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I have always
found it hard to prune a tree and relatively easy to operate
on someone. That may seem coldhearted, but when I am
operating on someone I am removing a disease or correcting
some defect in the person's body. I can remove dead
limbs from trees, but any other pruning is upsetting because I
don't want to saw through something that is alive and appears
healthy.
One day I was
standing in our yard next to our mimosa tree with Jeff, who is
a master gardener. "Dad, you need to prune
this," Jeff said, pointing to the tree.
The branch he
was pointing to was very large and covered with many beautiful
blossoms. I told him I didn't mind that it grew at an
odd angle. I didn't care about the shape or symmetry of
the tree. The branch was alive and bearing blossoms and
I didn't want to lose it.
Jeff listened
to my impassioned plea and then said, "Dad, if you don't
prune the tree, it will die."
Now he was
speaking my language. If we were dealing with a threat
to the life of my patient, then I could understand my
consultant's advice and the need to operate. I got out
my saw and removed the limb. |
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Prescriptions for Living.
Bernie S.
Siegel
A nice look at life from a formerly anal-retentive
doctor who shaved his head, changed his name from "Dr. Siegel" to Bernie,
and actually started caring for his patients. He learned more from the change
than they did. |
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| What
did Jeff and the mimosa tree teach me about life? There
are times when you must be willing to give up a part of
yourself to save your life. In some cases, it means
literally giving up a part of your body or the loss of the use
of limbs or organs.
How much you
regret giving part of yourself up depends on how you define
yourself. It is easier to lose parts of your body if you
understand your essence and realize you are more than the sum
of your parts. You have a spirit and soul that cannot be
altered by pruning. Yes, the envelope can be altered and
the container can be crushed, but the essence remains
unaltered. Your faith and love can continue to exist no
matter how badly your physical body is damaged.
This is a
difficult lesson for most of us. Take a look around and
you'll see the people who have gone on living and loving
despite disfigurement, paralysis or loss of limb. If you
see their example, learn from them and realize that you are a
spirit. Then you will understand how to give up physical
parts of yourself and still be capable of performing acts for
the greater good.
I removed a
portion of the lovely mimosa so it could go on providing us
with beauty for many years to come. I believe the tree
understood this more easily than we do. Whether you are
pruned by surgery, aging or disease, accept the fact that you
must give up portions of yourself, at times, in order to
survive and continue growing toward the light. Remember
that losing one part may lead to the enhancement of
others. Your work of art is not finished until the day
you die.
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