Hello from a Fallen Preacher,
Just wanted to let you know about a fall I took yesterday morning in my office. I was putting something on top of my book case ("Joy Ball" for those familiar with the sermon series on "Rediscovering Joy" that I just finished Sunday). As I have done many times I used a small foot stool to step up onto the top of the counter to reach the top of the bookcase. "Joy Ball" in place I turned to step down. The last thing I remember I started to step down...next thing I knew I was sitting in a chair answering a phone call from my friend Rick Fancher. I talked a few minutes and told him, "I think I just knocked myself out." I have no idea how long I was out. But I had a very sore spot on my head, a very sore left wrist, and a very sore left shoulder. I don't know what I hit or how I ended up sitting in the chair.
After being checked out by one of our ladies who is a retired nurse, I was STRONGLY encouraged to go get checked out. At first I insisted, "I'm okay." Then, my head began to hurt more so I went to the ER, they did Xrays on left wrist and right shoulder and a CT scan on my head (it was empty). No fractures, No concussion. The doctor gave me some really good pain meds and sent me home for at least a couple of days of rest.
My joke that is now probably well worn-out was, "I'm okay, I just can't figure out why Tiger's wife hit ME with a golf club."
I am okay. Very sore wrist, shoulder and a pretty sore rear-end (which I didn't notice until last night), and head. Continuing to have a pretty nagging head ache.
I missed a pretty significant Elders/Deacon/Ministers meeting last night at which I was to lay out our vision for 2010, so I'm sure by the time this story was told and is retold, there will likely be numerous embellishments and who knows how the story will eventually sound. Thus, the reason for this email...to "head-off" any rumors of preachers on drugs, taking a drunken tumble in his office, or trying to climb a rock wall without rope...or a rock wall. Too bad there was no video, I suspect would be quite popular on YouTube (though I would be curious as to what exactly happened).
At the very least I get one more illustration out of "Joy Ball" and out quickly joy can disappear and turn into something less than joyful, then, how quickly once you learn everything is okay, how quickly the joy returns.
If you knew about this, thanks for your prayers. If you are just now finding out about it, go a"head" and have a good laugh and make your jokes. If it hurts my feelings I'll take another pain pill and won't care what you say.