1. FOURTH AND INCHES
Chaplain L. Mark Hensley, D. Min.
Based on observations, seemingly every generation knows better than the one before, if
only the others would listen. Sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, though sometimes
miles away believe they know what mother should do, however, they are resigned she is
going to do it her way. Fathers and mothers famous last words to their children no matter
the age is signaled by the nod of a head and straight face summed up in four words, I told
you so. For some of our families, there is a gap between what should have happened to
what will happen the next day. It is the age-old argument of who knows best. The
common sense of Mark Twain manages to describe this range of emotions “When I was a
boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man
around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had
learned in seven years.”
Twain’s reasoning gets to the point here. In a few short years from the family’s
perspective the benefit of hindsight will answer more questions than raising new ones.
Placing matters into perspective, we review the diagnosis and prognosis of our patients
and families. We hear terms and acronyms like Failure to Thrive, COPD, Cancer, MRSA,
co-morbidities all medical adjectives pertaining to the poor condition of the patient. What
should never get lost in the translation is the stout certainty of hope despite the finality of
the report. Each and every patient is making a transition, they are moving on. Their
change has come, it is their due season. Hope enters the room because of your skill set
and core competencies, but most of all because of your heart.
Speaking of heart it is football season. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the
critical part of the end of the game. Its do or die. All involved may wonder, what play
will be called? According to the referee its 4th
and inches. The referee has the clout of
physicians and nurses who understand the body’s limitations. Conversely, if the team
doesn’t move the ball forward, then Murphy’s law gets the ball. Every arm-chair
quarterback will call a quarterback sneak. However, if a pitch is called to run around the
end then someone looks like a genius if the play opens up to a touchdown. If the team
has a Peyton Manning at the helm be ready for the audible. To pursue the analogy, all of
the team’s preparation now rests on the execution of this last play. It is the defining
moment the signature moment. The playbook has been emptied the adrenaline has come
in heavy doses and we find our selves in the last seconds of over time. No more time
outs, the clock will run out when the ball is snapped whatever happens it will go down in
history and everyone will have to live with the results. In a few moments we will move
forward and review the state of the patient who has the ball. For the team it is fourth and
inches. The family needs a pulling guard, a center who is the anchor to the line a savvy
quarterback with a little luck of the Irish. The audible to the play is Hail Mary. When
you and I enter the room, we are spiritually giving the ball carrier the opportunity to
make fourth and inches. All the family wants is for us to better enable mother to fall
forward with dignity in tact. If you and I can manage to help push the line for mother to
fall forward, tomorrow will take care of itself.
Grace