A Happy Life

One of the bright spots in my life the past several years has been getting to know a legend in my community, Dr. B. I met him when I volunteered to sack and hand out fresh produce at a local charity. He was in his 90s and came to help. I immediately recognized his name because a middle school was named after him. That was because of his service as our school board president for many years. I also knew he had practiced medicine for decades here.

I liked him right away and decided I wanted to know him better. He didn’t like to talk about himself, but I kept asking him questions while we were sacking food. We would often partner filling bags with onions, apples, oranges and the like.

I found out he was an army doctor in the Korean War. He sailed there on a troop ship. During the voyage a soldier had acute appendicitis and needed an emergency appendectomy to save his life. Doctor B. knew what he had to do. There was only one problem. The ship was in the middle of a huge storm and the operation couldn’t wait. He told me they had to strap the soldier to the operating table so he wouldn’t roll off. He would sometimes have to wait until the ship rolled the correct direction before making another incision. The operation was successful and the patient lived.

As he was telling me the story I thought of only one thing, now that’s pressure! Somebody’s life was literally depending on him and his skill under the most adverse conditions. 

As I kept working there I would hear other stories about Dr. B. Some were from other workers and some were from people coming through to pick up food. Many were about his medical practice and others were about ways he served the community. I was very happy both my daughters got to meet him when they came to help. My youngest daughter had a school assignment that called for interviewing someone. She chose Dr. B. so I set up the interview.

We went to his home and they talked for about an hour. It was clear he had chosen a life of service in the community where he had grown up and gone to school. He didn’t boast or try to build himself up. He just answered her questions honestly. At the end of the interview she asked him to sum up his life in one word. He responded, “happy.” After a few seconds he added, “useful”. It was apparent he wasn’t able to separate the two. To be happy was to be useful and to be useful was to be happy. 

I often think of Dr. B. when things aren’t going well for me. If I feel pressured, I remember his operation at sea and understand that whatever I’m dealing with at the moment is not a life and death situation. When I’m less than happy, I think of him and remember, to be happy is to be useful. Thanks Dr. B., knowing you has helped me have a happy life.

May you have enough today one moment at time.