spiphywarfare

Category: Other

  • Here Comes the Pain Again

    Here Comes the Pain Again

    I’m curious how many readers heard Annie Lennox sing that blogpost title in their head. She sang it in mine when I was trying to figure out what to title these thoughts that came into my head on my first night post-surgery.

    Everybody’s Least Favorite Friend

    Everyone has that friend that walk into the room or pops up on the phone screen and makes them pause and ask, “What is it this time?” The friend who tells you what you don’t want to hear and is often right but sometimes very wrong. Pain, is that friend.

    What’s interesting is we usually think of pain in a physical sense, much like the pain keeping me awake. We also think of it in an emotional sense. Less often pain is thought of spiritually. As Christians, we can feel a spiritual pain when we are not feeling close to God. Rarely do many people think of pain as organizational. Organizational pain manifests itself in poor performance, turnover, inability to find creative solutions to persistent problems, etc.

    Not Always What You Think it is

    Referred Physical Pain

    Many years ago, I learned a rough lesson about nerve pain. I had a wisdom tooth on the left side of my face that was, unbeknownst to me, causing me to sleep with my jaw out of alignment. It initially manifested as a slight discomfort on the right side of jaw. I’d rub it a bit throughout the day and go on. Eventually, that constant pressure on that nerve overloaded it and the pain transferred to the Trigeminal Nerve. Trigeminal Neuralgia is known as the “Suicide Disease.” I can understand.

    After several nights of sleeplessness and several days of waiting to get in to see my doc, I finally got some needed relief. When the doctor heard about how, a possibly potent mix of beer and sleeping medication, he scolded me. I told him I knew it was dangerous but at that point death would have been better than the pain I was experiencing.

    Transference of Emotional Pain

    Transference is something that isn’t always negative but can be. When it is, painful experiences from our past can be triggered by a familiar situation, mannerisms of a person, or even by a person’s looks. We can find ourselves led astray about the root cause of our current emotional pain because we think the solution lies in figuring out how to address our current situation which actually doesn’t need fixing. It’s not always bad, but that’s the aspect considered here for this blogpost.

    Spiritual Pain Not Always Obvious

    In our walk with God, we (or at least I) can find ourselves feeling distant from Him. It might be that our prayers feel powerless. It might be that we find it difficult to take time to read The Word. It may just be that we don’t really feel connected in any way.

    I’ve had that happen and thought, “I’m just going to read my Bible even harder!” I do. Still, God seems distant and I feel maybe I’ve been rejected. What is usually revealed to me, when I quit trying to solve it myself, is I’ve let some sin sneak in, bitterness toward another, jealousy, pride, etc. and God’s giving me some discipline. But I attributed it to something else because surely I can’t be doing anything wrong!

    Organizational Pain

    Can an organization really feel pain? Well, not always as a personal experience. Individuals throughout the organization can experience emotional distress due to organizational pain. It might be leaders unable to improve performance. It might be employees who are constantly fighting unnecessary internal or externals battles.

    I included this section because one of the phrases I heard over and over again while pursuing my Public Administration degree was this, “Government does an excellent job at coming up with great solutions to the wrong problem.” I’ve worked in government for 35 years now in multiple agencies in many different roles and can attest to the truth of this statement.

    So what is organizational pain? It is an emotional pain that drives employees crazy when broken or nonexistent work processes make their jobs difficult and frustrating. Organizational pain causes:
    Anxiety in the workplace (dread of work activity);
    Negative impact on the company’s daily operations and its capital projects (cost, schedule, quality, safety, risk, and morale);
    Addition of extra time to work on tasks because they know it “always takes longer to get done”

    Understanding and Removing Organizational Pain

    Stopping the Pain

    Fortunately, I know the source of the physical pain keeping me up and inspiring me to write this. Unfortunately, too often in other areas of our lives we end up treating the symptoms and not the cause. As a result, we end up continuing to battle pain long-term when we don’t need to.

    If you’re dealing with one of these types of pain, pause, assess your situation honestly and with outside input. Work to find the cause and fix that.

  • Living With Back Pain

    So… after being alive for over half a century, and being grateful that I didn’t have back issues like people around, and younger than, me. My turn has arrived. It is amazing how quickly one can still learn new things, even at my age.

    For instance, in the span of just two days I have learned, and will never forget, not to put anything I ever want to hold in my stubby little fingers again on the floor. If I do, it will lay there, out of reach taunting me. Much like the cord for charging my phone did for hours this morning until I figured out an alternate way to pick it up.

    Also, don’t sit down, or stand up, unless you will be in that position for a while. It just isn’t worth it. I say this as I sit outside (the weather is beautiful) eyeing my empty tea glass and wondering when getting up to get some more tea will be worth it.

    I have also learned that I always remove my eyeglasses with my left hand. Well, more honestly, I used to always remove my glasses with my left hand. Apparently, my back has suddenly decided I am not allowed to let my left hand approach my face anymore.

    Follow this post for more great learning experiences so you can learn from my mistakes instead doing something stupid like thinking you can put some socks on like you used to.

    Update 09.20.21

    Back pain can make you feel child-like. How? When I got out of bed this morning, very slowly, I couldn’t even recall the last time in my life I was happy to put socks on without any help. Now? I can. It was today. How strange to feel satisfaction over such a small feat.

    Update 10.05.21

    In the last two weeks I’ve learned I have a torn meniscus and some alignment issues. It’s amazing to me how well our bodies are actually designed to work. A small thing gets slightly out of whack and it leads to so many other, unrelated (to the untrained eye) issues. I’ve been to a chiropractor and have already noticed some improvement. So much better to be able to move slowly, and have little pain, than experience it all day long no matter what. I’m sure I look funny to anyone who happens to be watching though.

    Update 10.18.21

    Thank The Good Lord! Most of my back pain has subsided. I still have moments where I wince and am reminded sharply, “Don’t do that!” But, mostly, as long as I move deliberately I can get by without many issues.

    The past two months has given me new sympathy for those with chronic back pain issues. It is so debilitating to your routine and I never fully appreciated it. I’ve known a few folks over the years with long-term back issues and have a new respect for them pushing through their pain as they did.

  • Sometimes, Life Really Stinks

    I woke up this morning and immediately these thoughts came to me with the incredible urge make a post. Today. This morning. So here it is.

    There are times in life when it really stinks, sucks even. Time when we’re in constant, unbearable pain. Sometimes it is physical pain, sometimes it is emotional pain. People all over the planet are facing the loss of loved ones, in fear of losing their own lives, being abused, and generally having terrible things go on in their lives. Sometimes the trial we face is the result of a sudden tragic event out of the blue while others are long-term difficulties that drag on for years.

    We all know this, yet when were in the midst of our own storm, it doesn’t offer any comfort.

    If you are in one of those seasons right now, I hope with all my heart that you are a believer. If you are not, I hope that you are open to believing. You see, the knowledge of where and what our lives are in light of eternity brings comfort. It doesn’t lessen our suffering. In fact, when you read the Bible it indicates that faithful Christians will suffer more because of their faith.

    But… this life is fleeting, James 4:14 puts it best, “…You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” Our trials and tribulations, if we are in Christ, cannot go on forever. An entire life of suffering, on Earth, though tragic, eventually ends. Eternity does not.

    IF you are a brother or sister in Christ I pray our eternal hope and eternal home can bring you comfort in trying times. If you are not, I pray that you would consider Christ, His free gift of life and His love for you. He laid His life down to pay for our sins, and lifted it back to give those who believe in, and confess Him, life eternal. 

  • Crazy Legislation/Legislators

    I guess this isn’t too far outside my stated reason for having this site. To encourage spiritual and physical health in others. I can see how both of these issues can impact your physical well-being. One other note, I know the image is not flattering, it may even be harsh, but given that Miriam-Webster defines dunce as someone who is slow at learning, I stand by it.

    So when I first heard about Representative Thresa Meza‘s HB 196 regarding changes to defenses against the use of deadly force, I was miffed. Please! Do not let this happen to my beloved Texas. The bill isn’t as bad as I’ve seen it presented but it needs to be opposed nonetheless. While it doesn’t impose a strict duty to retreat on you in your home, it changes it to require it to be your own habitation. Current law would allow an adult child visiting their parents home to defend that home with the same protections under the law. This bill would remove that. I suppose you would lose the protection for defending your small business location as well. Interestingly, it also amends the crimes this applies to when it says a person is justified in using deadly force against another…

    to prevent the other’s imminent commission of aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault,or aggravated sexual assault [,robbery,or aggravated robbery].

    Just to be clear, it appears that you would not be justified in using deadly force, even in your own habitation, to protect yourself from robbery, or aggravated robbery. In case you wonder what aggravated robbery is, and therefore what this bill would remove your protections from defending yourself against; here’s the definition of Aggravated Robbery from the Texas Penal Code:

    (a) A person commits an offense if he commits robbery as defined in Section 29.02, and he:
       (1) causes serious bodily injury to another;
       (2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon; or
       (3) causes bodily injury to another person or threatens or places another person in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, if the other person is:
          (A) 65 years of age or older; or
          (B) a disabled person.
    (b) An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.
    (c) In this section, “disabled person” means an individual with a mental, physical, or developmental disability who is substantially unable to protect himself from harm.

    I do not think this bill will see the light of day. I do think an even more nonsensical piece of municipal legislation, thankfully out of Seattle, may have a chance of becoming law. If I was a Seattle resident, I would sell everything and take my family elsewhere before the end of the year. This is asking for trouble and given the way it is being handled behind closed doors and outside of the normal process, I figure the City Council there knows it.

    Basically, addiction, mental health issues, and poverty would be a defense to prosecution for virtually every misdemeanor you can commit is your intent was to meet and immediate and basic need. According to this MSN.com story, “For example, if a defendant argued they stole merchandise to sell for cash in order to purchase food, clothes or was trying to scrape together enough money for rent. The accused could not be convicted.”

    God, please help this country.

  • Getting Away for a Bit

    Maintaining our health involves more than exercising or making the right food choices. While both of those contribute to our physical and mental well-being, they’re not enough.

    Sometimes we need a break. I personally think that’s more important currently than ever before. We took a little break, but not many photos. Even so, I thought I’d share a few of them. Lake Whitney State Park…

    Lake Whitney State Park

  • Jogging Grandmas and COVID-19

    Ali and I recently decided that it was selfish to deny the world the pleasure(?) of the chance to listen to our patio talk at the end of the day. We spend many evenings just talking on the patio. Yes, today we talked about these topics.

    https://anchor.fm/spiphy-warfare/episodes/ep-eebdso

  • We have a podcast

    So many of our days wind down with a discussion on the patio. The topics vary based on what is going on in our lives but frequently involve religion, politics, or current events.

    We put our first episode out on Spotify and briefly introduced ourselves and spent a few minutes talking about the education system. Please listen and give us feedback!

  • Spillway at Lake Wichita

    In general, being outdoors and being creative are both activities that are good for our health. So it’s great when you get a chance to combine them.

    A few weeks ago I spent a  couple of hours at a local lake, Lake Wichita. It’s a lake that has been down on it’s luck for a while, but I remember it as a lake with boats, wildlife and decent fishing from when I was young. Sadly, it has been neglected over the years.

    Fortunately, Lake Wichita has friends. Support Lake Wichita is a group of citizens who realize the value a lake brings to a community and are working hard to have it restored. I can’t wait to see the end results. In the meantime, enjoy s brief video of the water flowing over the spillway after a recent rain.

  • Six Minute Comedy Show

    If you’ve never seen them, sequoias and redwoods are truly majestic trees. Growing throughout Middle-Southern California, these ancient giants tower above the ground in a way that has to be seen to be believed.

    We spent a few days recently camping in the Grant’s Grove Village. We stayed in a “rustic cabin” which was basically a square room with three beds, a couple of lights, and a heater. No plumbing at all which made the late night trips to the restroom in cold mountain air, uh, invigorating.

    It also required that all showers take place in a common shower house that only cabin renters can open. Inside were several token operated shower stalls. I’d never used such a device and was prepared to take a nice, warm, relaxing shower, even if it was only for six minutes, that was the time you get for each token.

    I opened the door and the first thing I noticed was a slot for depositing your token. It looked very similar to a car wash, the type with the high-pressure wands. I thought, “I’ll put my token in, hang up my clothes and step into the warm water.” So… I dropped it in and…

    CLINK.

    That’s when everything went downhill. No warning whatsoever that turning loose of that little golden disc would result in all of Hades being released into that one little stall. Instead of waiting for me to press an “on” button, the shower immediately went into spray water everywhere mode.

    I had expected that since the stall had two separate sides that the one without the shower head would stay semi-dry. I mean, there were hooks for clothes and a little bench. It may have worked out that way if the shower didn’t spray water everywhere like a tightly-packed sphere of angry dolphins with hyperactive blowholes. I think you could’ve showered in the next building off of my one token.

    I tried quickly to salvage what little dry areas my clothing still had and shoved them into the only dry spot. It was about the size of a deck of cards. Clothing somewhat safe, I stepped into the shower.

    Sweet Mary! I thought immediately of a car wash again. Did people normally step in here with road tar stuck on their legs? I quickly tried to recall if I had seen multiple fire hoses hooked to the backside of the building.

    Of course fire hoses probably don’t feel like a million little Thor’s hitting you with spikes hammers every second. The sting from each little stream left me checking myself for injury. Why? Why would you need water to spray out with that much force in a national park?!?

    I quickly washed and rinsed. Fastest shower ever. Anything to get out of this wet torture chamber.

    Alas, to my dismay I discovered that not only could I not turn it on, I couldn’t turn it off. The spray bouncing off me was making everything in sight wet. The extra-high ceiling? Soaked. Only the little playing card area was remotely dry and if I moved, the spray hit it.

    With no way of escaping, I resolved to wait it out. It wasn’t too bad after I found a place to stand where the water only splashed off me and onto a wall. It felt like having a bowl of fire ants tapes upside down to my back. The pain started to subside and eventually went away. It was replaced by a numbness that creeped into my mind as I stood wondering who in the name of all that’s good thought it would be smart to put such a device in this tranquil wilderness.

    Finally, the longest six minutes of my life was up. The only other experience I could compare it too was when the law enforcement agency I worked for got Tasers and I volunteered to be shot with one.

    I dried off as best I could with my wet towel and wondered whether the moisture on my face was water or tears. I put on my sort of dry clothes and ventured back to the cabin in the 45° night air, broken and ashamed.