Posts Tagged: blood clots

“Even a Sliver of Light”

On April 9, 2024 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version)

I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but knowing that there are good reasons for something doesn’t negate the disappointment. Where we live, the sun was probably 98% obscured by the sun, but there was still a lot of light.

However, taking a break from weeding the flower beds, sitting with my sweetheart in our driveway, and basking in the premature early twilight—these were sweet realities. And one more thing: We both were amazed by how much light even a little sliver of the sun could give us.

Perhaps there is a parable in there for all of us. Of late, I’ve been struggling with depression. The passing of time and the passing of blood clots to my lungs and brain and heart can cast a shadow on even a basically happy person like me.

But there is God and there are good and beautiful things in this universe. And perhaps even a little experience of God and God’s goodness is enough to shed all the light I need, even when nearer things obscure most of the light for a little while.

Perhaps even a sliver of light is enough.

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“CAN I MOVE?”

On March 21, 2018 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

 “Can I move?” (Sundance to Percy Garris, in the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”  Sundance and Butch Cassidy were being interviewed for the position of payroll guards.  Percy had thrown a large gold coin a few yards away from Sundance.  However, Sundance had missed his first shot, with both the shooter and the target stationary.  After asking, “Can I move?” he moved, and hit the target—not once, but twice. After reholstering his revolver, Sundance said, “I’m better when I move.”  He got the job.)

I was reading a 12-step meditation this morning.  The author started off with a familiar Mother Goose rhyme.

“Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.”

And then, the author made a wonderful interpretive move on this very familiar rhyme.  The author suggested that, maybe, Humpty Dumpty just sat too long in one place.

I had never thought of that before.  It is amazing how much wisdom there is in apparently nonsensical (or at least simple) children’s rhymes.

We have a saying in addiction recovery meetings, “Move a muscle, change a thought.”  The idea is that if we are engaging in unhealthy, unhelpful thinking, the best thing we can do often is to move.  I have found this to be very helpful.

I am prone to blood clots, and the blood clots are prone to go to my lungs, heart, and brain.  One of these days, it is possible that, despite Warfarin (a.k.a. “rat poison”), one of these clots is going to do me in.  However, one of the ways in which I try to prevent clots from forming in the first place is to move around.  For example, I use the Promodoro Technique.  It is very simple.  I set an alarm clock to go off every twenty-five minutes.  Then, I take either a five-minute or a fifteen-minute break, and move around.  When the break is over, I reset the alarm for another twenty-five minutes.  This also helps my back and hip not to hurt so much.

So, if you’re struggling with unhelpful, unhealthy thoughts, you might want to try moving a bit.  It probably won’t hurt, and it might help.

This morning, I am having (or being had by??) by some unhealthy thoughts.  They, of course, lead to depressing thoughts, which are also unhealthy for me.  I sent a rather self-pitying email report to my sponsor, and he fired back a very unsympathetic (but very helpful) reply.

“No pity party allowed. You are in control of your own happiness.

God has given us a beautiful day. This could be the last snowfall of the season. How are you going to embrace it?”

Man, is my sponsor ever a good one!

Here is my reply.

“Thanks for the cold water.  No, really!  Thanks!

I will go for a walk in the snow, and make a snow man.  (I also need to clean off the driveway, but I think I’ll do the fun stuff first.)”

Excuse the abrupt ending to this post.  I need to go outside and play in the snow.  I’m better when I move.

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