Momentary Setback

I don’t know if you have ever played Monopoly but one of the most frustrating parts is when you pick up the dreaded “Go To Jail” cards. After all of your progress, you have to wait several turns trying to get out while everybody else is continuing to make progress along the board. This past week I have gone through a similar setback. While playing basketball for the first time in about a year, I went for a steal, planted my right foot, and heard a loud pop. I looked around thinking someone must have thrown something at me or kicked my ankle but their was no one close by. I turned to run and realized something was very wrong, I couldn’t move my foot up and down. After going to the ER I found out that I ruptured my Achilles tendon.

My natural reaction has been to feel sorry for myself and constantly complain but I hate being “that guy.” I don’t want to be the victim. I want to use this for good. We can all learn from these types of setbacks as long as we adjust our perspective. This verse has really helped me view things in a more correct lens.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Here are some things I’m learning and hope to continue learning through the next couple of months. I want to take my eyes off of the temporary and focus them on the meaningful.

• I cannot make it alone. Like most Americans, I like to do things myself, as an individualist. That is literally impossible right now. I need people to drive me places, bring me things, help me at work, etc. Truth is, we NEED other people in our lives. We need community. We are human, we have do drop our pride and rely on others.

• My blessings outweigh my troubles. It’s easy and somewhat therapeutic to name all of the negatives and complain about circumstances. In reality, I have been blessed beyond measure. My family, starting with my wife, is more loving and stable than I could ever wish for. I have a profession that I love, getting paid to lead students in worship is something few people have the opportunity to do. I have clean water, plenty of food, and live in safety.

• Life is short and unpredictable. I first learned this lesson two years ago when my dad passed away unexpectedly. No one knows what will happen tomorrow, so it’s our responsibility to make the most out of it right now.

I still have a long road to recovery (8 weeks with a cast, 6 months until full recovery) but this is the hand I have been dealt. Here’s to making the most out of it.