The adventure of life, continues – I will write more about the Rajneesh in a day or two.

Friday, the 24^th started out early, Deed picked Carla and I up and we left here at about 0530 in route to Portland for my operation.  We had to get there early as I had to get a CT scan before the operation.

We arrived about 45 minutes early, but they took me in right away.  In preparation for the scan they had to put a intravenous needle in my arm.  The last time it took 9 tries, this time the tech got it into my arm in one try!  Things were looking up.

He came back a few minutes later; he had drawn a vile of blood to do a test and what he was testing for came back with a number that was out of the range I was supposed to be in.

They take a lot into consideration to reach the number and one of the medications I am taking has a high impact on it – it was only off by a couple of points, but he said they take the numbers seriously.  Things didn't look as rosy as before.

After review and discussion with the surgeon they decided it was close enough and cleared me for the scan.  It took only a few minutes and because my heart rate was steady at 54, it was a good clear picture.

The hospital is on two levels we were at the lower.  We could have driven up or ride in a gondola up hill to the second level.  The tram was free to us and it was a nice ride and view of the Portland landscape.  It took about 7 minutes to get to the hospital.

I was both in the building (there are many) and the level I needed to be in for admittance.

After a few minutes we went up to the area where I was to be prepped for the surgery.

We were early so they had us go into a waiting room – across a sky bridge and into another building – with a large beeper.  I would be notified when a room opened up for me.

While there we met a lady who was there with friends.  Deed, Carla and I had an enjoyable conversation with her.

After about an hour, my beeper went off and Carla and I headed back over the sky bridge.  They only allow one visitor in the area and they are very strict about it, so Deed stayed in the waiting area talking with our new acquaintance.

The surgeons’ Physician Assistant came in and told us how the operation would be conducted and what to expect.  We gave her a bad time about the fact she was drawing the diagram on a mirror in the room and it wasn’t to scale.  She went over the potential problems that could occur when doing the surgery.

It was very informative, however.  One of the nurses came in and commented on it, the PA said she normally gets out of the room before anyone knows she was the one that did the graffiti on the mirror for someone to clean up.

I asked her if the doctor was well-rested and she said, even more so since the surgery that was scheduled prior to mine had been canceled. 

Lots of questions, many the same by different people – double checking to make sure I knew who I was and the information, etc. was correct.

One of the doctors who would be administering the anesthesia came in and discussed what they would be doing.

The surgeon came in and made some of the same points as others had.  He gave me a number of what the odds of something happening were.  I asked him how many of these he had done and based on the two numbers I said ‘then you are about due?’

The nurse in the room looked at me and then the doctor with a slight smile.  The doctor said we would be fine.

Then they wheeled me to the operating room.  I would be there at least 4 hours, if not longer.

While they were hooking me up to dozens of wires, one of the back-up monitors was missing and they had to find it.

Then, all the monitors blacked out and they were ‘frantically’ trying to find out why............

To be continued:

Romans 12:15-16 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

¹⁶ Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

How do we keep a heart humble before God?

How do we follow this command:  Be not wise in your own conceits

What can we live a life that is both able to provide the good things our family needs – yet keep from being conceited in our accomplishments?

This year, two young men are vying for number one in the National Football League upcoming draft.  Both men are solid quarterbacks.

Both men are of similar size and ability.  Both men have led their teams to outstanding accomplishments.  Both men have excellent career statistics as a college quarterback.

One young man is brash and boisterous; he is very excited about the game.  He is sure of his ability and while I am not sure if he is arrogant, he is definitely proud of his prowess.  He lost only one football game in his college career – to the other young man.

The other young man is very calm.  He is quiet as he faces others, lowering his eyes, being embarrassed by all the accolades and praises.  He is confident in his abilities, but unassuming when it comes to talking about them.

The one is always ‘hyper’ leading his team with words and encouragement.  He is always excited as he rushes about trying to get his team fired up for the contest to come – and he seems to be successful in doing so.

The other rarely gets excited.  He goes about his business and expects the rest of the team to do the same.  He seems to be successful in doing so.

Because the first has more experience in a system similar to the NFL, he seems to be the favorite of most commentators to come out number one.  They believe he can switch over to the NFL style of play, look veteran players in the eyes – chastising them if necessary – but get them to accept him as the leader.

Because the second comes from a different, but increasing used style of play in the NFL, the commentators feel he will need more seasoning than the first.  There is concern that he will not be able to demand the respect a quarter back must have to lead an NFL team since he is so quiet.

When asked by a retired NFL coach why he should be selected first the first player says that ‘I am the best.’

The second player says, it is up to you – going on to say that the coach has to decide if he wants him or not. 

It is agreed by most commentators that while the second player will take more seasoning, they both should be successful in the NFL.

The first has a history of not following the rules.  He has been arrested for theft, accused of rape – not charged since the Prosecuting Attorney basically said he didn’t have enough proof beyond a reasonable doubt - and then stood up on a cafeteria table and made some stupid comments.  Those got him suspended for one game. 

We don’t know what else he may have done – the teams will be carefully screening his background.  His supporters say that he is a ‘good kid,’ these off field actions are an anomaly – they are the actions of immaturity.  He “understands” that he cannot act that way and expect to play in the NFL.

The second is held up as what every player should aspire to be; he is family oriented, law abiding, humble and listens to his coaches.  He is smart and dedicated to his position of quarterback.  While he doesn’t say what his faith is, he is said to be grounded solidly in his faith.

What counts more, character, or ability to hit the field with what would appear to be more ‘experience?’

Whoever is selected number one will receive more money, more accolades, honor and prestige than the one selected number two or lower.  The first player wants that, the second couldn’t care less.

The NFL is a business, if the owner does not hirer the right coach and players he cannot win.  If the team cannot win they lose the support of the fans.  If they lose the support of the fans then the owner loses money.

Even in this age, where the NFL understands that if they allow players with questionable backgrounds into the league they are risking potential bad public relations, they still tend to look at the field work, versus off field activity – if it is determined to be correctable or ‘really’ not as serious as first perceived.

As Christians we have a similar dilemma.  If we follow the life of Christ and go about our duties in humility others will question if we are worthy of promotion – can we be assertive enough in the job – among other concerns because of our Christianity. 

What we deem as important virtues which would include honesty, accountability, good work ethics, a professional attitude and ability, and the list goes on – can get swept under the rug when we are in competition with someone who is bolder, louder and even tends to hold many of the values we aspire to, in contempt.

How do we react when someone who is less qualified, or who holds these values in contempt gets promoted over us?  It can be discouraging and we may feel we would be justified in no longer giving our best.

But it isn’t just our professional life that we can feel we are not getting the proper respect, it can be in our spiritual life.

We work hard as a volunteer, but nobody seems to notice.  We care for others and try to encourage and lift them up, only to find they use us to their advantage or even attack us – to our face or behind our backs.

We see others promoting themselves in volunteer positions so they can get public recognition or attain a higher level of responsibility. 

We see other volunteers being held up as fine examples when we know they are not as virtuous as we are – or at least not as virtuous as they proclaim themselves to be.

When I ran for Office I had two difficulties, one was asking for money for the campaign – as a law enforcement person it felt like bribery.  You don’t ask for anything to do your job, you do not accept any gifts and certainly not money – yet to run a campaign you must have money and most of us cannot afford to run on our own. 

Second was talking about what my accomplishments were/are – I always have to laugh when I see candidates talk about how they are going to do this or that, but they are just one of many and have to convince at least 50% plus one to agree with them.  They act as if they can do it on their own, but they can’t.

This was the same problem I had with running for the Office of Sheriff.  While the burden and accountability to the citizens of running an efficient operation was on me, I couldn’t do it by myself.  Yet, I had to say how I would run the Office differently than the person who occupied the Office.

In effect ‘brag about myself;’ and that was hard.

Yet, that first term was difficult because I HAD to do a lot myself.  While there were deputies that supported my agenda, they would not be in a position to actually work with me on it for a while.

I had promised myself that I would give everyone a chance.  I would bring in training; I would do what I could to bring the level of management up to a more satisfactory level – in addition to having to do everything else.

But those in key management and some of the supervisors just were not up to doing the job.  We had issues with staff that I ended up having to deal with on my own because these individuals either undermined me, or didn’t understand – and weren’t capable of understanding – the nuances of their position.

It took most of my first term to get ‘my kind of leaders’ in positions where we could make a real difference in the community.

I still had naysayers, but we managed to accomplish a lot in the community.  We were respected by other agencies, and aspired to by many of them.

When I ran for re-election I was able to stress OUR accomplishments and always tried to give our people their due.  I could not have done it on my own; I had dozens of employees doing a professional job and dedicated to the citizens.

As Christians it is important that we live our life as close to what Christ lived, as possible.  He was assertive, when necessary, however He was able to take His position as the Son of God with humility and not be arrogant about it.

It isn’t easy, especially when we know more, and can do a better job than someone else who gets the attention.  But our first responsibility is to God and to strive to be holy, even as He is holy.

1 Peter 1:14-16   As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

¹⁶ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again