Guest Post by Bob Switzer
When Diane was young, she was told her knees would deteriorate and give her problems later in life. And so, a couple of years ago when her knee stiffened and then became painful, she knew she would have to face this challenge and do something about it. It was bone on bone rubbing, and very painful. Then fear arrived.
Diane recalled, “For two years I put it off. I felt I could fix it. During this time, I could feel the fears emerging inside me. I was thinking, what if things went wrong? What would happen if the surgery failed and I couldn’t walk afterward? How could a failed operation be corrected?”
Diane was gripped in this fearful consciousness and couldn’t get above these emotions. “The negative was stronger than the positive at this time, yet I knew deep down that it would be very negative for me if I let this fear grip me for a long time.
“I finally went to see my doctor and then a specialist who told me I needed knee replacement surgery. It turned out I knew the specialist surgeon. We had connected many years before, so he was not a complete stranger to me. This was a comfort to me and calmed my fears down somewhat. I understood I had to have the surgery in spite of my doubts and worries. I knew then I could do this.”
Listening: a Key to Acceptance
Diane continued, “In the process of acceptance of the reality of surgery, I had to learn to listen only to the positive, and I had to learn to be quiet. I sang HU a lot, my way of connecting with God through this ancient mantra. I also realized how powerful quietness is. When I had questions, I’d sing HU to tune inward or simply read a book title and then sit quietly, and I could feel my fear subside in the silence with no outside world buzz. The HU helped me open inner doors. This became my journey.
“A turning point for me in accepting the operation and moving beyond my fears was a dream I experienced. In the dream, my spiritual guide told me I was going to be OK. He said, ‘Enjoy the journey.’ I was sensing quietness and love at the same time, and it was a beautiful feeling.
“After my acceptance and surrender, everything I needed was coming to me in a natural way. I was open to messages. As a result, the rest was like a journey that was all arranged for me. One day I received an inspiration in my daily contemplation that I needed to work on my whole body before the operation; I needed to get much stronger and get in shape. When I came to that conclusion, I was serendipitously connected with a personal trainer through a friend. I knew this was because I had surrendered to Spirit. The trainer had extensive experience working with people who were recovering from knee and hip replacement operations.
“And so, I was able to exercise my core and knee before the operation, for knee surgery was major—it was a new body part like getting a new heart. So, part of accepting the surgery was accepting my new body part. I knew I’d have to like my new knee.
“I remember going into surgery singing HU. I had no memories after that and woke up with my new knee. I looked down at the bandage and said, ‘I have a new friend. I was accepting it.
“At times I cried after the operation for no reason. On one occasion, I asked, ‘What have I done?’ As I sobbed, a nurse heard me and spoke some words of understanding, validating my emotions over letting it all go. That helped me move on and I never cried again. I transitioned to accepting my new knee like a friend. I was walking again without pain.”
Diane observed, “It’s like getting a new heart. Initially, you don’t view it as yours. There is an acceptance needed.”
Writing it All Down
Diane’s journaling played a major role in her speedy recovery.
“Writing in my journal, I could feel the love of the gift of a new knee. I discovered through my writing that I had to learn how to receive, how to accept something that isn’t mine. I questioned myself: ‘Why did I get it? Why am I supposed to have it?’ And the answer came: ‘It’s what I need now.’
“I realized that I tend to fight the idea of being deserving—accepting. I’m a caregiver—I would help others. This time the role was reversed. I had to be accepting, not giving. I had to learn how to receive love, and in the process, how to love myself. I realized that I needed this in order to give love.”
Before the operation, one of my fears was stairs. I expressed this to the doctor, and he assured me he would ensure post operative training for stairs. But I still went ahead and arranged all of my furniture on the main level of my home so I could have one-floor living and not have to use the stairs.
“When I got home after the operation, I looked at the stairs and went straight up! I actually was doing stairs better than walking. It was a mind thing. I had to move past the mind.
“Today I’m more aware of what I eat. I’m aware of my weight and I’m more in tune with the vegan way of eating. I’m trying not to abuse my knee. It’s making me more conscious of taking care of myself so I can take care of my knee.”
Key Lessons on the Way
Diane learned many valuable lessons on her journey. “I learned how fear can creep into your life, like the fear of having to depend on others, but knowledge helped me overcome it. I’m more trusting now; the process taught me to trust and become quiet. Life is very, very peaceful for me.
“My nature is to find humor in things, but I lost it for a while when I was in fear. Having a strong spiritual focus in my life made things a little easier. It gave me a live-in-the-moment attitude, to just let it be.
“I’ve learned more about detachment—not to be so attached because these things can be taken away. I lost my knee but got a new one. I say, accept what you get given back to you. It may not be the same thing, but be thankful.
“I’m grateful for these medical gifts we have today. I now look at people and my surroundings the same way, with gratefulness. My knee got me through another go around—I couldn’t walk—I was given another one so I can move on with my lesson plan, my life.”
Diane learned to see the positive side of change.
“These things are written in your destiny,” she counsels. “There is a reason. So, accept. Live through it, then you are on the other side of it—and changed in the process. I find it’s now easier to accept the bumps in the road and keep going. I say thank you for the experience. Learn to love. Roll with the punch— you can get through anything. Don’t abuse what you are given.
Diane’s final word: “Love what you are given. Love the gifts in life. I’ll have two precious gifts, as I’m having my other knee done as well. Learn to accept and love whatever you are given. Everything is positive in life. My knee has healed so fast, it’s like I never had a problem!”
As a long-time spiritual student of ECKANKAR, Bob Switzer believes there is a higher spiritual purpose for everything that happens in life including accidents, illness, and loss—there is something to be learned, something to be gained as Soul, our true identity. He has authored three books in his “Soul Perspective” series, available on Amazon sites worldwide.
In Every Illness Has a Spiritual Solution, From the Head to the Heart, and The Messenger of Machu Picchu, he presents, through numerous curated stories from others, a spiritual force one can access that contains the solution for every life challenge. As a Canadian, the author enjoys retired life in both Canada and Mexico playing Pickleball and cycling.
Al Coffman
Lovely. A lot to gain from spending time with this story.
Sammie Thompson
Great sharing of a true story, Bob! My adult granddaughter just had a knee replacement a few days ago. I went to visit and play harp for her the next day. She said she had basically no pain post-surgery, whereas before she was on pain pills every day. She is strong in her faith and trusts in the Divine. She also has her own business and is fiercely independent. Not one to be idle, throughout my time there as her leg was elevated, she was busily double crocheting the start of a warm comforter blanket – this time it is for herself and her new knee, plus the second one when she is sufficiently healed from the first. I can see how my granddaughter’s own trust, plus her own self-reliability has played an important role here.
What I keep to myself is the knowledge and appreciation of how the Holy Spirit looks after our families in times of need, all because of unconditional love from the
Source. May the Blessings BE!
Michael Avery
Thanks for sharing Diane’s adventure, Bob. She came away with a new knee and also a new, positive attitude. It’s easy to tell ourselves we’ll just stay positive, but once we hit a speedbump and get tossed around it becomes more difficult. In these challenging times, the message of this story is so very valuable upon which to contemplate. Singing HU certainly helps, as does asking for guidance from the Inner Teacher.