“The waiting is the hardest part

Every day you see one more card

You take it on faith, you take it to the heart

The waiting is the hardest part…”

~Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

From the album, Hard Promises 1981

 

Let’s hope it’s the hardest part!

So far, it has been the most grueling!

The waiting will kill ya, won’t it?

It can drive you in-T-total-sane!

I attempted to take on this whole heart surgery thing as if it were a fun little writing assignment and have treated it as such for the last three months.

They say “write what you know” and this has done nothing but consume me for the past year, so I thought, what the heck!? I’ll use that blog site that I signed up for years ago and have at it!

And I’ll admit, it’s been fun!

I’ve enjoyed plunging deep into the depths of my mind and recreating the elements and devising them into evil villains such as Dr. Redhead, and heroes such as Dr. Cleveland, as well as compiling the experiences into episodes of “Dragnet” and “The Twilight Zone,” all to escape the reality of it all!

But, that reality has arrived and like it or not, there is, in fact, a real heart surgery that is rapidly approaching that I will have to confront within just a few shorts days…

 

“Close your eyes and pretend it’s all a bad dream, that’s how I get by…”

Ah. Some of the infamous words of my favorite fictional seafaring Captain.

That can only get ya by for so long… I’ve tried.

…

Have you ever read a book where one of the characters really sticks with ya, long after you finished the read?

A character that really had an impact on you?

Can you think of one?

One of the many that comes to my mind is that of “Boo Radley” in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

So Boo was this misunderstood recluse and the object of ridicule by most of the people of Maycomb county. Ends up, Boo intervenes saving the lives of the two children, Jem and Scout.

In other words, Boo made a difference.

He may not have appeared to be much in the beginning of the story, but in the end what he did mattered in the lives of others.

So I got to thinking about this blog and writing it, and in a way, it’s a story. My story.

And while I’m the protagonist and this heart surgery, in my perception at times, is the antagonist, I got to thinking about all of it’s other characters- that would be the people that God has strategically placed in my life.

Certainly some of the characters, “Dr. Redhead” for example, I’d rather not have dealt with, but what about a character like the “Angel” at the Christmas event?

Or what about a character like “Miss Jeanie”?

Both of them waltzed right into one of my “chapters” very unexpectedly, having a huge impact in the way I viewed my own problem.

“The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude ABOUT the problem…”

(One can learn alot from a fictional pirate, just saying…)

 

You see, we truly are “characters” in each other’s stories.

Whether we are a main or supporting character, a confidante, or a minor character, we are here to reinforce one another, to help each other get through our obstacles, and to celebrate with each other in our victories.

You never know what that lady you come across in the grocery store, or that man that’s sitting by himself at McDonald’s is facing.

Just a simple smile can make a world of difference in the rest of someone’s day, and if given the opportunity, a short conversation could make a lasting impact in someone’s life.

There’s a reason God puts us in certain places, in certain circumstances, and in certain people’s lives: to be used for His glory.

I’m not kidding when I say writing this blog has been therapy for me. I seriously mean it!!

Making myself sit down and put fingers to keys with a weekly goal of producing a written page has helped me tremendously!

So what about you, dear reader? Where exactly do you fit in?

The fact that you are taking the time to read this post makes you one of my most important characters!

For those of you that have “liked” my blog posts, that have commented, and messaged me with encouragement and love- you know who you are- THANK YOU!!!  It has meant so much to me!

It’s because of you that I strived to find humor and fun in all this craziness!

It’s because of you that I continued to write the next week, and the next, and that I look forward to writing more.

So, while I may have to take a brief hiatus as I face this minor bump in the road, I present to you a challenge:

What type of character are you gonna be in someone’s story today?

Whether it’s a member of your own family, or a stranger in your local grocery store, what kind of impact will you have in someone’s life?

Here you are.

You’ve been placed in the chapter.

How will YOU impact the story?

Or maybe the story’s your own-

Will you notice and appreciate the characters that have shown up?

And what about your publisher? Will He be happy with the story you’re writing?

We are all characters in each other’s stories,

and I thank you for being one in mine!!

…

“The Seas may be rough,

But I am the captain!

No Matter how difficult, I will always prevail.”

As I’ve heard from my fellow heart valve surgery friends that have traveled this road ahead of me, it may seem weird not to feel my heart do it’s irregular pounding, fluttering, and skipping thing, but in a weird kinda way, I’m excited to be fixed!

I feel blessed to have such a skilled team of doctors and medical advancements available to me that can potentially fix my heart valve with perhaps the assistance of a robotic arm!!

And if not..

I’m thankful for the donors such as “Ol’ Bessie” or “Wilbur” that will assist in giving me a stronger and healthier heart!

Mostly, I am thankful to my Lord for placing the technology and knowledge into this age, giving myself and others the opportunity that decades ago someone in this situation would not have had.

I am grateful and blessed for sure!

So as I venture into these somewhat unchartered waters, not alone but with THE CAPTAIN that has control of ALL things-

I leave you with perhaps the most famous of quotes of Capt’n Jack (minus the “bad eggs” and drinking encouragement) that will also serve as my motto during this voyage:

“Now!! Bring me that horizon!”

Until next time!