticed
a decline in my writing ability in the past few days. So be it. It is part and
parcel of writing a commentary on real life. And this is real life. And these
words are an honest commentary!
With more time on my hands plus enforced inactivity, is can
now time to smell the air better, hear the birds clearly, and fawn over our dog more.
All are rewards of the circumstance I find myself in.
And it is OK. Try it sometime. Other than the pain at first,
I’m confident you will find ample rewards.
Meantime, enjoy the great day!
July 24, 2014
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