This morning I got up early and went to the men’s breakfast at church. Joyce Summers and her volunteers did a great job with the meal. I shared for 40 minutes on what I have learned through this process. I did OK, but if I had to do that three times I would be exhausted, so I know I’m not ready to get back to preaching yet.

Now that the catheter is out I’m aware of some dull pain I still have in my abdomen. I’m moving slowly, but can pretty well do the things I did before the surgery. The difficulty I had in sitting is now gone since the catheter has been out. I did my morning stretches for my back today for the first time since surgery, and that felt great.

I shared at the men’s breakfast this morning the statement that God made in Exodus 15:26 where He declared, “I am the Lord that heals you.” That was in the context of the Lord showing Israel what to do to heal the bitter waters of Marah. God’s healing requires us listening to His advice and doing it. If we don’t take our problems to Him, He can’t advise us. So, take your difficulties to Him, and expect Him to direct your steps. What are you trusting the Lord to help you with?

Tags: healing, listening, Marah, trust

This morning I had my appointment to remove the catheter. The Dr. wanted us to stop back in later to make sure the plumbing was working OK, so we went out for breakfast, and spent a little time at Glenbrook Mall, and I really enjoyed walking without the catheter. When we returned to the Dr.’s office, he wanted to measure my output, and it took me 5 minutes to empty my bladder from all the internal swelling! That’s not good, but he sent me home and gave me instructions on what to do over the weekend if we had more problems.

When I got home I tried again and this time had a normal flow. Go figure. I guess God no doubt had something to do with that. So, I guess its all getting better from here on. Tomorrow morning I’m planning on going to the men’s breakfast at church and speaking to the guys about lessons learned through this whole process. I’ve got one more week off to finish recuperating, and, if I feel up to it, Anita and I plan on a drive to Nashville, Tennessee, to visit our daughter and family. We won’t see them for Christmas, so this will be our time to spend time with the grandkids.

I really appreciate everyone’s support through this whole process. I’ve been receiving a couple of get well cards every day. You all are a real blessing. I pray I will soon be able to be a blessing back to you.

Today is the 18th day since my surgery and the last day with the catheter. I think my biggest problem with this process was the unrealistic expectations that I had. I heard from others that I would be laid up for four weeks off work for this surgery, but when I asked the Doc how long before I went back to work, he asked what I did for a living. I told him I was a minister and most of my work was working at a desk. He said, “Maybe in two weeks if you take it easy.” So, I was thinking I’d be up and about and doing what I wanted to do part time in two weeks and not push myself.

But, its not that easy. Externally, I feel strong and healthy, but internally the healing continues. At 18 days into this, I’m still wearing an uncomfortable catheter and having difficulty sitting up straight. If I had just accepted the four week healing period as a time to just rest, I would be right on schedule. But my unrealistic expectations were just not realistic, and that’s what discouraged me. My advice to others in the future will be to just plan to wait it out at home for a full month. Then good news looks good.

Tags: patience, unrealistic expectations

Just two days left with the catheter, according to my short-timer’s calendar. I’m doing better each day. Spent a little longer at my desk yesterday than the day before. In doing the laproscopic procedure, they made six smaller incisions in my abdomen. They super-glued them all shut, and now the glue is beginning to peal loose from the skin around the incisions, as it is supposed to. Everything looks normal there, healing going well on the outside, and I presume well on the inside, as well.

I’m reading Henry Cloud & John Townsend’s book Boundaries. Its been out for 16 years but I’ve never read it before. It applies to so many of the common issues I have dealt with in counseling. I’m glad to know this resource book is available because I’ll refer it to people in my assistance to them. Great book.

I just got my first referral phone call. An old friend of mine has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and he wants to talk with someone who’s been through it. I’ll call him tonight after he gets home from work. If my experience can help others, it will be worth it in the end. And I expect many more open doors as a result of this procedure.

Three more days with the catheter! When I was about to be discharged from the US Army, I had a short-timer’s calendar on my locker door and I checked off the days I had left in the service. I feel like I could make one of those for this occasion, as well. I’m now doing well enough that I spent a little time at my desk yesterday afternoon. Sitting up is still difficult with the catheter, though.

Today is Veteran’s Day in the US. Later today I plan to finish Stephen Ambrose’s book D-Day. There were two great lessons I gleaned from this epic history of the Normandy Invasion. First, I was struck by the amount of detailed planning that went into that assault, of which I’ve already commented. Secondly, I was impressed with the necessary rethinking that had to take place when all those plans fell apart. They trained for the plan, but not for the failure of the plan. Every man was on his own to not only survive, but to come up with an alternate plan to accomplish the ultimate goal.

That reminds me of the church. We put plans in place, but they often don’t go as we planned. Churches often play the blame game or split when those failures happen, rather than remembering the goal, regrouping, and trying a new angle. I’m praying the Lord helps me to be creative and innovative in this changing world.

Monday morning. I just got off the phone with the Dr.’s office. They assured me the reason Dr. Weise wants me to remain on the catheter until Friday is he wants to give my body a little more time to heal. I’m at peace with that if its in my best interest. As long as I take the medicine regularly, I’m doing better. They scheduled me for 8AM Friday so we have the whole day to make sure the plumbing works as it should. That’s cutting it close because I’ve promised to share my story at the men’s breakfast Saturday morning. But I’m optimistic about it.

I want to thank everyone for your cards and expressions of love through this difficult time. I’ve tried to be very open about this whole process because I wanted to give you permission to be open about your lives, as well. In Christian circles we often tend to live an artificial life, talking about our successes but afraid to talk about our real life for fear someone will think there is sin in our lives, or we don’t have enough faith. If we are artificial, everyone else thinks they are also supposed to be artificial, and we then live in a phony world. Victories come through winning battles, not escaping them. So, be honest.