Let me take a break from Gastric-bypass recovery and share some thoughts that came to me this past Labor Day.
Usually on Labor Day I am either having a picnic or out in the apartments playing with kids because they are out of school. Most of the jobs I had before this one I would have been at work on Labor Day. America we have lost sight on this holiday is all about!
The first Labor Day was in 1882, which was a time when 12 hour work days were the norm in the factories here; a time that a 10 or 12 year old could be working those hours for a few cents an hour. Labor reform changed all that in our country long ago, but we have chosen to forget that piece of history and it is not even honored on the first Monday of September as planned. Labor Day is now the time to recognize the end of summer, a time when the laborers of this era have to work. Cooks, retail worker, and other 21st century labors have to supply the service for those who do get off.
Edmund Burke once said, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” That seems to be what happens. We don’t know the reason for Labor Day and we are drifting back into a country where 12 hour work days and 6 day work weeks are a norm. Sure working conditions are better but where is time for family, relaxing or even to be still and listen to the Lord.
The American Dream tends to crush everything in its way. That is why family and the Great Commission suffers as we all pursue the dream of hording things that are just wood, hay and stubble to be burned one day.
Just some thoughts.
Kristi asked me how I felt the other day. I told her I felt like a Ribeye Roast. When I use to cook a nice roast I would make about 6 small but deep slits in the roast and I would push in some garlic to season the roast. Well here I sit with 7 small slits in my body from the surgery. One is in my belly button where the put the camera in, which I find funny since when I was little my old man would put his eye to my belly button and saw let me see what you ate today. He was always ahead of his time.
Those small incisions have knocked me for a loop, but not the Lord. He has used this time for me to study, read, pray, and write; things that I always push aside so I could be in the field loving on kids and teenagers, whom I miss so deeply right now. So even if I sound a bit whinny right now know that I am being blessed by the Lord every day.
Tonight I sat down with my beautiful bride to watch a Labor Day classic movie Picnic. More years ago than I would care to remember Kristi played the part of Flo and I had built the set and designed the lights. Oh those bohemian days of our youth. It was nice because I wasn’t exhausted and we have had such a great time watching it together. The world doesn’t understand the sacrifices she has made to allow me to follow my call. When you average 15 hour days serving the Lord it does not usually leave much for 9 hours homes, especially if 5 of those are used to sleep. Kristi never says things like; where are your time for me, or why do I only get the tired Scott. She just supports me and loves me.
These are things that God is showing me as I am getting sick of only liquids and ugh protein drinks. I don’t sit well but I am trying,
So I have never really minded being Fat. Overall I don’t think that it has impacted my self-esteem or how I thought about myself. I know that it has effected how people look at me but I have never really concerned my self with others thoughts to much. But my knees are going and going quickly. Anyone who knows me know that I love nature, I love walking, canoing, playing basketball, golf, soccer (La Pared!) and jumping rope! I have not been able to do much that for more than three years! This has lowered my quality of life and effectiveness in ministry greatly!
That has led me to the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery that I am having on Monday at 7:20 AM. It is a radical move to reduce my weight and return to the way of life I know and enjoy. A life that glorifies God and allows me to impact urban youth and kids! One thing they suggest was to get pictures to help us visualize the weight lost that will come. As I looked for pictures I was most taken back not that I was morbidly obese but that all most all pictures of me over the last two years were of me sitting down. I had gotten to the point that I couldn’t even stand up much anymore.
So today Sunday August 29, 2010 I have begun the journey and the challenge of changing my lifestyle. I can only accomplish this though the grace of Jesus Christ! The support of Family and Friends is a close second. Today I begun an all liquid diet that I will be on till September 20th. This is allegedly to be the most challenging stage of them all. So thanks for your support and prayers.
Follow me on this journey here at oldwvpoet.com. Here are some pictures of where I am. I will post more as my weight comes off. Thanks for sharing this journey with me.
Mine and Shinese's Bithday this year
Camden's Birthday Party maybe my highest weight ever. Around 450
Fat by happy! Soon to be Skinny but Happy
Carly and I at the 2009 Christmas Pary
I have been overwhelmed by the Freedom I have in Christ as of late. It is really sad that allow legalist teaching to rob me of the joy from this freedom for much of my Christian life.
Romans 8:38-39 has reinforced that joy of late.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:38 -39
Wow what a statement. Thank you Paul! I find the thing that often makes feel like I am separated from God is my inability to follow the rules. I have never been good at following the rules. I attended an elementary school in WV for the first 3 years of my educational life. Mabscott Elementary was all about rules. We had to walk with our hands behind our back between classes so not to get fingerprints on the wall. We walked to “recess” and had to wait to be dismissed to whatever type of recreation was planned for us that day, usually calisthenics. Finally we had time everyday to just sit quietly at our desks. Needless to say I did not do well in this school. I would be physically ill at the prospect of going to school. I lived in trouble.
I treated Christianity like I was at Mabscott for much of my Christian life. I did not have joy because I kept leaving fingerprints on God’s walls. Who knew that God didn’t really sweat fingerprints on his walls?
God wants the best for us that is why we have the law. It makes us realize our need of a Savior and it shows what would be best for our lives. A goal set before us. Yet, failing to keep the letter of the law will not separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Whew, what a relief!
