it's no coincidence

Things happen For A Reason. Did you ever read "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving? Or, did you ever see the Mel Gibson movie "Signs?" Both of those hold a high place in my "favorites" list, because of their message that every single atom bumps another atom for a particular purpose. I guess it's not too uncommon to believe that, but there are just some things that are too important in my life (and others' lives) to be coincidence. For example:

My father, today, is retired and in very good health.
He had open-heart surgery about 2 months ago.
He did not have a heart attack, but was having a valve checked in December when 3 blockages were discovered in his arteries (99%, 90%, and 90% blocked).
He was having the valve checked because he is (was) a pilot and they have a medical requirement each year.
His medical checkup got postponed in September due to Hurricane Ivan (Mom and Dad live in FL).
Being "grounded," without a current medical, he was home to help with the clean-up.
While cleaning up hurricane wreckage, he broke his leg... Grounded some more (short-term disability leave).
Because of the leg, he wasn't able to work as hard as he would have liked on the clean-up (and my Dad likes to work, HARD)...

....which, I think, is the reason he did NOT have a heart attack, and why he lived to tell the tale.

Imagine what might have happened -- well, I don't like to imagine it, myself -- if the Hurricane hadn't hit, forcing him to stay at home and deal with the mess. He might have had a heart attack in the air. (NOT to say that the Hurricane was good, or God's plan for my Dad -- I am not claiming to have figured out the reason for natural disasters, and why so many people have to die or be injured or lose everything they have.) But imagine if, after the hurricane, he hadn't broken his leg. He might have been working hard to repair a fence, or a roof, and had the heart attack then.

Or, if God hadn't planned for him to be a pilot in the first place (after careers in both farming and real estate)... he wouldn't have had the requirement for the yearly physical, and heaven knows he wouldn't have gone to the doctor regularly, on his own! (Men!)

Mom and Dad are coming to visit us (well, the Munchkin!) this weekend, hooray! Five things I'm grateful for: Dad's health, Mom's strength, good doctors, FFA policy, and Dad's happy retirement ahead. :)