This morning, like many days, I awoke early, with a pressing thought in my mind, you know the kind that you ask yourself why am I thinking about that, I really just want to sleep. But you soon realize that weather you want it to be or not, you your mind is actively pursuing this path and unless you do something to change its activity, it will continue. In any case you are not going back to sleep.
I have learned, not without hardship, that these strong impressions, not only occurring at waking but oft times throughout our waking lives as well, are not just subconscious activity somehow manifesting them self in my sleep or activity lulls. Believe me, as a collage graduate in research psychology, as one of my emphasis', I understand all the quasi-scientific theory behind R.E.M. and other mental sleep activity as well as subconscious thought. What I know, though, comes from years of personal experience, mistakes, examination and confirmation of truth. Though various trials, I have learned to pay attention to these impressions, to regard them as gifts, rather than odd occurrences or annoying sleep interruptions. Yes I have learned, and while I am still not perfect at exercising that knowledge, I have learned that focus on these impressions, pondering them, often results in needed perspective adjustment, clearer understanding of sometimes troubling circumstance, even guidance needed to overcome life's trials. Sometimes they are just Gods way of saying I know you needed a good laugh just now.
I rarely write about these impressions, in fact more often than not I do not even discuss them, but today I will make an exception. I did the other day in my election day post, although I did not refer to the impression, it did orient my perspective and set my thoughts that day. This morning's impression was of a totally different sort though. It was, in part, related to a dear friend, a past employee and coworker who I have the greatest respect for.
We live in turbulent times. Each of us have trials, burdens that we bear, failed relationships, lost jobs, physical and emotional trials/pains that can become dehabilitative; events that can cause us to question our own personal worth, and what our life is really about. Juan has suffered more than his fair share of these, but it is the test of character, the measure of a man as it were, that is found in how we approach and overcome life's trials. It is in the trials that we become strong, or not. It is in difficult times that we progress, we grow and find purpose, or simply allow ourselves to regress and despair.
This morning I woke thinking about Juan. I would like to share with you a story. One of Juan's trials. I am sure he will not mind. I am also sure I will not do it justice, but I hope in my feeble attempt you will, as I have, find meaning, purpose, and maybe even receive on some level an impression of your own that will add meaning to your day for having taken the time to read this. I have not saw Juan in seven years, since we both suffered, in our own ways, the trials of a corporation that we helped to build into a worldwide powerhouse, lose its luster and go the way of many that do not change to meet the needs of the times. Although I have not saw, him as we live thousands of mile a part, we have remained friends and I share in his sorrow of difficulty and in his joy of triumph as if it were my own.
Just for point of reference on Juan, he is a brilliant young (I use the term young liberally, hoping to somehow include myself in that realm) man. His studies have given him uncanny abilities in the field of computer artificial intelligence and modeling. His character has blessed him, after previous trial, with a beautiful wife and supportive companion. Juan loves the outdoors, the wonders of creation on this earth, he loves sports, friends, and fellowship, and respects life and all it has to offer.
Twenty one months ago, Juan who was actively building his life in this less than ideal economy, was taking a break from the rigors of work to enjoy with friends some exercise in a friendly game of flag football. In what was a normal friendly leisure activity with friends a freak accident occurred. He suffered a fall that blew out both knees, rendered him totally unable to walk and turned upside down his life. I will not go into all the gory details as I am sure I do not fully understand myself the multiple surgeries, the pain and mental distress of having not only to rely totally on others for your basic care, but having to relearn to even walk.
I followed Juan's recovery, from a distance with interest, knowing that he would, as has always has, overcome adversity, but I was not sure at what point he would accept that life is normal again given his new circumstance. I watched as he went from incapacitated to beginning therapy for atrophied muscles after months of necessary immobilization, from learning to stand and walk to, ten months after the accident, being able to ride a few minutes on a stationary bike. It was an amazing day when 11 months after his word was tuned upside down, Juan posted a picture of a jumbled mass of medical aids, walkers, crutches, supports, etc. that he was done with. Yes he was back on his feet, under his own power, moving on.
For many of us that would have been the end of an era, we would have considered it a success that we were able to once again provide for ourselves, we would have accepted that while we were mobile we would likely never do some of the things we had done before. In short, we would have settled, basking in our triumph over adversity.
I watch with interest when a month later Juan posted that he was returning to the gym, that he found that he could even jog a bit. A year after his surgery, he had full strength back and said he needed to step it up. He started biking, and I shared in his triumph as he made his first hikes. He was back! Nearly good as before and doing what he loved!
In October, of last year he celebrated his 3 year anniversary with his beautiful companion who became his caregiver and lifeline. Quite a trial in and of itself on a young marriage. I am sure, as I know them both, that they are stronger as a result.
In January of this year they celebrated his clearance from physical therapy with one hundred percent recovery. A few months later he was on top of Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. And in September he was up in one of my favorite places, and his too, Banff National Park in Canada, hiking trails that many of us would not attempt in our prime. Yes, Juan had not only recovered but reached new heights, literally.
It is a testament of courage, determination, and possibility. Proof that one can accomplish, in the face of absolute desperation, anything one has the will to achieve. I was so happy for him. For their family!
But that is not the end of the story. Last month, I received a note from Shannon via post to Juan's friends on Facebook that Juan was at it again. This time he was doing what most only think about in there mental explorations as they read about great climbers scaling the peaks of the world. Juan was on his way to Nepal. He was scaling some of the toughest terrain on the earth.
Yes, while many of us were bickering about upcoming election, commiserating about the economy and what is happening to our country, Juan was out fulfilling a dream. I watched and followed his progress via coordinates on goggle maps as Juan, who was totally incapacitated just 21 months ago, in a state that some would likely never had recovered from, scaled the Himalayas. I participated vicariously in his triumph as he
reached Makalu base camp at 16,000 ft! He commented that the trip broke his will twice, but that sometimes you just have to keep moving, and as I congratulated him on all he had accomplished on this trip and over the past twenty one months, he said simply and humbly:
"Thanks, Dave! God paved the way for me, I just showed up."
So this morning as I woke early, to darkness knowing that there was a a couple feet of new snow waiting for me outside in the darkness, I wasn't thinking about that or the plowing in the cold, or anything that my tired old bones would normally be contemplating. I was thinking about a humble friend who rose from the depths of adversity, to triumph, reaching the pinnacle of human feats of exertion. I was thinking of a friend who recognized that it was not because of his will, but because of the tender mercies of a loving Father who stands ready as we are willing to follow.
Today I am thankful for the gift of waking impressions, for good friends, and for the attitude adjustment that comes from pondering the impressions given, as gifts to us, from our Father above.
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