By Mike Hall, August 26, 2015
I make a point of reading the PERSPECTIVE pages in The Denver Post every Sunday morning. There are interesting letters to the editor and articles on politics and current events. This past week, there was an interesting piece on Seeing The Light.
“Reverend Robbie delivered an enlightened talk on the need for all of us to be compassionate with ourselves and honor our faults as well as our virtues. Be gentle as we seek change.
However, the star of the church that morning was a young woman in a wheelchair. She had perhaps 40% of a normal human body: a head, arms, torso, definitely no legs, and the rest difficult to determine. She had blond hair and the face of an angel. Her name was Vanessa and she could have been 8 or 18 years old. I spoke to her briefly and found she was a freshman in high school. She wore a beautiful beaded necklace. I complimented her on the turquoise colors and she said a friend made it specifically for this outfit. She said her favorite class was geometry, because the teacher treated all her students with affection and humor.
As if the universe hadn’t given her enough challenges, Vanessa’s fingers were bloated and grotesque. My female friend held the young woman’s hand for the closing song. I never heard a word from Vanessa’s mouth that wasn’t kind, cheerful, and optimistic. The strength of her spirit forced an examination of my own life. I can walk, talk, see and hear. I play tennis with three friends on Saturday morning. Sure, it’s old fat guy doubles, but we still run around and insult each other like we are back in college.
I have two delightful, loving daughters and a 5 month old granddaughter who has excellent vision, hearing and cognitive skills. Her arms and legs function in the age appropriate range with a little extra flair.
Then there’s Vanessa. How dare I deplore my trivial problems, while she faces life with such dignity and grace?”
Reading this, it made me think how PERSPECTIVE eluded me on Thursday as a couple of two foot par putts slid past the hole…..how my brain chose conniption over composure. And then on Sunday afternoon, I watch as I.K. Kim misses a one foot par putt on the final hole of the Nabisco Dinah Shore tournament and then go on to lose in a playoff. That putt cost her $500,000 and her first ever major title. Writing this, I see how meaningless my little miscues were.
Bonnie loves tennis and had no idea two years ago as she played league and did winter drills……that tomorrow she’d be facing life altering surgery.
Heather is 29 and recently graduated from college in California. At age 7, she was diagnosed with acute leukemia and believed at age 15 that she was cured of cancer. On April 9th., she’ll have her 16th. surgery as the cancer has returned and requires the removal of part of her spine.
On Sunday, I played in a foursome with Bill. He’s got a beautiful swing and hits drives so far it’s hard to see them land. Bill’s short game betrayed him and he, like me, was incredulous at his misfortune. I wish Bill was on my distribution list….as we both need to read this piece before every round….to see how fortunate we are and how inconsequential holing putts is.
In hindsight….I think I was supposed to find this story about Vanessa and I’m glad that I did.
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