One year ago today, I was (in the words of A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens) "Recalled to Life." They wheeled me out of the hospital where I had spent Christmas with COVID, and into the waiting arms of my wife. She took me home and took good care of me.
This wasn't how Christmas was supposed to go. We were planning to spend Christmas with my family in Virginia. Instead, we had our first and only family phone call of my hospital stay on Christmas Eve. It was a Friday night, as I recall. I had entered the hospital the previous Saturday, and was at the two week mark with my Symptoms. I think this one was a video call (and I LOATHE video calls, but decided this was the one time to make an exception.) By about the 7 minute mark, I was coughing too badly to continue. We said goodbyes, and signed off. I cried pretty hard that night.
On Christmas morning, my wife took the kids to their grandparents in Virginia, then went home to wait. I don't think we spoke on the phone again for days, but we texted a lot. Eventual homecoming was sweet, but I still had rough days (weeks?) ahead. But God sustained me.
As I think about it, I had definite plans for Christmas week and the following ones. But everything had to change. I survived the experience, but it was a good lesson to hold things lightly. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Do you love someone? Tell them. Are you estranged from family or friends? Fix it. Do you have a dream vacation to an exotic location in the back of your mind? Book that ticket. Have you always wanted to learn to dance? Check out www.RevolutionBallroom.com, and just do it. Been engaged for years? Just marry the girl already! Having the perfect wedding is overrated. BEING married to someone who loves you-- THAT'S the stuff!
For all of the most important things, the timing always sucks. Waiting for a good time to quit your job? The stars will neveralign and the traffic lights will never all be green at the same time. The universe doesn't conspire against you, but it doesn't go out of its way to line up all the pins either. 'Someday' is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. Pro and con lists are just as bad. If it is important to you and you want to do it 'eventually,' just do it and course correct along the way. - Timothy Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
So, New Years Resolution time is coming up. How about instead of resolving to lose 20 lbs, resolve to fix broken relationships. To make amends. To celebrate the people in your life. To have the experiences you've been postponing. To develop the closeness with God you've been longing for.
So... No excuses this year. Just do it!
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