May 16, 2006 - Day 7 - Week 6 - Another’s Story

Each one of us has their own unique learning channel.   Throughout the day we are consciously and unconsciously influenced by print, voice, and visual imagery. We receive and process information to teach and inspire us.  Being open to the voices of others is the way we grow.

I have learned from each of you.  Through cards, letters, notes, emails, pictures, and phone calls my learning channel has been enriched greatly. The true disciple is one who constantly remains a learner.  When we stop learning we stop living.

Some time a story has been particularly poignant and becomes illustrative of the incredible strength required in the face of over-whelming odds.  Many of our friends have quietly met cancer head on and won.

A special friend sent me this.

Peter -

The chemo -  That's what beats you up but it also beats down the bad stuff.

My radiation got so intense that it caused exit burns on the back of my neck. We had to stop for two weeks and then resume after the break. I had almost 7000 rads. The kids used to say that we didn't need a night light with me wandering the halls after dark. The good news - the chemo and/or radiation will do what its supposed too.  Good luck.      Les

My inward smile factor just got a big boost as I picture my friend as a walking neon sign.  As a matter of record, Les can often be seen walking around town with his golf club in hand.  He is a survivor and a role model.  He is living testimony to the power of positive thinking, blended with a large dose of humor, and a good medical and familial support team.

I am not a great fan of cloning, but I am supportive of modeling our behavior on people who have walked to teach.  Gandhi walked to remind the poor that they could exercise political power, M.L. King walked to embolden others to stand up to racism, Mother Theresa walked to minister to the outcast in her own country, and Les walks to maintain the integrity of his inner eco-systems.

Everyone’s story of courage teaches, all we have to do is listen and learn.  The expansion of our personal learning channel is one of the great joys of life.

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