A Little Perspective
So many cliches regarding perspective - it all depends on how you look at it; if you could see things from where I live; more than one way of looking at 'it'; and, nod to Star Wars - "from a certain point of view." I remember one from my childhood about walking a mile in someone else's shoes, boots, moccasins... paradigm...
Why am I musing in this manner? Our outing today was a drive to the little southeastern Oklahoma town of Tushka - wide spot in the road, really. My fellow travellers included my sweet husband and my two grown children. This wasn't a random wandering of the type we usually take but it was a trip with a specific purpose and destination. My brother and sister-in-law live there. My brother had called earlier in the week and left a message on my answering machine - his wife, my sis-n-law was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer. Through a return phone call I learned the nature of the situation. She is dying - probably has 2-3 months to live. She is only in her mid-50's. She hadn't been feeling well, nothing specific, for a few months. Not much energy, tired easily. The flu, maybe, or perhaps a kidney infection. Get some rest, take vitamins, eat right, try to get enough fresh air. Then, after a few months with no resolution, a trip to another doctor. A battery of tests then...diagonosis: stomach cancer. Prognosis? Because of the advanced stage...we could try chemo...maybe two more months but no guarantee.
As we drove through the barren, tinder-dry Oklahoma countryside, we talked of perspective. How important it is to not wish away today too quickly. To someone who is dying (but then again, aren't we all, really...) what I see as brown grass looks softly golden, the color of toasted wheat. The trees without leaves give an unfettered look into the deep woods. The hawk circling in the air, looking for prey seems almost majestic.
My brother and sister-in-law are gently accepting. They are true believers - they know God can and does heal but they also know He sometimes heals by inviting someone to His home where there will be no more sorrow or pain. With quiet dignity, she said she has had a full life - she has two great-grandbabies.
There is a country song -Live Like You Were Dying. If you only had 2-3 months to live and you knew it, how would you live today?
kinda puts it all in perspective...
Why am I musing in this manner? Our outing today was a drive to the little southeastern Oklahoma town of Tushka - wide spot in the road, really. My fellow travellers included my sweet husband and my two grown children. This wasn't a random wandering of the type we usually take but it was a trip with a specific purpose and destination. My brother and sister-in-law live there. My brother had called earlier in the week and left a message on my answering machine - his wife, my sis-n-law was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer. Through a return phone call I learned the nature of the situation. She is dying - probably has 2-3 months to live. She is only in her mid-50's. She hadn't been feeling well, nothing specific, for a few months. Not much energy, tired easily. The flu, maybe, or perhaps a kidney infection. Get some rest, take vitamins, eat right, try to get enough fresh air. Then, after a few months with no resolution, a trip to another doctor. A battery of tests then...diagonosis: stomach cancer. Prognosis? Because of the advanced stage...we could try chemo...maybe two more months but no guarantee.
As we drove through the barren, tinder-dry Oklahoma countryside, we talked of perspective. How important it is to not wish away today too quickly. To someone who is dying (but then again, aren't we all, really...) what I see as brown grass looks softly golden, the color of toasted wheat. The trees without leaves give an unfettered look into the deep woods. The hawk circling in the air, looking for prey seems almost majestic.
My brother and sister-in-law are gently accepting. They are true believers - they know God can and does heal but they also know He sometimes heals by inviting someone to His home where there will be no more sorrow or pain. With quiet dignity, she said she has had a full life - she has two great-grandbabies.
There is a country song -Live Like You Were Dying. If you only had 2-3 months to live and you knew it, how would you live today?
kinda puts it all in perspective...
posted by OurayDreamer at 9:21 PM
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