My Life Flashed Before My Eyes

When I was younger, I had a large mole on my neck. I didn’t think anything of it, nor did I worry about it. Over the years several doctors advised me to have it looked at, but I ignored them until Dr. Ogilvie, a pathologist for whom I was working, suggested that I go see Dr. Bart, the dermatologist who practiced in the same building. I followed up on Dr. Ogilvie's advice and made an appointment.
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I had never met Dr. Bart, nor did I know anything about him. I went to see him simply on the advice of my employer whom I trusted immensely.
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When Dr. Bart walked into the room on the day of my appointment, I was surprised because he was a little man with a slight hunched back, somewhat bald, and what hair he did have was white. He was nice and very friendly, gentle, and probably 100 years old.
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He checked my mole carefully, then told me he wasn’t sure whether it was cancerous, but that if it were his mole, he would have it removed. 
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I was a young married man, and a college student who didn’t have much money, and I was wondering how I was going to pay for it. Dr. Bart probably saw the dilemma in my eyes and solved it by asking if I was still working for Dr. Ogilvie. I assured him I was, and then he told me that he offered a professional discount to Dr. Ogilvie's employees. I thought that was a great deal, so I accepted his invitation to remove it. He called his nurse and asked her to prepare the room so he could whack off my mole.

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A few minutes later he walked in and filled a syringe with stuff to deaden the area around my mole, then he walked towards me, armed with that syringe that had a needle I was certain was ten inches long. But that’s not what scared me. What frightened me was that he was walking towards me with seriously shaky hands. With every step he took towards me I got more nervous. Finally, he reached me, stuck the needle in my neck and injected me with its contents. 
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I lived, and I was relieved. 

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However, my frightening ordeal was just beginning. Imagine my dread as I watched those same trembling hands coming towards me armed with a scalpel. At this point I was not sure that the professional discount was worth the chance I was taking. I prayed mightily that I would survive this so-called simple, painless, and non-life-threatening procedure.
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When he finally reached his target (me) he had to pause for a moment to catch his breath. Then I watched as slowly that sharp scalpel in his shaky hand moved in ever closer. When it got to my neck, he placed it above the mole and before I could yell, “Don’t do it, I’ve changed my mind,” he slid it down and hacked off my mole.
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I heard his relieved “Whew,” and I said a prayer of thanks.
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That day I escaped with my head still on where it should be, no sliced arteries, and I got my aerobic exercise while sitting in that chair vigorously shaking.
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Leaving his office, I realized that I misjudged Dr. Bart. Even though he was older, his experience and expertise turned it into a very safe procedure from which I benefited. 
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As I look back, I really believe that Dr. Bart had a little fear and trepidation during this procedure, and I know that I certainly did. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that all of us will have challenges that are scary and hard, but when we put forth the effort to face them, we can reap the benefits. 
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Hopefully this is a lesson we can help our children learn sooner rather than later. Their scary challenges can be as simple as preparing an oral report in school, singing a solo at a family reunion, asking someone for a date, applying for a job, etc. All these and many other experiences in life can be scary, but by encouraging our kids to take a chance, we can help them grow stronger and better prepared for life.
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Happy Failing Forward,

Calvert



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