“Waste of time” is the act of spending time on something unproductive, futile, ultimately without benefit or positive outcome. Essentially, poor or inefficient use of one’s time. As we all know, time is finite and precious and should not be wasted.
Like most people, we can be overprotective of our time. So protective that we fail to see the miracles in what we perceive as “waste of time” moments.
Recently, my husband and I had that experience.
After months of dealing with severe knee pain and discomfort my husband finally was able to have surgery.
The orthopedic surgeon had to repair tears in his meniscus and the patella tendon, shave off bone spurs that had caused the tears, and clean up some arthritis.
As part of the process to accelerate healing, he also had stem cell therapy. Alongside stem cell therapy, it was recommended he have a treatment called laser therapy. This therapy is also designed to speed up the healing process. Of course, being anxious to get back to normal activity my husband was completely on board.
Four days after surgery, he was scheduled for the first laser therapy session. Dreading the hour-long drive to the laser therapy office, but excited for the opportunity for a speedier recovery, we made him as comfortable as possible headed out.
Arriving at the clinic, a young lady behind the counter greeted us warmly but cautiously and said there were a couple of follow up questions prior to the appointment.
She inquired if he actively had leukemia, lymphoma, or melanoma. He answered yes, as he has leukemia. The young lady was very apologetic but stated compassionately and firmly that they were unable to complete the laser therapy based on his active blood cancer diagnosis. We were very confused. This information was disclosed numerous times on numerous documents that he had to complete prior to this appointment.
At this point, being very uncomfortable from the drive, feeling frustrated and confused, my husband began to get agitated boarding on pissed off. We just could not wrap our heads around why this was not brought to his attention during any of the numerous conversations that were had prior.
We tried to get clarification as to why his diagnosis was a problem, but the technician did not know the reasons just that this service was not an option for people with his condition. We certainly did not blame her but feeling so disappointed and upset over the two-hour round-trip drive wasted for a procedure he wasn’t even able to have was frustrating.
As we headed to the car, I suggested my husband do an internet search to see if he could find out why the procedure was not recommended for blood cancer patients. Just with the small amount of research from his phone he discovered that this laser therapy can be severely detrimental to someone with blood cancer. It can speed up the progression of the disease.
At this point we both felt such an overwhelming sense of gratitude and relief that this young woman was placed in our path to prevent something catastrophic.
My husband was diagnosed with leukemia in the fall of 2018 and at that time was given 3-5 years. He is quickly coming up on 7 years post diagnosis, so we value the time we have. To look at this encounter through the lens of “wasted time” it really put into perspective that the 3 hours that we viewed as “wasted” was really a gift. If the young technician had not been diligent and just went ahead with the therapy, how much time would have really been “lost”?
God had intervened through an unexpected way in the middle of what we viewed as a roadblock to his healing that turned out to be a roadblock for his protection.
When you feel that your time is being wasted, try to change your perspective. The time you are “investing” not “wasting” could reap a return greater than you will ever know.
Psalm 121:5-8
The Lord will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
