The Value of Options

 

This week’s inspiration comes from a conversation I had with a physician a couple of weeks ago. His words have stayed with me, sustaining me through some challenging times.

As most of you know, this year has been a year of recovery following a severe bladder burn caused by a medication mix-up. My hospital visits have reached double digits as the layers of complexity have continued to unfold.

In my search for answers, I sought multiple medical opinions from physicians in related specialties, hoping to gain clarity about the future of my urological health.

As I met with each physician, I tried to educate myself about the factors affecting healing and the best ways to create stability (and stay out of the hospital!).

Some opinions were brutally direct. Others offered theoretical possibilities. But the most helpful conversations were with those who listened to my current situation, considered my full medical history, and offered options worth exploring.

I left those conversations feeling oddly encouraged. Lighter, even. And I realized:

One physician took a look at my most recent surgical report, cleared his throat, and said directly to me, “Although I’m not claiming to play God here, I will tell you that when I look at this report, I see hope.”

HOPE!

I almost fell out of my wheelchair.

I cannot tell you the joy it brought me to have a medical professional read a report about my poor bladder and see hope. His hope fueled mine. And in my unexpected elation, I realized:

Then, as if to give that hope somewhere to go, he began brainstorming new practices that might help turn those possibilities into reality. Together, we created a plan.

A PLAN!

And you know how I feel about plans. As Dad always said, “What’s planned is possible.”

Then, after sharing my experience with a retired physician friend, I learned about an approach to healing he had often used, but one that was new to me.

He introduced me to the medical expression “tincture of time,” which I now understand as:

Perhaps it’s the medical version of “trust the process”—allowing time for healing while resisting the urge to rush toward the next intervention.

Love that!

I still don’t know what’s ahead. But I’m now armed with hope, a plan, and an attitude of watchful waiting.

And perhaps that’s a lesson worth remembering when traveling through uncertainty.

We don’t always need definitive answers to move forward. Sometimes we just need options to explore, someone who can see hope when we can’t, and the patience to let time do its work.

Oh, and of course, folks like you who have been with me every step of this long journey.

Thank you so much for your prayers and steadfast expressions of concern. I am deeply grateful.

P.S. Just a quick FYI! I’ve added a new feature to my website where you can order signed, personalized copies of my books. Thought I’d mention it with the holidays just around the corner.

P.P.S. Also new on my website! I’ve added an FAQ section for those who may be new to my life and work, plus a Podcast page where you can search conversations by topic. I can hardly believe I’ve been part of 30+ podcast conversations! Here’s the latest one to be released.