“The Boot”

I’m one day into my 30 days of “the boot” and I don’t mean that thing they put on cars when you have a backlog of unpaid parking tickets. I mean this thing on my foot that has it immobilized. I’ve had a relatively minor inflammation on my left heel since mid-April. When I finally went to the Doctor we did all the usual things, powerful-anti inflammatory drugs, physical therapy. The problem persisted. So yesterday on my return visit to the doctor I got “the boot.” Suddenly I have a new appreciation for what others have experienced who have had broken limbs or foot surgery.
I’ve been very lucky in the health department so far. My parents gave me good genes and so far I haven’t messed them up too much. I haven’t had to deal with some of the chronic conditions that others live with or contend with the frustrations of the health care system except in very minor ways. And this problem, as problems go, is pretty minor, just frustrating and will mean that certain things that were going to happen this summer, won’t.
What I have realized all ready is that this boot is a spiritual discipline of sorts. I can be pretty impulsive. I think nothing of running up and down our many stairs in the five levels of our split level house. I rarely stop to think about what I need to take with me. This boot is already causing me to think, what do I need to do while I’m here, or take with me because I don’t want to have to clomp up or down these steps again. In other words I have to be mindful, to stop and think before I move. This is a good thing and I could certainly apply it go other aspects of my life. It is forcing me to slow down and even admit that I can’t do certain things. In our fast paced world achievement oriented world this is definitely counter cultural.
So what is your summer spiritual discipline?

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