My Motorcycle Injuries

Over time I have griped on this blog about the subtle but steady decline of my various motorcycle injury aftereffects. The various issues that I face daily aren't a huge deal when compared to the things that other people face in this life, but they are often a source of physical annoyance. They often leave me wondering what these things will be like in the coming years as I continue to age.  I've been busy with things these past couple of weeks, and they are the type of tests that help me to assess where it is that things stand within my body. I've been cutting and trimming trees, moving Christmas supplies (don't ask), and doing general maintenance things around my house and the church. I haven't had a problem with any of the labor, and I feel pretty good when I finish each chore. Tired, but good. I've felt fine with all of the busy work over the past weeks, and I'm convinced that the best way to see where things stand is to get busy living. These are the ty...

I mentioned a ministry related trip to the Middle East in a post about a year ago. I was supposed to go this past January, but the trip was cancelled last December due to the war in Gaza. It wasn't an issue of safety, but rather a problem with the fact that the flights were scheduled to go through Tel Aviv. The trip was rescheduled for this coming October, and although things remain bad over there, my contact in Israel says that things within the nation are safe enough. We will eventually be landing in Amman and I will be speaking in Jordan and Israel for two weeks. The trip involves an enormous amount of walking, with some of the terrain being uneven and rocky. I have to be cautious to be in good shape because I'll be speaking often and I won't be able to get the job done effectively if I'm feeling exhausted and beaten day after day. Consequently, I've been really diligent to exercise the past several months in order to prepare for such a physically demanding trip....

  Today I went to the church property for a while in order to get a few things done. As I was trimming a couple of trees that were beginning to grow into the dumpster area, I realized that several of the branches were too high for me to reach. I then pushed the dumpster closer to them and used it to climb up on a wall that encloses the space. As I stood on the wall trimming a few branches I briefly considered the fact that I had just climbed onto a dumpster and then jumped onto a wall. I finished the work and climbed down without killing myself, so yay.  In contrast, I'm home now and ten minutes ago I limped when I first stood up because I had been sitting too long. I also had a hard time using my hand because I held my cellphone in one position too long while looking at some photos. I mean, really? I sometimes have a hard time believing the things that I go through. I'm Joe Athlete one minute, and Myron Invalid the next. None of it makes sense to me. I feel like an enigma wra...

I’d like to draw a bit of an analogy today as I watch the Red Sox beating the Twins by a fairly wide margin just now. The Sox have been in either first or second place all season long. Recently they have slipped into third place and they are playing with a level of inconsistency that has them looking like heroes one game and goats the next. It’s getting too late in the season for this, but it’s baseball and you never know… I’m hoping that this is a pattern that does not develop in my life when dealing with the aftereffects of my accident injuries. The past several months have had me going from feeling athletic and strong one week to then feeling like a beat-up guy who needs to rest for a while the next week. I get so tired of this pattern and at times it causes some frustration when thinking about the future. I don’t want my life to go in this type of direction, but the truth is that my body doesn’t care what I think lately. I’ve always said that you can’t give up hope with the Red S...

I have always been accustomed to being seen as a fairly fit and capable individual. I’m not an imposing figure in my physical appearance (at all) but I have always been seen as a guy who can work hard and get a job done. I have usually been a go-to guy for help with home repairs, moving days, and any projects that require a little knowledge and elbow grease.  Even beyond family and friends, employers have never accused me of being incapable or unwilling regarding physical work. All in all I can say with honesty that I have been a physically capable person throughout my life. I have never really lacked in energy or strength. One of the big differences after the motorcycle accident and the resulting injuries involves the way in which people see me now. I get the very strong impression that I’m now seen as being weak and fragile. Relatives who have asked me for help with things in the past never ask for help with projects around the home anymore. I know that they’ve needed help with t...