Pep Talk: "Do The Doug Thing"

The past few weeks, your knucklehead scribe has been focusing on the journey of a beloved buddy. His ongoing, and so far, productive battle against cancer. The father of six, powered by faith, his words, “Feeling like I’m riding a wave of prayer through this.”

First, thanks from Doug to everybody who liked the inspirational t-shirt idea and has donated either an XL shirt or money for purchase of one. You are lifting his spirits.

The point is a reminder of what you already know. Life throws curveballs, or challenges us to step from our comfort zone. It is that precise moment in time when we have a critical decision to make. It’s a choice entirely doable by each and everyone of us. Yep, regardless of the color of our skin, where we live or how much money we make, in the face of adversity, ultimately it comes down to our determination to learn from the experience or become a victim of its circumstance.

Whether the stellar family-life minister “wins” this bout with cancer is still in doubt. It’s game on. Whether any of us live to see tomorrow is also in doubt. What is obvious at this juncture, at least from seeing him weekly, is a man at peace and courageously fighting a relentless invader. It is inspiring to witness first-hand.

How to handle the relentless invader in our lives? In a two-month journey of walking neighborhoods and trying to get on the ballot for Colorado’s State House D6 race, I have met thousands of folks. I don’t know if it’s because of a God-given curious nature or what, but it’s been an absolute blast. To knock, or ring a bell, and be presented with a dose of humanity appearing? You just never know.

I learn of others battling illnesses, loneliness, relationship meltdowns, children in crisis and other “What the heck is going on around here?” situations. They are in the midst of their own “Courageously fighting a relentless invader.” Our spirit, our attitude, our abilities to somehow, some way, find positives in the cesspool of life’s transformative, painful, and uncertain moments is a character trait to emulate.

My mind wanders to a elderly woman who answered a RISE UP with Mark campaign canvassing knock sporting a fresh cast on her right hand. “Mark, I broke my wrist the other day,” stated the petit University of Colorado graduate. “It’s the hand I write with but, give me that pen, I’ll sign your petition left-handed.”

While not trying to compare recovery from a broken wrist to a cancer battle involving two months of daily radiation treatments, the common denominator is the attitude. Two people, different circumstances, but with a similar spirit that proclaims, “Nobody controls my attitude but me.”

Life messes with our physical, emotional, financial or spiritual well being. The story is our reaction to the relentless. This week, do the “Doug Thing.” We’ll be better for the effort and might inspire others to follow suit.

Pep Talk: "The Weathered Rag"

How many like to wear clothing that makes a statement? Ya know, sets the tone for what lies ahead? Work, sporting event or whatever? I’m big on that. For instance, in canvassing neighborhoods for the RISE UP campaign while looking for signatures to get on the ballot for Colorado’s House District 6, I frequently wear a Denver East High School pullover, or CU Buffs cold-weather jacket or something else personal and pertinent to the area of town your knucklehead scribe is wandering.

It’s a good conversation starter. Anyway, the point being most of us have moments where we put on the “uniform” to represent something bigger than ourselves. Like, all the darn Broncos’ gear you see?

Which sets the stage for an update on my Friday morning Platoon buddy battling cancer. “My wife started something on Caring Bridge,” the faithful warrior proclaimed while rising from his seat, pulling back an outer garment and revealing a t-shirt. “Every time I go in for radiation, I wear a different one. The statement on the t-shirt inspires me to persevere.”

Wow, what a great idea by his wife. Let’s have some fun. Do you have a favorite t-shirt? One that transforms your thinking from chump to champ? One that inspires you to stay courageous despite the roller coaster ride ahead? One you could offer to Doug – mail it to me and I’ll deliver - for one of his treatments? The father of six, every time - 33 total - he’s strapped in the cranium cage for a blast of potentially life-saving radiation, would know there’s plenty of folks out there rooting for a miracle.

If you’re interested, let me know. For instance, he and I have already chatted about him wearing an A Stronger Cord t-shirt for an upcoming treatment. All the knuckleheads out there want him to know thoughts and prayers are pouring his way. Also, thanks to many of you who are doing the same. “I’m still riding that wave” is what the great dude reported as we chatted.

Folks, it’s just the latest example of something we know as truth. The more we encourage one another the better off we’re gonna be, right? This is not rocket science. It’s really pretty simple, just not easy. We’ve become too isolated from one another these days. It’s challenging to encourage one another if we’re not connected.

As an incredibly precise laser attacks a cancer trying to snuff the light out of a guy who has an eternal beam of hope. He’s enthusiastically wearing different t-shirts into battle. They give him hope and confidence.

Always a good thing. The battle might be to whip addiction, cancer, bad relationships, poor attitude, incarceration, homelessness or something else. Our wellness is threatened: physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually. Maybe all four at once. Ouch. 

We need hope and confidence for such trials. This week, let’s live the motto on an ol’ t-shirt. Yep, find it and live it. The weathered rag is probably worth little, but sure means a lot for the courageous and triumphant spirit it represents.

Pep Talk: "Painful Forces Shield"

“It’s like I’m riding a wave of prayer right now,” mentioned a beloved buddy battling cancer. The father of six was giving a journey update to fellow goofs gathered for our usual Friday morning fellowship.

It has already included surgery to remove a tumor from his neck. That left a scar running from behind the left ear, down the neck before taking a right turn and heading toward the Adam’s apple. I’ve written before about his kids joking, “It looks like Dad got in a fight with a shark.”

The fight against cancer is no joke and has entered a phase of intense radiation. The outstanding faith-based marriage counselor passed around a picture of him strapped into a Hannibal Lector-looking mask for the first blast of, we pray, cancer-killing radiation. For treatments to be effective he must remain perfectly still. A steel cage encircles his head and is bolted to a gurney-like apparatus. It ensures the noggin’ remains still and the laser can do its job. He cracks with a smile, “It’s a little bit uncomfortable.”

What’s been absolutely admirable is this man’s spirit. It comes from his faith. A belief that God has a plan. The tsunami of encouragement has certainly helped. “I received a wonderful hand-written card the other day from a guy I’ve never met,” offered this warrior. “He survived similar stuff and wanted to encourage me not to lose faith in miracles.”

The utterance of “encourage” warmed my marrow on this chilly and snowy Centennial State morning. Icy and slick roads kept attendance to a minimum. Usually there’s 10-12 dudes gathered around the large conference table. On this day, just four braved the elements to sharpen our faith. I’m damn glad to have been one of them.

Life a tad challenging right now? I would suspect the answer is yes. We all have “stuff” threatening our physical, emotional or financial health. We should never grow weary of encouraging one another to courageously confront the battles. Devoted Pep Talk readers know your scribe’s love for encouragement, defined as, “To give hope and confidence to.”

Can you imagine? What the heck would our world look like if we, empowered by encouragement, displayed more hope and confidence? Considering I’m running for political office, it’s impossible to resist: What would our country look like if we had more hope and confidence in our political system presenting candidates who truly represent the will of the people? A topic for another day.

Cancer-fighting buddy mentioned something else that still resonates. He talked of a preacher’s recent sermon about those who sniff out counterfeit money. “They only handle real money. They become experts in how it feels and smells. This way, they know what a fake looks like.”

This week, let’s not fake anything. Let’s be real and realize the importance of encouraging one another. It’s a shield of hope and confidence against painful forces blasting our world and well being. Miracles are welcome too.