Last week I began radiation therapy for prostate cancer that was discovered in January. Because it is one of the more curable forms of cancer, my treatment had been postponed due to the COVID-19 virus shut in. Since my initial diagnosis, there were several pre-therapy procedures and drug regimens that I had to begin. None of these resulted in unmanageable side effects, however, I must admit that the significant fatigue which I began experiencing once my daily radiation treatments began has been both debilitating and depressing.
When I got home last Friday afternoon after completing my last treatment of that first week, I was greeted with an array of sign posters taped to our kitchen door. Three composed the phrase “We LOVE Pappou! The other noted “One week down…only nine more left. YOU GOT THIS!!!” My three grandchildren’s scribbled signatures was the encore.
Once inside, my wonderful wife, Stephanie, told me that my son’s family had first driven to the radiation clinic to surprise me, but missed me. They then drove by our house to greet me when I arrived, but missed me again. I had arrived a little early for my treatment and got in early so I decided to run a couple of errands thus causing my “no show” for their planned demonstration. Nevertheless, they taped the posters up so I would know that they had sought me out to remind me that they loved me, supported me, and had my back.
Throughout this ordeal, my wife, my two sons, my daughter-in-law, and my grandchildren have been a reminder to me that oftentimes trying to complete the job of life alone is a recipe for defeat and failure. No matter how strong we think we are physically or emotionally, no matter the depth of our resiliency, at some point in our lives we all need someone to be our life preserver – our rope to hold onto.
We can’t always be the saving hero. Sometimes we need saving. There comes a time in all our lives when we must acknowledge we can’t do the job of life alone and, much like the fellow who, following an accident on the job, wrote a letter in response to his disability insurance company’s request for more details about how he sustained his injuries, it’s not only a mistake to think that we can always do the job ourselves, but also, if we are thrown a life line, it is not only vital that we recognize it and grasp for it, but that we also firmly hold onto it.
Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In Block Number 3 of the accident report form, I put “trying to do the job alone” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient:
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the rooftop of a six story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick. However, you will note that in Block Number 11 of the accident report form, I indicated that I currently weigh 135 pounds.
Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone.
Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two-knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground—and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately fifty pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.
The encounter with the barrel slowed me down enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks and, fortunately, only three of my vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks—in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel six stories above me—I again lost my presence of mind and…
I let go of the rope.
MORAL: People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy, for very few of us are wise by our own counsel, or learned by our own teaching. For he who is taught by himself alone, has had a fool for his teacher…so, don’t allow yourself or others to be singular journeyers on the road of life. Be a blessing and be blessed…and hold onto your life-preserving rope when it’s thrown to you!
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque