Fridays with Mac: Just an Idea

Your scribe is less than two weeks removed from a life-saving gift and the ol’ cranium can’t escape a wonderful fact. I am blessed. The amazing human being who shared their spare kidney and transformed someone’s life? Wow. Thanks!

The Drive for Five Network is all about encouraging others to similar action. What this person did for a fella who has lots of plans for the future? Bless you. However, without a functioning kidney? Ain’t happening. I pray to someday connect with this special human being and give them a big hug.

If your correspondent has learned nothing else? Life rarely goes as planned. Stuff happens derailing best laid intentions. Amyloidosis destroyed my kidneys requiring chemo and dialysis but manifested hope someone stepping forward to help a man attempt to live life to its fullest. America needs more folks like my angel on earth. 90,000 sit on transplants list. We have only about 27,000 donors a year. Also, almost 80% of donations are deceased, an inferior product. Our nation needs more folks like the superstar within my midst. Interested? https://www.kidneyregistry.org/for-donors/am-i-qualified-to-donate-a-kidney/

Back to the prior reference to life rarely unfolding as planned. This ain’t the first rodeo for a sports-crazy dude who grew up in Missouri with big athletic dreams. That didn’t go as planned, neither did two marriages producing amazing kids but challenges of what divorce brings into play. TV sports guy who loved his job but a changing industry led to bean-counters saying, “Do we really need Mac?” And now this? A fight for life against an incurable rare bone marrow disorder hammering a vital organ and requiring a transplant? A grand slam of crap.

Too many times when a dude wondered, “What the hell is going on around here?” Where, at least for me, it’s impossible to lean on my own understanding. Doesn’t make sense. That’s where this simple fella must have faith that, despite the current situation, there is a plan.

Pouring from within is belief it’s important to have a spiritual foundation in fighting battles like this. I can’t lean on my own understanding because it sucks. For this current battle? Here’s what this golf nut prays never to forget: Find joy in hope, patience in affliction and faith in prayer.

Let’s tackle this one at a time. Find joy in faith? Yep. Faith that folks like my gracious donor would step forward when realizing the need for assistance against America’s growing kidney crisis. Seeking to educate enlarged amygdala’s - people with empathy - who, once realizing the need, would decide,? “Heck ya, I can do that. Helping others is good for me too.” The call that a live organ was available was a moment never forgotten. The anxious joy realizing, “It’s showtime.” There’s a lot of good folks out there. I believed it would happen.

Hitting second? Patience with affliction. The past 18 months have been quite interesting with all this lack of wellness. What registered on a slow but steady post-transplant walk around the neighborhood? My emotional well being. I love engaging with others but it’s very difficult to accomplish these days because the focus is getting physically healthier for the road ahead. These daily walks have become invaluable. Walking through the neighborhood I bump into friends and others. Relationships. Be patient on the physical side of things and sharpen the emotional. Engaging with others energizes my soul.

Third? Faith in prayer. I know there’s a large army of supporters and well wishers out there. I am so grateful. Your prayers and spirit-lifted thoughts made a difference. Bless each and everyone of you.

I’d like to take credit for the “Hope, patience and faith” but that would be a lie. A dude named Paul from prison wrote to the early followers of a Jewish carpenter with such advice while they were being chased by lions and bears at the Colesseum. Life is kinda crazy.

We all have our stuff. Hope, patience and faith seem to be a cord of three strands not easily broken in dealing with life’s unexpected challenges.

Works for me. Might for you too against the twists and turns of this roller coaster called life. Just an idea.