Reflections from the Home Team, July 21, 2017

“So often the difference between success and failure is belief, and so often someone who encouraged us instills that belief in us… Be an encourager!”

Greetings from Cedar Falls!

Hoping all is well with each of you as we fast forward into the rest of summer!  I wanted to share a few thoughts today, having not done so since last March.  I’ve been working with my team of doctors monitoring some symptoms following the removal of some polyps in January.  We’ve discussed some possible surgery, but have decided to put things on hold for the time being as the symptoms have improved and my labs are currently in an acceptable range. I’m good with that, as I’d like to avoid any further surgeries! I’ve had my share of needles poked in me over the past few years, at times feeling like I could turn this body into an irrigation system for the infield… and that brings me to this reflection. 

As I’ve sat in Iowa City for treatments and follow-ups since being diagnosed back in 2009, I’ve visited with many folks who have needed a word of encouragement along the way, myself included!  As I was doing some reading this past week, I came across a comment made by Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-Fil-A. He was asked, "How do you know if a man or woman needs encouragement?" His response, "If they are breathing…” How true that rings from my experiences!! We all need encouragement, and positive encouragement can inspire others to do more and become more than they ever thought possible.

Encouragers are people the world needs more of… With so many people telling us we can't succeed in our life’s challenges, we need to hear people telling us we can. This is especially true in the cancer journey!  Many times over the years I have had conversations with others who have helped make all the difference for me at times when I’ve felt down and discouraged, and I’m hopeful I may have shared a few words that did the same for others along the way.

I often run into those who may think it's their “role” to inject a dose of "reality" into someone else’s life, thinking it's their job to protect people from the pain of failure and defeat. Honestly, there are enough pessimists and realists in the world… it really doesn't need more negativity and impossible thinkers. The world needs more optimists, encouragers, and inspirers!

The world needs more people to speak into the hearts of others. Jon Gordon, one of my favorite authors, says it best for me as he shared the following in a recent post:

“We all love working for and with people who bring out the best in us. We love being around people who uplift us and make us feel great. And while we'll always remember the negative people who told us we couldn't accomplish something, we will always cherish and hold a special place in our heart for those who encouraged us.”

Given that thought, I’d ask each of you to consider being an encourager… So often the difference between success and failure is belief, and so often someone who encouraged us instills that belief in us… Be An Encourager! Be that person who decides to uplift someone who is feeling down or who may be struggling with a health challenge. Share encouragement because it matters and we all need it!

While at a meeting I recently attended, the committee chairperson asked us to gather in groups of three with people we had never met. She told us to each take one minute to tell the others about ourselves and share the story of one person we wanted God to bless.

One man in my group said he wanted God to bless his wife who was battling cancer while she cared for her invalid mother. Another praised God for healing his wife’s cancer but said he was concerned for his adult son who had drifted away from God.

If this had been a typical session, we would have left as we came in—as strangers. But because the group leader asked us to share something personal, we all made an immediate connection. I left the session wondering what other situations are out there needing some form of encouragement. Most people are struggling with something significant while also rejoicing about something else.

Everyone needs prayer and encouragement—either to celebrate God’s goodness or to seek God’s grace. It certainly isn’t wise for us to walk up to strangers and demand that they open up to us, but we certainly can be aware that each person most likely has some unexpressed yearnings. It is comforting to know we never have to handle things alone, and that if we choose, we each can each develop a “Home Team” of our own to help encourage us through those times when we or someone we love is struggling.

I also wanted to take a moment to share that my book, Reflections from the Home Team… Go the Distance has now been published. The book offers my experiences and reflections to others who may be facing difficult and challenging times. It is my hope that by reading the book, their minds and spirits may be filled with positive thoughts and energy, while offering a healthy dose of encouragement along the way. Baseball metaphors and analogies, competitive spirit, and a touch of humor provide common themes in the book. I pray that the book may offer hope, strength and ENCOURAGEMENT to those who may be facing a similar journey!

With the help of my son Rob and one of my former baseball players Jim Mudd Jr. and his team at Mudd advertising, we are developing a website for the book. The website will tentatively be going live on Sunday, August 6^th. If you may be interested in picking up copy of the book, you may go to the website at the URL listed below at that time.

ReflectionsFromTheHomeTeam.com 

The website, will provide information about the book as well as details on how to purchase the book, including an option to receive a personalized, signed copy directly from me if you so choose. The website URL is currently linked to my blog and will be additionally linked to information regarding the book on the site once it goes live. The book will also be available for purchase on the shelves at:

Barnes and Noble

1518 Flamming Drive

Waterloo, Iowa 50702

319-232-0475

Wiley’s Christian Book Store

2520 Waterloo Rd.

Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

319-277-2005

Reflections from the Home Team… Go the Distance may also be ordered on line at the following links:

Amazon.com

Barnesandnoble.com

xulonpress/bookstore

Many blessings to each of you as you become an encourager in someone else’s life!

Sincerely,

Dave

Link to: Reflections from the Home Team… Go the Distance Book Website:

ReflectionsFromTheHomeTeam.com 

Link to: Reflections from the Home Team BLOG
http://reflectionsfromthehometeam.blogspot.com/

Link to Vimeo: Reflections from the Home Team... Go the Distance “My Story”
http://vimeo.com/53873087

Link to: Tommy Emmanuel and "Angelina"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR04kmcSXU

Reflections from the Home Team March 25, 2017

“Just as a renewed sense of hope for baseball teams blossoms while a new season lurks in the horizon, the same can be true for each of us in our relationship with God, no matter what pains or tragedies may be facing us or our loved ones.”

Greetings from Cedar Falls,

It’s been a while since my last update in December.  At that time I was preparing for additional biopsies following the discovery and removal of some tubular polyps that had cancer “potential” that month.  My team of doctors decided to wait a few weeks to go back in to make sure that all traces of the polyps were removed and that there was no additional growth. That second procedure occurred in January and was successful in determining all of the polyps were removed and that there was no additional growth.  That was certainly a relief and yes, HOPE has returned with the arrival of spring!

Even though the calendar might say March, the weather here in Iowa has at times said otherwise. The occasional warm temperatures have allowed many outdoor activities to start up once again while also reminding us that spring training games are now happening. While we all enjoy the unseasonably warm weather here in Iowa, Major League baseball teams are experiencing the sun in Florida and Arizona as spring training workouts are in full swing.

For most people, the middle of the season and the postseason are times of the year in which they are brought the most enjoyment. However, for me, spring training has always been a special time of the year. After seeing 29 teams fail to reach the ultimate goal last season, it’s nice to see a renewed sense of hope as a new season lurks in the horizon.

Spring training games aren’t always the most exciting things to watch, I’ll admit that, but to see the preparation players go through and young hopefuls get a chance to show their worth is something I always look forward to.

When it comes to the Atlanta Braves, there is always a sense of hope. After a long string of consecutive winning seasons and playoff appearances, the Braves took a step backwards last year, sporting a losing season. However, the hope has returned with the arrival of spring.The Braves have a crop of young players battling for spots on the major league roster and a number of veteran players looking to make bigger impacts in 2017. That’s the best part about the spring season. Last year is over and the past is the past. Spring training marks a new beginning for all 30 major league clubs as they make the long run towards October.

That brings me to this Reflection.  My wife Tricia and I recently took in the movie “The Shack”. The movie was based on a novel written by William Young in 2007 by the same title. Just as Spring Training sparks a new hope for all Major League Baseball Clubs, this movie helped spark a new hope for a man who had to deal with a number of “pains” in his life.

 

The Shack is about one man's redemption, on a number of different levels: spiritual, relational and family centered. There’s not a single relationship in Mack's life (the featured character in the movie and book) that's not deeply impacted by what transpires when he reaches the “shack”. I won’t spoil the movie for you by going into detail, but after his young daughter Missy’s abduction and murder during a camping excursion, Mack retreats within to deal with the pain. But his wife lovingly, and bravely confronts Mack saying, "Don't forget we love each other." It's a statement that underscores the importance of a husband and wife maintaining loving communication when going through difficult times, just as it can throughout one’s cancer journey.

The movie points to some spiritual insights that I have found helpful throughout my journey. First, God loves people, even deeply flawed people who aren't yet in a relationship with Him; God cares deeply for those who've gone through severe tragedies; God does not abandon His loved ones during difficult times; God desires reconciliation with those who don't know Him; God offers hope even in the most hopeless of situations; and God can make incredibly good things happen, even after unspeakable tragedies.

Mack’s encounter with God changed him and birthed new hope and a real faith in God. A man who loses one of his children understandably questions where God was during that tragedy, just as a cancer victim often asks where God may have been during their battle with the disease. It's a question that has been asked since the beginning of time. It's the reason behind the book of Job in the Bible. And yet, just as in Job, the answer is; "I am God; trust in me," rather than, "I am God; I owe you an explanation." The take away for me is that God cares. He loves deeply and unconditionally. He wants to heal our woundedness and He can do so when we choose to let Him. Just as a renewed sense of hope for baseball teams blossoms while a new season lurks in the horizon, the same can be true for each of us in our relationship with God, no matter what pains or tragedies may be facing us or our loved ones.

I have truly been enjoying the freedoms that retirement brings while keeping busy as well. Scouting season will be getting underway soon as the weather improves and my driving for Western Home Communities has been quite enjoyable.  Another project that has occupied my time involves transforming my Reflections into book form. It will be titled Reflections from the Home Team… Go the Distance. We are in the final editing stages with Xulon press, a Christian publishing group connected with the Salem Marketing Group.

My hope is to offer my experiences in the book so that others may face difficult times by filling their minds and spirits with the positive thoughts and energy shared in the book. Baseball metaphors, competitive spirit, a touch of humor and thanking God for each and every day of life provide common themes throughout the book. The Reflections will include a touch of spiritual insight, encouraging quotes from wise and thoughtful people, and some suggestions on action and attitudinal steps you might consider taking to help you or a friend walk through a life-changing event such as cancer. I’ll keep you posted as to progress as we move forward with publishing.

Wishing you all a joyous Easter Season and renewed hope with any struggles you may be facing.

Sincerely,

Dave

Link to: Reflections from the Home Team BLOG
http://reflectionsfromthehometeam.blogspot.com/

Link to Vimeo: Reflections from the "Home Team"... Go the Distance
http://vimeo.com/53873087

Link to: Tommy Emmanuel and "Angelina"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR04kmcSXU