I went to the Allergist on Monday.
Allergists are my favorite doctors along with ENT’s (Ear, Nose and Throat) and Pulmonologists (Lungs).
In 2011, while living in Klamath Falls, Oregon I trained and ran a full marathon – 26. 2 miles in 4 hours 22 minutes and 13 seconds. While training for the marathon I always noticed that my training partner’s heart rate and breathing was much lower and easier to come by than mine.
For the last 30 years of my life I have been an active tennis player winning a few tournaments along the way as a singles player and doubles player.
A year after running the Napa Valley Marathon I found myself living in Dubuque, Iowa.
I wasn’t there too long before I searched out the best Allergist in town.
I went in and met the staff, the nurses and the doctor.
I took some breathing tests and within minutes the doctor came hurriedly into my exam room with a most detailed, medical language induced diagnosis. He said, “Mr. Dendy… your lungs aren’t worth crap!”
He sat down opposite me and looked at me and I looked back at him…
I said, “Well, last year I ran a marathon.” (It’s amazing beyond belief to see how much your body can adapt to perform at a high level with minimum capabilities)
He shook his head, “How?”
We both kind of laughed at the thought…
His face became quite serious and his extremely good looks and million dollar smile were rather distracting as I wondered, “how young is this doctor?”
“Mr. Dendy…your lung capacity is at 47%!”
SeeingGodAtWorkEveryday
I went to the Allergist on Monday here in Houston, Texas.
He’s the same Allergist I saw 6 months ago and then 3 months ago.
We had made such great progress.
My lung capacity was at an all time high of 85%.
On Monday I greeted the staff for my 3 month check up after the last test.
The nurse took my blood pressure. I took some breathing tests.
The doctor came in a few minutes later without much haste in his approach or demeanor.
He placed my test results on the counter.
Took off his glasses
Shook his head from side to side
“Mr. Dendy… your lung capacity is back down in the 40’s again…”
I thought maybe I should say out loud what my Iowan doctor had told me…”My lungs aren’t worth crap.”
They’re not…
I don’t know if it is from second hand smoke growing up in a smoker’s home.
I don’t know if it is genetic.
I don’t know much, but I do know this…
My lungs aren’t worth crap!
Here’s the deal… Deal with it!
I am going to function at 47%!
Maybe my lung capacity will increase. Maybe it won’t.
But I will play with the cards I have been dealt.
I am amazed and you will be amazed at how much you can do within a limited capacity.
I will run the race that God has set before me with the lungs that I have been given.
I will push and pull, and run and walk and race and lift and get after it.
I turn 52 years of age in 55 days.
My lungs are at 47%.
What am I to do?
I don’t know about you, but I got up off my ass and went for a run!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… (Hebrews 12. 1)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9. 24)
SeeingGodAtWorkEveryday
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
David@seeinggodatworkeveryday.com