Next New Beginnings - September 25 - 28, 2008

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter
by Dr. Kevin Fogarty

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes.

I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprizing a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.

I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble', Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.

With a smile said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.

Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died..

They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men.

One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket.

Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles.

With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them.

Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size...they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho '.

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself.

An unexpected phone call from an old friend.

Green stoplights on your way to work.

The fastest line at the grocery store.

A good sing-along song on the radio.

Your keys found right where you left them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!

Read and Remember

Dr. Mark Davis

I have adjusted a little boy named Andrew, the youngest boy of a family of 5 children, for the past few months. When he first came to me he couldn't walk, he was not having bowel movements, he wasn't crawling, he had severe torticollis, and difficulty swallowing. (It was like Matthew's case many have heard me talk about in my new patient workshop) Andrew's parents were committed to driving 45 minutes each way to have him receive his 2 minute adjustment 3 times a week for 3 months. And Wallah.. after beginning care all of his problems "magically" disappeared to the amazement of his physicians. He was walking, having bowel movements, eating regularly and just "a regular kid" His parents were so happy with his progress and with chiropractic. The story of the the power of chiropractic went through our town as the local paper printed an article titled "LITTLE BOY WALKS AFTER STARTING CHIROPRACTIC CARE" . Ahhhh Chiropractic! Best thing since sliced bread. But let me take a back step for a moment and tell you why this "success" is an absolute tragedy.

When Andrew began care, and throughout, I discussed the need for chiropractic for the whole family. I examined his Mom, Dad brothers and sisters. I also did subluxation station evaluations on them and found all where subluxated and required care. The parents did not have a large income so I offered them a financial hardship agreement for care. Mom and Dad were too proud to accept and insisted on paying for Andrew however denied care for the rest of the family. I was too reserved to push any further, in FEAR that they would stop Andrew's care and his subsuquent progress. So for months I adjusted Andrew while his Mom, Dad, Brothers and Sisters continued to suffer the effects of the subluxation unknowingly and non symptomatically.

Andrew's Dad's company was sold and he was relocated to Ohio last month. I found them a wonderful subluxation based chiropractor in Ohio for them to get under care with and I lightly encouraged them to all get under a family plan. I called the chiropractor, discussed Andrew's past and future and asked if she would encourage the rest of the family to get under care. Andrew's mom finally got under care last week in Ohio (because she was for the first time ever, experiencing nagging back pain)

I received a call from the new chiropractor in Ohio at 8:38 this morning.......Andrew's mom has Cancer. Lymphoma.....The largest mass is located next to the lumbar spine....EXACTLY where the subluxation station showed high readings many months earlier. My stomach turned cold, My heart sank, and My chest turned tight as a drum.

How many times have we heard "What is the difference between subluxation and cancer?"....."TIME".

I had nearly 60 office visits to convey the urgency to his parents about the devastating effects of subluxations. My mind is racing with the question as to how few times I actually opened my heart and mouth and shared the importance of care with them. Once....Ten....20 times... And why not more....FEAR ....FEAR of confrontation...FEAR of rejection.....FEAR of perception.....

I'm sure in my mind I justified my negligence by saying to myself,  "I've told them the story...its their choice" or "I'm seeing hundreds of patients every week....they all get it, so I'm doing my job"...But was I? Are WE? Is being busy the same thing as servicing our community? Are we, the subluxation based chiropractors REALLY doing it? Or are we walking around with a false facade... Are we really good at getting lots of new patients into the office, getting some of them riled up and excited enough to commit to some level of care.. Heck they maybe refer a couple of patients.. Yet we sit idly by letting them quietly slink out the back door after a day, month, year.... Do we really make a difference if they leave? Is that the true purpose of what we are doing? Is this truly helping our communities if our back door is as wide open as the front. I suppose my epiphany is: Not only to consistently open the mouth with purpose, but to open the eyes too. The back door needs to be closed if we are going to truly make a difference. To close the back door we must talk to ALL patients with purpose each and every day and stay focused. In doing so we will have those patients who's families are not getting adjusted enthusiastically begin care.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE learn from my mistake. DO NOT be silent. Don't give up on that patient who has been coming in for a year without his/her spouse or children. Tell them every day...Yell from the rooftops. Don't get caught up in the daily routine, of adjust, plan, prepare.etc.... Teach...Teach with every word. Have purposeful discussion with everyone.. Screw the weather nobody gives a crap about it....Talk about to the patient about her mother who wont get in, talk about the latest drug that just killed thousands , but most of all don't be afraid to be kicked in the proverbial gut of rejection again and again. It's a Hell of a lot better feeling then knowing your apathy may have caused a little boy with 4 siblings to become motherless.

Dr. Mark Davis.

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy. They just promised it would most likely be worth it."

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New Beginnings for a New Future
Chiropractic Growth & Philosophy Weekend

When: September 25 - 28, 2008

Where: Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, Eatontown, New Jersey, for reservations, call the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center today at 732-542-6500 and ask for the special New Beginnings rate - www.sheratoneatontown.com

Learn more: Visit our website at www.nbchiro.com

Register now: Please call us at - 732-747-4646