Scars to Stones

 Toastmasters and most welcome guests, I don't mean to brag, but I have got some stones. Truth be told we all do. Allow me to explain

I grew up in a Christian household and while I understand that the word Christian evokes different emotions in people, for our purposes this evening I would like to be heard simply as a fellow Toastmaster looking to communicate more effectively with his audience.

The story from the Bible that has had last impact on me is from the book of Joshua. Up to this point, the Israelites had spent generations as slaves in Egypt until they were lead out by Moses. Countless instances of disobedience caused them to wander in the desert for forty years and now the time had finally come for them to enter into the land that had been promised to them. However, there was one more obstacle in front of them, the Jordan River. The Jordan River is located on the border of Israel and Jordan and runs for 156 miles. Prior to crossing the river, the new leader of the Israelites, Joshua, repeatedly encourages them by saying “be strong and courageous” and prepare themselves for the amazing things that would be done among them. The moment that the first of the Israelites feet touched the river, the flow was cut off and the water stopped. After all of the people had crossed over, God instructed them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the river and put them at the place they camped that night. They are told that when future generations ask “What do the stones mean” they can tell the story of the miraculous event that had taken place there.

I started collecting stones shortly after I was born. Through an earlier ultrasound I had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition where the improper flow of spinal fluid creates pressure on the brain. This pressure is alleviated by a tube called a shunt. Unfortunately, just like other mechanical components the shunt breaks from time to time making it necessary for surgeons to go in and replace the tubing. The nature of my condition has lead to a number of surgeries, a few seizures and double platinum medallion frequent flier status that allows me unlimited access to chocolate pudding cups during my stay at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Despite the hardships one might expect when confronted with scaling this medical mountain, I have had the blessings in my life regularly revealed to me during these times. Even from my mothers first visits to the doctor as early pictures showed a strong likelihood that not walk. 

Over the course of my life I have walked at graduation, ran cross country and against the advice of those who love and care about me the most, danced at weddings. My parents were told that based on where the pressure was on my brain, I would probably be blind. Over the past three decades I have seen the tireless effort of doctors and nurses who worked to help me get better. I have seen dozens of friends take time to visit and remind me that I am loved. I have seen parents brave the lunatic filled labyrinths that are the streets of Boston. I have seen the teachers who came into school early or stayed late in order to help me get caught upon my work. I have seen humanity at its best. Fellow Toastmasters, I have also seen some horrible things. I have seen unfavorable test results come back, I have seen failed experimental surgeries, I have seen the impatience of people as I struggled with certain tasks. I have seen the tragic end to the New England Patriots 2007 perfect season. I have seen Boston Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon leave Beantown for the evil empire. I've seen fire and I've seen rain, I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I've seen speakers blatantly plagiarize song lyrics in the hopes that their audience wouldn't notice. I have heard my father say he was proud of me doing what I needed to do to get better while I was undeniably in the midst of a “valley” moment in my life. I have heard it said that our scars are a reminder of the times that life tried to break us, but failed. While they used to serve as a reminder of my disability, when I see them now, I am reminded of all of the people who gave me healing and hope. I am reminded that I possess strength and courage to overcome when life gets rough. 

Given that we are here engaging and grappling with what is widely considered the number one fear among people, I have no doubt that there is an abundance of strength and courage in this room. I have seen it and I am truly blessed by learning from each of you. Each one here has been faced with his or her own fair share of raging rapids on the waters of life and let me say I am proud of you. I am certain that there are people on the opposite shore of some of these obstacles wondering how they are going to wade through the waters. Toastmasters, I believe we have been given this gift of empathetic and empowering communication to provide our audience with healing and hope. I believe that some of our deepest scars can lead ourselves and others to some of the most beautiful stones.