Reflections on the past week (or: 1 week down, 20+ more to go)
Dealing with an injury is more complicated than it might seem from the outside looking in. Little things that I took for granted just a week ago require a tremendous amount of effort. I often find myself tired and sweaty just from something as basic as getting dressed.
I’m suddenly very appreciative when people hold the door open for me.
When they do, I feel slightly ashamed because I know I’m capable of opening it for myself, and I don’t really need their help.
This mentality got me in trouble last week when, at a checkup, I was asked to go from one building to another for bloodwork. I thought I could make it the 150 or so yards on crutches – get this: after the splint on my leg had been removed.
I was dead wrong. The pain was so excruciating that I nearly passed out. Several times.
This was all avoidable, had I asked for help.
But it wasn’t until a nurse saw me struggling, 100 yards in, that I caved and accepted a wheelchair.
That wheelchair saved my life. Or at least my leg from another rupture, and my head from a concussion when I would have hit the cement.
When faced with my own frailties (which I have made a career living in denial of), I suddenly became incredibly grateful for help.
Sometimes (often times?) people who need the most help are the ones most afraid to ask for it.
I want to be a person who notices others, and offers specific ways to help.
I had an old friend do just that this week, when he picked me up from the house to take me to lunch.
Recovering from injury takes a lot of physical energy; I find myself very tired quite often.
Knowing when to fight through the fatigue, and knowing when to take a nap is not a judgement I’m very good at.
Knowing when to work, and when to slow down and do the inner, more personal (harder) work is also a judgement I’m not very good at.
Ending sentences with prepositions is apparently something I am very good at.
My wife and children have been unbelievable in their care and support.
During the aforementioned wheelchair incident, I insisted that my wife not take off work, even though she offered.
Next time I’ll take her up on the offer.
Did I mention it’s hard for me to accept help?
That’s one of those “inner, more personal work” categories and I’m working on that. I promise.
Life doesn’t stop when we’re injured – there is still much to be enjoyed and celebrated. I got a chance to do that this past weekend as my wife and I celebrated my birthday away.
Life, however, requires that it looks different when we’re injured. And honestly, isn’t that true of all of us?
We all carry multiple injuries, and only a few of those are visible to the public. The rest we carry, we hide, we pretend to tough it out, even though to do so takes considerable effort and energy, and makes us emotionally tired.
We could all do better to ask for help.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
- Galatians 6:2