Doing Great (with Perspective)

“You are doing great!” That’s what my physician’s assistant said today, regarding my six month progress with Leukemia. “But, I am not feeling great,” I replied. “I am more fatigued than I was in the hospital and I spend most of my day trying to keep warm without getting too warm.” She replied, “The journey though Leukemia is both long and difficult. There is not a smooth path.” Memories of my first dismal high school track meet flashed before me: being first to lead the pack does not guarantee that the whole race will go that well. She informed me that my platelets, so stubborn to increase, actually doubled in the last two weeks, pushing me to 20% normal range. And so I am reminded once again that my feelings about how things are often are at difference with the reality of how things really are. That difference is called perspective.

We all have seen children quickly transition from happy to utterly upset over some thing that seems so small from our adult perspective. Maybe you can recall a time when even as an adult, something that once seemed tragic now appears as less so, because of the perspective you have gained.

Where do you go throughout each day to ground yourself so that you retain proper perspective? Maybe you share intimately with your best friend; spend time alone in nature; pursue your relationship with God through prayer and reading His Word – His love letter to you. Each of us gets to choose our own path in this regard. I hope today will be marked by times of stepping back and gaining wise perspective. It is a daily challenge, for sure. But there you will find peace even in the middle of chaos and turmoil.

Don't be shellfish...