Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Er-Er-Er-Er-Urrrrrrrrrr Rooster Gang

"Rooster Gang I - Claude"
6" X 6" Oil on Raymar Panel
  Sold

"Rooster Gang I - Henry"
6" X 6" on Raymar Panel
 Sold


"ER-ER-ER-ER-URRRRRRRR!!!!!!!"
You may remember I mentioned in my last post that there were a lot of roosters running around Key West when we visited last month.  What I didn’t tell you is that they have no respect for the lazy tourist who wants to sleep in occasionally.   I got up (WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK) for a drink of water, only to be greeted by the early morning call of the neighborhood rooster gang outside our door.
 
“Wakeup, wake up, wake up –
you’re about to see the most beautiful sunrise ever!!!!! 
If you go back to bed, you’re gonna MISS IT!!!!! 
Er-er-er-er-urrrrrrrr!”

This New Year’s morning, I was thankful to be in my own bed as we had a rather late night.  I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours with my friend who barely escaped death this past year.  Beautiful, smart, successful, and healthy, Diane Seller’s life totally changed one Tuesday afternoon.  She had a massive cerebral hemorrhage, leaving her with some neural deficit.  She remembers nothing of the first few weeks, but since then, I think it’s fair to say that she has “lived” every waking moment.  It is because of her passion for life, her determination for recovery, her cheerful and positive attitude, her faith, and obvious answer to prayer that she now walks without assistance, keeps up with any conversation fluently, and has regained her “Master” status at any game she attempts! 

Diane is quite an inspiration to all who know her.   I visited her in therapy a few times and saw how hard it was for her to turn a wheel or write her name, yet she painfully pushed herself through to the next level - over and over.

Oh, she had some cheerleaders by her side as her family, local, long-distance, and internet friends rallied to encourage her and support her, providing prayer, meals, rides, companionship, and encouragement.    Oh yeah, good things happened.   In some ways, all of our lives have changed since that day. 

As we begin 2013, I bet you have at least one new year’s resolution to improve your life – exercise, stop procrastinating, eat organic, learn a new skill,  start going to church,  improve a relationship – or try to paint almost every day!  Or maybe, you too, you have something huge to overcome.  Whatever it is…….

What IF we embrace it with Diane’s tenacity and passion?

What IF we, like Diane, push past the roadblocks, obstacles, frustrations and distractions .…
And run in a way as to get the prize!

“Throw off everything that hinders - and the sin that so easily entangles -
and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1b

Ya never know – you may see the most beautiful sunrise EVER!!