Portals of Discovery
Excuse my absence last week. I am currently in a chapter of “what the world/is there a name for what’s going on” health journey, not too unfamiliar to me. But I have had to run a get labs and such, which has gotten my days all in a tangle. I am okay, nothing crazy, just a little wobbly and tired.
One more thing before I move onto what I want to write today: my online store. My goals keep changing, because reality keeps changing. BUT since moving, I have a small craft area and it’s almost ready! Hopefully this Friday I can start actually putting everything together and eventually taking pictures and uploading them to this website. This is what will take me some time- I am learning as I go. So there may be a little trial and error stage, but I am going to do my best to make this smooth and easy – shipping, payment, etc. I have lots of hopes – I would love prayers for my patience, nerves, and peace from the Only One who can bring it all together.
Now to today’s post…
Portals: door; entrance.
It’s hard to admit mistakes in our human nature. Bottom line though is that we make mistakes more than we even know. Many we may never know. They shouldn’t be heavy things that carry resentment or embarrassment or even pride. We should see them as portals, a door we GET to open, and begin again.
We often are cheering for realizing our mistakes, learning from them, and waking through that door of opportunity, but how often do we actually take that chance? Most mistakes need an apology first, and then the door can be opened to try again.
Let’s take a look at some of the phrases we use to cheer each other on in use our mistakes as a learning curve, a opening of a new door:
- “Hindsight is 20/20.” This phrase is used in all kinds of circumstances. Many times, lately, it has been used sarcastically, as a insult to someone who has opposing views. I tend to be sarcastic, if you haven’t noticed, but there is a time and place. The truth, we really can see the pros and cons, the mistakes and what did work, when looking back on something and assessing it. Example: Today, will be 8 years since we celebrated my Lucy running into Jesus’ arms. On this day eight years ago, I was still in such a fog from her fast departure, that I hadn’t even been able to comprehend any of the days in the hospital. On this day, I was surrounded by children, families, individuals who loved her, loved me, loved my family, and it was indeed a celebration! Fast forward eight years later, and I can’t say I have fully comprehended those days, because I don’t think that is possible. I do know that I can say what I have comprehended is there were many miracles, many moments of peace that could only come from Jesus, many people set along our path that were on her care team for a reason, and many sacred and holy moments in the last place I desired to be. I wouldn’t change anything about this hospital visit. Sometimes I think, should I have taken her to her doctor sooner?, but then God reminds me – it was his timing. So sometimes 20/20 vision can be clarity from the fog, sometimes it can be critique, and sometimes its a leave some and take some.
- “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Famous quote of Thomas Edison during his invention of the Light Bulb. This quote has always kind of been my motto. I am constantly thinking, maybe if I reorganize with a new system, all will be well. But the joke is on me- which I have come to really laugh at myself! If you think about it though, the toughest jobs are the jobs that don’t come with an instruction manual about exactly how to do things. Many have variations of how to do one job, there’s no strict one way to do things. There are rules, regulations, and laws that keep everyone in check, and those are needful. There are strong feelings about how things should be done, but that doesn’t mean that that’s the only way it can be accomplished. Most inventions, pieces of art, medical breakthroughs have happened after so many trys – I’m sure that a lot of this successes came when the people behind them were ready to throw their hands up and pass it on to the next person, but they chose to learn and take hold of the door and walk through.
Mistakes. Apologies when needed. Portals to discovery.
I am going to use political people in this example – because it is what is in the news and is very prevalent to what I am writing today. So don’t stop reading just because of the names I am about to write…
Dr. Fauci. Trump. RFK, JR.
Did I ever think I would have to put these 3 names together again? I had really hope not to. But I am going to use them as a visible example of admitting mistakes, learning from them, and making changes for the better.
I will start with Dr. Fauci. Yes, I am a fan of him, not because of the COVID task force, but for his overwhelming contribution to immunology research and years of dedicated service to solving some of the worst pandemics and epidemics of the last few decades. Having to grow up knowing this world of health care and the ups and downs of research, studies, and trials, it’s hard to describe the appreciation you have for anyone who has dedicated their life to finding helpful medicines, vaccines, and treatments that either manage, cure, or eliminate a disease. I have had some of the viruses (before vaccines were approved) that Fauci has developed vaccines for- and you better believe Lucy was getting these vaccines already. That’s my story. But if the general population doesn’t understand what his job was for all these years, then that is a failure of the leadership of our country. His job is literally Thomas Edison’s quote- there are 10,000 tries before 1 success, and then that has to be studied and verified. He knows and has seen many unsuccessful vaccines, treatments, and medicines. He has been devastated when these don’t succeed for the patients. How do I know this? Read his biography. Read medical papers. The proof is there. He has admitted there were shortcomings and that the social distancing and masks were possible “jumping the gun,” but he was the spoke person for the whole task force.
Trump. Well, let’s see, he advised us to ingest bleach. He gave Dr Fauci a Medal of Honor for the COVID response. And now throws him under the COVID morgue trailer. Aside from blackmailing and acting as if he had no hand in the COVID response, our president is now basing the children’s vaccine schedule on how he “feels.” I see him as a very broken man, who unfortunately is unwilling to apologize, instead is willing to put children’s lives in jeopardy to prove his authority.
RFK, Jr. This man blows my mind, but that’s just my thoughts. He has the most troubled heart and mind, and I really believe this. He seems to be wrestling with power and knowledge. His children are vaccinated. He admits he has read the report that vaccines don’t cause autism, but he won’t fully say he agrees. He says he follows the science, but what science? He said earlier this year that he really wanted to have less pokes for children, but the president just split the MMR vaccine into 3 shots- so the 2 MMR shots, do these now become 6? And the unfortunate dismantling of so many divisions of government and firings – the oversight for food, medicine, and now special education all lay in this one mans hands. An explosive (sorry couldn’t resist) cyclosporiasis outbreak is now on his watch – one farm being the primary source hasn’t been inspected in 7 years.
Conclusion: A simple oops, I made a mistake, Let’s learn from this, can go a long way. I can be hard on myself when a new “system” I have thought of doesn’t work- and I have to work through forgiving myself- so I get that this is not easy in our human nature. But I have a good feeling that if we begin to honestly, reasonably, truthfully make mistakes, apologize when necessary, and open the portal door to the next thing- whether it be a mistake that is a next step to the final discovery, or it is the final hoorah- we can start a wave of renewing hope, of conversation with one another, and a lot less division. You with me?
Life book of the week: The Story of Toilets, Telephones, and Other Useful Inventions, by Katie Daynes (Usborne Young Reading)
I wanted to share a really cool opportunity that one of our family’s friends (from Elon Days) son was given – He chose the design and drew the picture for this clothing line whose goal is to improve mental health. All proceeds from the sales will go to Seattle Children’s Hospital Uncompensated Care Fund. Although I have never met Declan, I know he is an awesome kid and is making an incredible mark on everyone he encounters.
Direct link to purchase: https://www.homscollective.com
