Reliving the Passions of Youth

My running career might be at an end. I had stopped running for a year or so when I developed knee pain, then started back up when I missed the hormonal surge from running. Everything was well for a while. The knee pain that never quite went away didn’t bother me while running, and my oncologist said that joint pain was likely a result of the long term meds I was on.

Then the knee pain became stabbing pain in the back of my knee. I could not run at all. I deteriorated quickly to the point where even walking hurt. I could walk slowly, but if I lengthened my stride, shooting pain would radiate from the back of my knee. I finally called the doctor who told me I needed to see an orthopedist. With my medical history, it is never wise to ignore sharp, undiagnosed pain. The doctor is scheduling the visit with the specialist, but in the meantime, I ran out (well...hobbled out...) to the drugstore for a knee brace.

The knee brace is amazing. The compression and stability it gives my knee appears to be what I need. It helps a lot, however if I walk fast or with long strides, the shooting pain returns, even with the brace.

I was training for a November Marathon Relay with my Cities4life team. My portion would only be 5 miles, which I had done easily, prior to my knee injury. From where I sit right now, it does not look very likely I will be able to participate. I have been a runner for 50 years or more. I was always a runner. I was the fastest girl in third grade. Maybe now, my running days are over. Aging is NOT for the faint-hearted.

With my new knee brace firmly in place, I headed to the nursing home where I teach an art class each month. I always try to have the subject for our drawing reflect something pertinent to the month. The drawing for April was an iris. I had several new students. That is the nature of working in a nursing home. Clients come...and sadly go...fairly quickly.

One of the new residents was wheeled in. I had never met him before. He did not speak. The aide introduced him. I showed him the picture I had drawn that we would be working from and told him just to follow what I drew step by step and he would have no trouble drawing an iris. The aide smiled. She told me his career had been as a florist.

The man slept at times in the class, but would wake up (usually) in time to draw the next step. Piece by piece, he created the iris. The hour hurried by. The other residents left one by one. The former florist, now fully awake and the only one left, carefully worked on his flower. Something seemed to have captivated his interest, and nap time was over. He drew steadily and deliberately.  My time was up, and I could have headed home. The aide would eventually return and wheel him to lunch.  Instead, I sat down at the table with him.

“Did you use to draw when you were younger?” I asked.

He nodded.

“I can tell by the way you are making your pencil strokes. Being a florist is a form of art too, isn’t it?”

Again he nodded, while carefully coloring the leaves of the iris.

I sat watching him, and occasionally suggesting color changes, but mostly I asked him about his work as a florist. I only asked questions he could answer by nodding since he did not appear to be able to talk. Then I fell silent. He began to sing quietly as he colored in the iris.

It is only an art class, once a month, but each time, I am overcome with the satisfaction of noticing those who maybe no one has noticed in a while. I know what it is like to not be able to do all that one used to be able to do. The knee brace was a stark reminder that the spirit is willing, but sometimes the flesh is weak. Yet, God never meant these temporary bodies to be where we dwell permanently. There will be an eternity where the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, and all will be redeemed.

Meanwhile, how lovely to hear an old man sing as he remembered the passions of his youth.

**************

Isaiah 43:1-2 

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

2 Peter 3:9 

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Hebrews 9:12 

He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.