Commencement

  ****

  When Tim got back to his office he could hardly focus on his work. He couldn’t believe what just had happened to him. He went from being virtually unemployed (in two months time) to the possibility of a promotion to Business Consulting. Tim was so overwhelmed that he took the time to thank God in prayer.

  “Dear Lord, thank you for revealing yourself to me through this opportunity today. You said “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”1 Thank you for blessing me to experience the truth of Your word. Please continue to lead and guide me during these difficult times. Help me to stay steadfast both in my faith and in Your word. In Jesus name. Amen.”

  When Tim was done praying he thought about how weird it was that he was being considered for a promotion, just as he had been diagnosed with this illness. There was the possibility that Tim wouldn’t even be able to accept it. If the second opinion were consistent with the first, he would have to arrange for surgery, and then he would have to have treatment. He had been reading over the Internet just how much the radiation and chemotherapy could ravage a body. There would be no way he would be able to perform to their expectations under the strain of this disease. Still it was a blessing of the Lord that he was even being considered for the position. Then Tim thought of another possibility. His next thought was to call Tamiko to talk to her about it. Tim looked at the clock on his desk. It was only 2:30 and Tamiko was still with the children. He would have to call her later after dinner.

  Just as he was thinking, a call came in on his cell phone. Checking it, he saw that it was his mother. Again. In the past week, she called him over 30 times about the trip to Baltimore and the appointments with Dr. Burstyn, who would be his neurologist. Tim didn’t mind talking to her to arrange stuff that was important, but she was constantly giving him status reports to things he didn’t really care about, like the room reservation, the meal package, the time the limo would be at the airport, whether or not to have a personal physician on hand. As Tim answered the phone, he wondered what little trifle she would have to talk about.

  “Yes, mother.”

  “Tim, I just wanted to let you know that we now have a personal physician on hand. His name is Andrew Smythe and he’s absolutely the best.”

  “Mom, don’t you think that’s going a little overboard?”

  “Absolutely not! What if you have another episode like you did the other night? Someone must be there to make sure you pull through. I’m not willing to take any chances.”

  “Fine. Is he going to be with us the entire time?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’ll be in the room directly across from you, should you need him, and I’m going to have an intercom link set up between your rooms as well.”

  “Is that all you wanted to tell me, or is there something else?”

  “No, that’s all, but I was hoping you would be more excited.”

  “Mom, believe me, I really appreciate everything your doing to make this whole thing go as smoothly as possible.”

  “That’s right! This has been a lot of work. You have no idea.”

  “I know. Thanks, mom. I love you.”

  There was a brief moment of silence.

  “Mom? Are you still there?”

  “Yes…it’s just that I haven’t heard that from you in a long while. Not since you were a boy.”

  “I know. And I mean it. Just thought I’d let you know.”

  “I love you, too, Tim.”

  Seventy-Three