What I've Learned From Rhinos...

I became a health care professional because I wanted to make a difference. Because I wanted to help people. Looking back, I probably should have been more specific about who I wanted to help...

There was the morbidly obese homebound patient, who was literally dying from laziness and fear. She had agoraphobia (an irrational fear of leaving her home), and had managed to shrink her entire life into the walls of her bedroom, from which she refused to leave. She lived her life from the comfort of her bed. She even grew tomato plants on her bedside table so that anytime she wanted fresh veggies, all she had to do was roll over and pluck a tomato off the vine.

Trying to help that poor lady was an exercise in frustration. After weeks of futile attempts to get her out of bed, I finally said, “Ma'am...if you don't start moving, you are going to die. You know that, don't you?” To which she replied, “Sure I'm gonna die. We're all gonna die, someday.”

She was one of my very first patients, yet I think of her often.  The lesson she taught me was an important one: as long as fear is holding you back, you will never get stronger.

I have learned many valuable lessons from my patients, but none have challenged or convicted me greater than my stroke patients. From them I have learned more about communication, patience and the indomitable human spirit than from any other source.  Stroke patients are uniquely challenged in mobility and communication. Simple language is often meaningless babble to their ears. These patients are wounded and confused, filled with fear and despair. Their soul is intact, yet vital parts of their brain have been destroyed.  Life, as they know it, has been forever changed.  I have learned that in order for them to trust me with their body, they must first learn to trust me in their heart.

It is intensely humbling to be a catalyst of healing at such a vulnerable moment in someone's life.

Through my education, I have garnered a bountiful bag of tricks to help these patients re-learn functionality. But my tricks are not enough to help those patients who are unable to push past fear and embrace the hope of recovery.

I have learned that fear can be more paralyzing than a stroke.

Through my faith, I am able to offer hope to my broken patients. I have learned to take the time to hold their hands and look into their eyes to connect with them on the deepest level possible.  To see the essence of who they are...to look past the depressed form laying limply on white sheets. To see the living, breathing person they once were: the grandfather who tossed his giggling grandchild high up into the air; the gentle gardener who picked beautiful flowers from her well-tended garden; the happy-go-lucky schmuck who sang opera in the shower. Until they know that I am looking at them --- that I really see THEM --- in their scattered mind I am just one more person with an annoying voice that has come to disturb their sleep.

From these patients I have learned that 'fear' and 'hope' are two sides of the same coin. I have learned that the difference between a stroke victim and a stroke survivor is the ability to overcome fear and embrace hope.

And as Mitch Albom said: I am in love with hope, y'all.

Here's the thing that blows me away:  At any given encounter,  I...you...WE have the God-given power to fan the flame of hope within each other.

It's true.

I've seen it.

I've lived it.

And guess what folks...it's not just an option, it's a responsibility.  One that should not be taken lightly. 

When I meet a stroke patient for the first time, I am pumped to know that I get to serve as a conduit from God to bring hope to a shattered life.

Why should it be any less so for every person I interact with on a daily basis? Haven't we all been broken by life at some point? Brought to our knees with fear upon occasion? Aren't we all carrying burdens that are much too heavy to bear alone?

If we know this to be true, how can we not accept the responsibility of promoting a spirit of hope to our brothers and sisters rather than fostering the disease of fear?  A disease we are allowing to slowly and insidiously paralyze our lives.  Our world.

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Okay, I'll admit it. I may be one of those people who live with my head in the clouds.

But just because I believe in rainbows and unicorns, doesn't mean my feet aren't grounded in reality. Reality is knowing that unicorns are in truth - fat rhinos. No way could a skinny little 'storybook' unicorn could fart a full-blown glorious rainbow.

And I would never send a unicorn to do a rhino's job.  Sheesh.

I choose hope.  But it is hope grounded in reality. The reality of knowing that some of my patients will likely never walk or talk again. The reality of suffering.

I would be a cruel (and crappy) physical therapist to offer false hope to my patients. For their own safety, I must teach them the reality of their limitations. For the love of God, I must share in their suffering. In doing so, I help them to release their fear.  And I must say, the birth of courage under such devastating circumstances is a life-changing transformation to witness, indeed. 

My prayer for today is that I will become more aware and responsible in my interactions with others.  That I will never sow seeds of fear and weakness. I pray for a faith strong enough to conquer fear, a soul that overflows with hope and an unfailing belief in rainbow-farting rhinos.

For ever and ever.  Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

~ Romans 15:13 ~

Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain...

Dear Facebook,

Where did we go wrong?

When I first met you, you were absolutely charming and delightful. I checked in with you almost every day, giddy with anticipation of finding new messages, new friend requests...a new way to take  mindless breaks from the stresses of daily life.

You and I have had so much fun over the past few years. From side-splitting laughter with old and new friends to moments of  heartfelt poignancy. I have made memories with you and shared my family with you through hundreds of silly little anecdotes and countless embarrassing photographs.

But frankly, Facebook...you have changed.

Not only are you not as nice as you used to be...let's face it, you're not near as much fun. It seems to me that somewhere along the way you went from being a Social Network to a Political Network.

And in doing so, you have allowed your users to become much too comfortable hiding behind the protective shield of  their monitors, feeling righteously empowered to pontificate in judgemental indignation while hurling angry bombs of hatred at randomly selected  targets...much too often in the name of Christianity.

Facebook, you have provided an endless supply of obnoxious graphics and toxic videos for narrow-minded knuckleheads to post in your news feed. (Though in your defense, those are likely the same folks whose entire belief system fits on the bumper sticker of their car.)

I will give you this --- you have certainly given the Bible a break. Instead of  bashing Real Sinners over the head with the Good Book, many Christians now use you as their favorite battering tool. And in doing so, a climate of hate has been fueled, thereby minimizing any opportunity for sincere adults to engage in civil discourse with respect and grace.

You know I could call your bluff, don't you?  Just like Dorothy & Toto, I could pull back the curtain to reveal the 'keyboard warriors' who spew such negativity and judgement from the safety of their seclusion. 

But I won't.

I won't do it, because in my heart of hearts...I believe most of the perpetrators are basically good people who have gotten caught up in a bad practice. A near-sighted practice of intolerantly highlighting 'eye splinters' in others, while ignoring the plank in their own.  

What I am going to do, Dear Facebook, is take a break. 

That's right.  I'm leaving you for awhile. And while we're apart, I'm going to figure out exactly how Jesus wants me to counter all the negativity and prevalent hate that fills your news feed and saddens my soul. 

Peace and Love,

Robin