Flying Through the Air
Flying through the air without wings can be dangerous. It's a bird, it's a plane...no, it's Matt Pride ready to injure a wrist for the 6th time.
Matt is passionate about snowboarding...and loves to try outrageous things with a snowboard attached to his body while launching off a pile of snow bigger than my house. I wasn't surprised to hear he hurt his wrist (again) last winter while working in CO. It happened the time before that too. Last year he worked at Beaver Creek, a couple of winters before in Breckenridge.
The winter he spent in Breck he broke the wrist that isn't injured now pretty badly. He now will set off metal detectors every time he goes through airport security. It killed his season and his spirits too.
This past winter in Beaver Creek he hurt it again, but initial X-Rays didn't reveal a break. But when it was still bothering him this summer we trotted off to the orthopod and several expensive tests and a $500 deductible later learned that there are torn ligaments which will require surgery. But this time, even though it has killed snowboarding for this winter, it hasn't killed his spirit. I am very happy to report that he is handling this event with grace and maturity.
Yesterday there was some three way communication between Matt, the orthopod and myself and Matt was immediately available and engaged in the discussion (responded to emails within moments...) and the surgery is scheduled for December 22. What a Christmas gift.
But actually it is. He will be home for Christmas, plans to recuperate here and do Rosetta Stone Spanish, which has been sitting here since last Christmas waiting for my attention. It is still in the cellophane...He has come up with a very creative solution to take care of his wrist and still snowboard...surgery first, recuperate and then work in NYC as a film extra until our summer, but South America's winter begins. He is hoping to work there for the season before returning and finding a more permanent job.
He is loving his internship, graduation is close enough to be within reach, and for the moment, life is good. May it stay so.
Matt is passionate about snowboarding...and loves to try outrageous things with a snowboard attached to his body while launching off a pile of snow bigger than my house. I wasn't surprised to hear he hurt his wrist (again) last winter while working in CO. It happened the time before that too. Last year he worked at Beaver Creek, a couple of winters before in Breckenridge.The winter he spent in Breck he broke the wrist that isn't injured now pretty badly. He now will set off metal detectors every time he goes through airport security. It killed his season and his spirits too.
This past winter in Beaver Creek he hurt it again, but initial X-Rays didn't reveal a break. But when it was still bothering him this summer we trotted off to the orthopod and several expensive tests and a $500 deductible later learned that there are torn ligaments which will require surgery. But this time, even though it has killed snowboarding for this winter, it hasn't killed his spirit. I am very happy to report that he is handling this event with grace and maturity.
Yesterday there was some three way communication between Matt, the orthopod and myself and Matt was immediately available and engaged in the discussion (responded to emails within moments...) and the surgery is scheduled for December 22. What a Christmas gift.
But actually it is. He will be home for Christmas, plans to recuperate here and do Rosetta Stone Spanish, which has been sitting here since last Christmas waiting for my attention. It is still in the cellophane...He has come up with a very creative solution to take care of his wrist and still snowboard...surgery first, recuperate and then work in NYC as a film extra until our summer, but South America's winter begins. He is hoping to work there for the season before returning and finding a more permanent job.
He is loving his internship, graduation is close enough to be within reach, and for the moment, life is good. May it stay so.
Labels: extreme sports, Snowboarding, wrist injuries
posted by www.kathypride.com at
7:56 AM
7 Comments:
You know, my week last week had me going to visit an old friend and witnessing to him...and I found it really hard--mostly because he rarely lets me get a word in edgewise, but also because I felt afraid. I don't know why. I really don't care what he thinks about me. I guess I'm a little of afraid of being a "negative" asset to God.
I was looking at the picture of your son, remembering what it was like to be 20-something (or less!) and have no fear. And I SO want to live like that in the things God clearly asks me to do. "Go tell Roy I love him." My heart so wants to just rush in and tell Roy just what God thinks of him and how much He has planned for him. But part of me just shies away.
Do you think your son would pass on some of his fearlessness to me??
We coould all use a little bit of that fearless joie de vivre, that reckless abandon...but it does get us into trouble sometimes.
He is 24 and I hope the exuberance and passion never leave him. I think a dose of common sense is also prudent, as long as it doesn't get replaced by complacency or fear as we grow older.
I have to say I have never been a particular fan of the word "witnessing." I like what St. Francis said, something to the effect of share the gospel always, use words if necessary. Espcially if you can't get a word in edgewise with Ray is there a way you can just extend Christ's love to him? How old of a friend? Old agewise or in length of time you have known him?
I just try to go about my business living as much of a Samaritan lifestyle as possible. And I think as long as we take a step in sharing our story, that is "witnessing" at its best.
I am going to stand inline for some of the fearlessness too. I am not shy about sharing my faith; I hope it comes across in a loving and accepting way. I haven't had problems with boldness...I guess maybe that's where Matt gets it from!
I'm pretty good at encouraging with people that I know have a relationship with God. But I have known Roy for 20 years and have never expressed to him God's love for him and I'm pretty sure nobody else has done a very good job of it either.
I too believe in witnessing with our lives and actions (more than anything else...and I love that concept, "use words if necessary") I just think it's time it's necessary. He is 50 and his comment was, "I'm the only one in my family that has survived two car wrecks, God must be keeping me around for some reason." And then he went on to say, "I must have done something really bad in a past life because God isn't done punishing me yet."
I have overcome more than I would like to share with him. And I don't think it is prudent to get too vulnerable in that way. His comment when I asked if I could come visit him in the hospital was, "Are you sure Gary would be okay with that?" Which to me (and Gary) is laughable, but to Roy is real.
But I felt the real prompting of God to go TELL HIM... and boy, I would hate to have NOT done it and lost a soul because of it. The clergy came by the next day...but I haven't heard what came of that. I may have to go visit him one more time before he gets outta there.
You have both hit upon the aspect of Christianity that bothers me most - witnessing. The idea that Roy's soul will be "lost" if someone doesn't witness to him rankles me. I don't mean to offend. I really do love what you said about St. Francis. Although I am not a Catholic, he is the saint I love most. (one of my favorite authors, Nikkos Kazansakis, wrote his biography, simply called, "St. Francis." I think you would love it.)
As to your wonderful Matt, Kathy, he embodies a quality I most admire - authenticity. He is true to himself. He is pursuing what he loves, even though it carries some substantial risk. As a mother, I know how difficult it is to watch while your child is hurtling off cliffs (into water or snow), but seeing him just as a person -- as I do -- he is amazing. I can tell he has strongly held convictions about how he wants to live his life. He may not get the practicalities of how to live it just yet (finances, etc.) but he has goals for himself.
I think Ben is beginning to realize this. He is about to submit his research proprosal for his Costa Rica trip after Christmas. His topic is handedness in Cappuchin monkeys. The class is 21 solid days of in the rainforest research. I think it will be what gets him into grad school. He wants to take the photography class the school offers also, and so is going to try to come back to Boston, work until June to save up the money, and then go back to Costa Rica.
So although he doesn't much like the cold of Boston or the work he is doing to earn money, he finally sees a job as a means to an end and is WILLING to delay his gratification (the photography class) to do what's necessary (work).
I think Matt is on the same path. And for both our boys, this is a real sign of maturity, don't you think?
Love,
Katy
I love great conversation,discussion, debate, or whatever other label we want to give it, and I sense another one happening here. This time about "witnessing." I have to say I cringe every time I hear the word "lost" also. I am sure my husband, who does not yet have an intimacy with Jesus referred to as lost feels more pushed away than invited in. It is a dilemma, because Biblically there is clarity that Jesus is the only way to God. And our pastor gave a great message on that one time, about the gospel message being offensive. The notion of Christianity's exclusivity in that sense is offensive to many (Including me for a long time, and I wrestle with it often...) I reconcile it with God's expectation that I will represent Him as best I can, admit that I don't have the answers (faith wouldn't be faith if we had all the answers)that I have far more questions than I do answers, and that by no means do I have it all together. I am going to go dig up the day from my Bible Study that I wrote on "Witness" and post it on the blog.
Let't continue this conversation. Remeber, I don't get offended (well, rarely, but not by these conversations anyway!)
PS Yes, I absolutely see Matt as authentic...and it makes my heart sing. He is a great guy, and I do believe it is a sign of maturity. As a matter of fact I was telling someone this story the other day and my wry comment was, "the maturity gene must have kicked in...I think that happens about 24...it happened with his brother, too!"
Wow, good stuff.
I remember when my husband and I graduated from Bible college; we were all of 23 years old. We were theologically "smart," but faithfully "dumb." We "witnessed" to Mark's Sicilian family that Christmas. Do you realize it took us the next 30 years to repair the damage we did. The problem: We felt we only had ONE chance to share the "gospel" before we left for Italy. There's only one line I remember: "Mary is a sinner!" That did it; we were all doomed after that one. And Mark's family hasn't forgotten it either.
Wow, talk about head versus heart knowledge.
Hey Matt, enjoy that "air" off the board. My son, Jon, has had three concussions from snowboarding, and I've witnessed all of them. Don't ever lose your passion; keep that fire burning. Even though we as moms look through squinted eyes!
HUGS!
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