Sunday May 2nd, 3:33 am
This is the third time I've woke up after having a familiar dream then wake-up roll over and it's 3:33 am. The house is quiet, all are asleep, not a creature was stirring, well except me, Dickens has got nothing on this. I am waking from a dream in which I am having one of my last conversations with my buddy Rob, who died tragically in a car accident about 6 weeks ago. Let me set the scene: He called me up and made plans to get dropped off from his carpool from Alamosa and hang-out with me until I was done at the clinic and then I'd give him a ride to church where he'd meet his family. He sat in the the left chair in the consultation room and I in the chair across the desk and we had just a chat about life, how things were going and we were interrupted a couple times for me to go and treat the last few patients of the day. He would patiently sit and wait for my return, texting someone occasionally until I was done. In my dreams he is sitting back, his bottom lip curled up with his half cocked grin, eye squint, and will say with a bit of a head lift, 'dude, how's life?' I will share the frustrations and joys, successes and pitfalls and each time right before I wake, he'll give me say, 'It's all good man'
Now I can't tell you how much I would like to have that conversation again in real life, but I can't, so I will cherish the ones I have only in my head and heart per se. We often find ourselves being bombarded with negativity and of course this often comes from within as well as from without. I recently had the experience of hugging on one of my girls as she cried in my arms as she felt she wasn't good at anything and at that moment, I try to console her with reason and logic, but to her at that time, emotion was law and reason was out the window. My son, being either the inquisitive or provoker that he can be, asked why is she so sad when she is so talented at so many things. What I told him is that women often thing in emotions, in that it's not the facts that are important, but how she feels about the facts of the situation. So that's why emotion and reason can not occupy the same place at the same time. I learned that from a wise Dr. Owen. So I told him that if he could grasp that it would make his interaction with the other four women in our house better and those he may one day meet and want to have a relationship with, when I said that I lost him, he was too grossed out at that thought to listen to Dad anymore.
I share this because just two days later we had a chance crossing paths with one of my daughter's track coaches and she shared with us that she had gotten a 69 second 400 m time at the last meet. I was so excited and realized and shared with her that if she could run it that fast in 8th grade, just wait until you get your legs and learn how to run. That day logic and hope won out and just because she came in behind someone else each time so far, she had skills that could be developed.
I share that with you as it was laughed about in my dream conversation with Rob. In how I shared my frustrations about life, not having enough to pay for all the basics and all the wants, and had to juggle to keep things in balance at times, and wondering if I was really making an impact for my family as I know I have helped a whole lot of folks over the years, but I am haunted by the few I couldn't. He said these amazing words to me in my dream, 'You made an impact on me' posed almost like a question with the raising of the voice on the 'me.' Then I woke up.
I want you as you read this to glean from my 3:33am moments, to reflect on the those you love and those you interact with on a regular basis on how well am I purposefully putting positive and messages of hope and love into their life. Am I making this relationship a symbiotic or a win-win deal or is there a looser in this deal? Tell people you appreciate them, and be specific with your praise, praise them over things that only you would know about. Pour life into people, instead of sucking the life out of them, and cherish the moments, hold on to them and try not to let them go. Our baby recently likes to to tell us if she is not getting her way, "you're not not being very nice" (of course she used this on me last evening with I wouldn't let her have more candy right before bed)
There is a song out on the radio called 'Blink' and I think it's Brandon Heath who sings it, but not sure, but some of the lyrics are 'It happens in in a blink, it happens in a flash. It happens in the time it takes to look back. I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time. What is it I've done with my life? It happens in a blink' When you look back make more moments that you love to recall instead of those you regret. Love people without reservation or conditions as the Golden rule says, 'Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.'
Until next time...
Dr. Busch
Showing posts with label Rob Orta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rob Orta. Show all posts
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tribute to my hero, Rob
From many requests I am posting what I gave as a tribute to my best friend Rob Orta, who was tragically killed recently and went home to heaven. It was an amazing service and so the days of putting one foot in front of the other begins for us and the Ortas. (names are deleted to protect them as this will be accessible over the internet)
March 22, 2010 - 11:20 am - given by Dr. J. Douglas Busch for MSgt Robert A. Orta:
I went running on Saturday with my dog, when I got home, my son was watching TV and this cartoon was on and said, “I don’t want to live forever if my best friend isn’t going to be there”I don’t like that I get to live out the rest of this life without my buddy Rob, but I wouldn’t trade the past few years with Rob & the Orta family for anything.
This is a day I thought I would never come. I always assumed that Rob would be speaking at my graduation ceremony telling of what a crybaby I am. Rob was one of the strongest men I knew and fulfilling a promise I made to him before he left for Afghanistan on his last tour, I prayed for his safe return every single day. Since he got home, I am guilty of not cherishing every moment we had, but I won’t make that mistake again and I hope you won’t either. I met Rob & He***** on New Years Eve Party at our home, Rob and I knew there was going to be a good friendship, but not the bond that soon came into being. Rob had a tough guy facade, but had a heart of gold and had passion for the things that mattered.
Early in our relationship, Rob and Heather came over before sun-up to watch our kids while we took some relatives from out of town skiing and I went to give him a thank you hug and he said, ‘Dude, you don’t have to hug me.’ I just said, back, ‘Just shut-up and give me hug.’ He gave me his little half smile and said, ‘thanks man.’ We quickly realized we both had a passion for intentionally building a family of leaders. Rob introduced me into the concept of making purposeful events in the lives of our family, especially our kids, so they would have keystones along their rights of passage into manhood and womanhood. We were at almost all of our kids birthdays, I can still remember the day **** was born, Rob smiled as big as I had ever seen it & he shared a birthday with my daughter Maddie and he would always do something to make that day special for the both of them. I recall times with both of our families cramming into a single travel trailer or hikes in the hills with the kids. We read books together like, ‘Raising a Modern Day Knight’ and “Men’s Fraternity studies” and set out on a plan to make events, ceremonies for our kids. I recently re-read what he wrote in a study we had together, “Don’t let your son leave your house with out being intentional in helping him to grow into a Godly adult.”
In trying to make intentional events, I recall how we talked about going up into the mountains and hiding a treasure chest and teaching our kids about navigation and tracking through the forest to find the treasure we had hidden for them. I’ve never met anyone who will over-plan a simple hiking trip down to the place and time we could stop for snacks, after the first outing with the kids, we learned to add in a lot more breaks. We were both laughed so hard, when we realized they had already invented geocaching and there was a website with hundreds of already hidden treasure to find with a gps.
He had a passion for doing the right thing, regardless if it was cool or popular. I have heard from more of his Army buddies that he walked his talk of faith and integrity everywhere he went. He was the same guy at church, playing in a water balloon fight with our families on 4thof July, or defending our freedoms on the battlefield. He understood what it meant to pay the price for what mattered. He paid the price of being a man of integrity, loving his wife and family, even if it lost him popularity, promotion or even relationships. The cost of passing on a legacy of faith was paramount for him and all of you being here is demonstration that pursuit of faith was not in vain. He touched our lives, he made us better and he will not be forgotten.
A compass is a funny thing, for some it is worthless, because they don’t know how to use it. It may be nice to know where North is, but how can this be helpful in the chaos of life? God has given us a compass in His Word, in John 14:6 it says, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me.” Rob read and knew how to use that compass and he knew where he was going after this life and paid a high price to point as many of us toward home even in his death. After all the drama of this day fades, there is still going to be four people who desperately need us to not let the memory of this great man fade away. We need to be the shoulder to cry on in 6 months or 6 years , to teach two boys and young girl the lessons needed through love and discipline what it means to keep our hearts pointed toward home, so they will not get lost in this wild jungle of life and they will one day get to see their father again.
For many of you in this room, this is a ‘Good-bye’ time, for others of us, it is simply a celebration of a great life here on earth and a ‘See ya later, brother.’ What separates these two groups is that in my group with me, Rob and others, we have made our election sure and we have chosen Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we will one day see each other again. Many others in this room, always thinks there would be a day, but not today, Well just like Rob, we won’t get to go skiing with the kids in a few days like we planned, but we will one day be reunited. Some say that the gift of Salvation is free, but I disagree, someone paid a high price so that you would be here today in this moment, you could hear the calling of your heavenly father and give you the opportunity to choose for yourself whom you will serve? Will you continue to go down the path of self-service and pride or will today be the day you choose life and a life that is eternal. Don’t waste this day, this moment, my friend Rob paid a high price, so that you would have this opportunity, to take Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, or a choose to get off the detour you’ve been on, and make your life matter, build a legacy, not just in this life but for the Eternal Kingdom.
When my last breath on earth has come and I stand before my maker, I look forward to being embraced and told, “well done, my good and faithful servant.’ But I can’t wait for what will happen just a few moments later to hear, “Dude, Check it out” and give my friend, brother and hero Rob a hug as he shows me streets of gold and introduce me to the saints that he has gotten to know while we are still here on earth. I want each and every one of us to share in a moment like this, but the choice is yours. Will you choose to follow your own path, or today will you learn from the leadership of our friend Rob and make Jesus the Lord of your Life, today and everyday following. Faith is not believing what God can do, but knowing what will do. Be faithful in this moment and choose wisely!
March 22, 2010 - 11:20 am - given by Dr. J. Douglas Busch for MSgt Robert A. Orta:
I went running on Saturday with my dog, when I got home, my son was watching TV and this cartoon was on and said, “I don’t want to live forever if my best friend isn’t going to be there”I don’t like that I get to live out the rest of this life without my buddy Rob, but I wouldn’t trade the past few years with Rob & the Orta family for anything.
This is a day I thought I would never come. I always assumed that Rob would be speaking at my graduation ceremony telling of what a crybaby I am. Rob was one of the strongest men I knew and fulfilling a promise I made to him before he left for Afghanistan on his last tour, I prayed for his safe return every single day. Since he got home, I am guilty of not cherishing every moment we had, but I won’t make that mistake again and I hope you won’t either. I met Rob & He***** on New Years Eve Party at our home, Rob and I knew there was going to be a good friendship, but not the bond that soon came into being. Rob had a tough guy facade, but had a heart of gold and had passion for the things that mattered.
Early in our relationship, Rob and Heather came over before sun-up to watch our kids while we took some relatives from out of town skiing and I went to give him a thank you hug and he said, ‘Dude, you don’t have to hug me.’ I just said, back, ‘Just shut-up and give me hug.’ He gave me his little half smile and said, ‘thanks man.’ We quickly realized we both had a passion for intentionally building a family of leaders. Rob introduced me into the concept of making purposeful events in the lives of our family, especially our kids, so they would have keystones along their rights of passage into manhood and womanhood. We were at almost all of our kids birthdays, I can still remember the day **** was born, Rob smiled as big as I had ever seen it & he shared a birthday with my daughter Maddie and he would always do something to make that day special for the both of them. I recall times with both of our families cramming into a single travel trailer or hikes in the hills with the kids. We read books together like, ‘Raising a Modern Day Knight’ and “Men’s Fraternity studies” and set out on a plan to make events, ceremonies for our kids. I recently re-read what he wrote in a study we had together, “Don’t let your son leave your house with out being intentional in helping him to grow into a Godly adult.”
In trying to make intentional events, I recall how we talked about going up into the mountains and hiding a treasure chest and teaching our kids about navigation and tracking through the forest to find the treasure we had hidden for them. I’ve never met anyone who will over-plan a simple hiking trip down to the place and time we could stop for snacks, after the first outing with the kids, we learned to add in a lot more breaks. We were both laughed so hard, when we realized they had already invented geocaching and there was a website with hundreds of already hidden treasure to find with a gps.
He had a passion for doing the right thing, regardless if it was cool or popular. I have heard from more of his Army buddies that he walked his talk of faith and integrity everywhere he went. He was the same guy at church, playing in a water balloon fight with our families on 4thof July, or defending our freedoms on the battlefield. He understood what it meant to pay the price for what mattered. He paid the price of being a man of integrity, loving his wife and family, even if it lost him popularity, promotion or even relationships. The cost of passing on a legacy of faith was paramount for him and all of you being here is demonstration that pursuit of faith was not in vain. He touched our lives, he made us better and he will not be forgotten.
A compass is a funny thing, for some it is worthless, because they don’t know how to use it. It may be nice to know where North is, but how can this be helpful in the chaos of life? God has given us a compass in His Word, in John 14:6 it says, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me.” Rob read and knew how to use that compass and he knew where he was going after this life and paid a high price to point as many of us toward home even in his death. After all the drama of this day fades, there is still going to be four people who desperately need us to not let the memory of this great man fade away. We need to be the shoulder to cry on in 6 months or 6 years , to teach two boys and young girl the lessons needed through love and discipline what it means to keep our hearts pointed toward home, so they will not get lost in this wild jungle of life and they will one day get to see their father again.
For many of you in this room, this is a ‘Good-bye’ time, for others of us, it is simply a celebration of a great life here on earth and a ‘See ya later, brother.’ What separates these two groups is that in my group with me, Rob and others, we have made our election sure and we have chosen Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we will one day see each other again. Many others in this room, always thinks there would be a day, but not today, Well just like Rob, we won’t get to go skiing with the kids in a few days like we planned, but we will one day be reunited. Some say that the gift of Salvation is free, but I disagree, someone paid a high price so that you would be here today in this moment, you could hear the calling of your heavenly father and give you the opportunity to choose for yourself whom you will serve? Will you continue to go down the path of self-service and pride or will today be the day you choose life and a life that is eternal. Don’t waste this day, this moment, my friend Rob paid a high price, so that you would have this opportunity, to take Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, or a choose to get off the detour you’ve been on, and make your life matter, build a legacy, not just in this life but for the Eternal Kingdom.
When my last breath on earth has come and I stand before my maker, I look forward to being embraced and told, “well done, my good and faithful servant.’ But I can’t wait for what will happen just a few moments later to hear, “Dude, Check it out” and give my friend, brother and hero Rob a hug as he shows me streets of gold and introduce me to the saints that he has gotten to know while we are still here on earth. I want each and every one of us to share in a moment like this, but the choice is yours. Will you choose to follow your own path, or today will you learn from the leadership of our friend Rob and make Jesus the Lord of your Life, today and everyday following. Faith is not believing what God can do, but knowing what will do. Be faithful in this moment and choose wisely!
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