Certain things are suppose to be upside down or backwards. Take for instance “Pineapple Upside Down Cake” as the obvious one. Upside down tomato plants are in vogue with the urban gardeners. Or how about how our vision is really projected upside down on our retina but it is our brain that flips it around for us. Some researchers believe that newborn babies see the world upside down for the first few days of their lives until their brains make the proper adjustments. Of course later in life those same babies turn into teenagers who then think their parents see everything upside down and have no brains.
When you encounter life changing circumstances like a death of a loved one or a life threatening diagnosis it often turns your world upside down. As we have been interacting with various patients undergoing proton beam treatment (PBT) here at Loma Linda, this has been a recurring theme. Sure we all came here by choice but it was not something we intended to do. Last October a medical trip to Southern California to treat cancer was not on our “must do before we die” list. Proton therapy might be a wonder of science and physics but it is not one of the “Wonders of the World.”
It is apparent that there are a number of elements that help in the process of turning things back around. Like with the eye and the retina ruse, the brain is vital in restoring focus for those difficult times in our lives. From those we have talked to the word “research” heads the list of activities implemented to right the ship on this course with prostate cancer. It is personal research as well as relying on the capable research of others.
Time is another key ingredient in rectifying one’s perspective. Some of life’s challenges require more steps than others, thus more time. If you are growing squash it is only a matter of months before you see the fruit of your labors. But if you want an acorn from an oak tree it is another story. Many patients here spent much time in their deliberations before settling on a verdict to treat their cancer with PBT.
Faith enters the picture often within this framework. There are numerous individuals being treated here at LLUMC who have expressed how their faith and personal relationship with their God has been an anchor in their journey. Martin Luther King, Jr. capsulated faith in this way: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Taking this analogy a step further you can see how the mind and the eyes work together in making that next step. You may be looking for all of the answers to what lies ahead, but all you really need is enough information to take the next step.
Like with the newborn baby, an upside down world can be turned around with not only our brains, but also with time and our faith going to bat for us.
Proverbs 15:22 (New Living Translation)
“Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”
When you encounter life changing circumstances like a death of a loved one or a life threatening diagnosis it often turns your world upside down. As we have been interacting with various patients undergoing proton beam treatment (PBT) here at Loma Linda, this has been a recurring theme. Sure we all came here by choice but it was not something we intended to do. Last October a medical trip to Southern California to treat cancer was not on our “must do before we die” list. Proton therapy might be a wonder of science and physics but it is not one of the “Wonders of the World.”
It is apparent that there are a number of elements that help in the process of turning things back around. Like with the eye and the retina ruse, the brain is vital in restoring focus for those difficult times in our lives. From those we have talked to the word “research” heads the list of activities implemented to right the ship on this course with prostate cancer. It is personal research as well as relying on the capable research of others.
Time is another key ingredient in rectifying one’s perspective. Some of life’s challenges require more steps than others, thus more time. If you are growing squash it is only a matter of months before you see the fruit of your labors. But if you want an acorn from an oak tree it is another story. Many patients here spent much time in their deliberations before settling on a verdict to treat their cancer with PBT.
Faith enters the picture often within this framework. There are numerous individuals being treated here at LLUMC who have expressed how their faith and personal relationship with their God has been an anchor in their journey. Martin Luther King, Jr. capsulated faith in this way: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Taking this analogy a step further you can see how the mind and the eyes work together in making that next step. You may be looking for all of the answers to what lies ahead, but all you really need is enough information to take the next step.
Like with the newborn baby, an upside down world can be turned around with not only our brains, but also with time and our faith going to bat for us.
Proverbs 15:22 (New Living Translation)
“Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”
Just for the record, I never thought you saw things up-side-down without a brain :) Nice work, Dad!
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