Friend’s stroke a reminder life can change in a heartbeat
As we travel through our hurried lives, we often fail to slow down long enough to appreciate the things we have. Many of us work continuously trying to accumulate more and fret about the things we don’t have.
This behavior is fairly common among the folks I know. We sometimes live our lives like we have many years ahead of us. Sometimes that is the case. Other times it’s not.
Like many of you, I spent this week in the same mundane way.
Go to work. Go home. Sleep. Wake up and do it all over again. But, is there really anything like a mundane life? This week proved a reminder to me that life is anything but mundane and can change on a dime.
The workday started like many others. Working, talking and performing the tasks of the day.
One of my co-workers, Gary Coffey, asked me if his face was flushed. When I told him it was, he said that it was probably a sign his blood pressure had spiked. He then asked me if it was hot in the office because he was burning up. I made some comment about the correlation between the coffee in his hand and the symptoms he was experiencing. He left the office to pour out his coffee.
Gary walked back in to the office and stood against the wall. He began to mumble and speak incoherently. I asked him if he was OK. It was about this time that he collapsed on the floor in front of me.
This was no joke. This was more than spiked blood pressure and being too hot. This was a man having a stroke. As hard as he tried to speak, the words just wouldn’t come. Even though I have no medical experience, nor have I witnessed anyone having a stroke, it was apparent what was happening.
Between the talented 911 dispatchers and EMS personnel, emergency staff were on the scene in two to three minutes. It is arrival times like this that remind me how fortunate we are to have such trained and professional public safety personnel. The Northside Cherokee Hospital personnel acted quickly. Because of the grace of God, and the professionals that cared for him, and those that prayed for him, Gary is expected to make a full recovery.
In the Book of James 4:14 it reads, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” We are a nation of worriers. I know I’m guilty. My Granny Collett worried so much, she would wring her hands together over every little thing. Maybe that’s where I got my worry gene from. However, if we believe the Good Book like we should, maybe we would worry a little less about tomorrow and live the best we can today.
It can all end in an instance. There are people who debate and worry about the end of the world and how it will all come about. I always figured if you have Jesus in your heart, the actual events that will take place on that day are not something I need to worry about. But, if I pass before that day comes, I suppose the world will end for me on that day.
One minute, Gary and I were talking. The next he was on the ground having a stroke. It certainly could have turned out differently. Thankfully, there was a happy ending.
Many people prayed for Gary and the Lord heard their prayers. Now it’s time we hit our knees again to give thanks for the grace he showed to our friend.
The outcome of this incident made it pretty clear to me that Gary has more work to do before he leaves this world. The devil and all his angels can’t stop it. Where and when that work takes place, I can’t say. Nevertheless, his testimony will continue to run its course until God says it’s enough.
Too many times my columns are about friends who suffer similar instances with different outcomes. It feels good to be able to tell a story with a happy ending. Kim still has her husband. Olivia still has her Daddy.
Maybe the next time we think our life is mundane, it is just God’s way of giving us peace. Enjoy those “mundane” times. They can end with our next heartbeat.