There have been many moments over the past several years when I've found myself sitting in a doctor's office, waiting for another appointment, another test result, or another conversation about what my body could no longer do.

It's strange what comes to mind in waiting rooms.

Mine often drift back to a high school anatomy classroom.

In my last post, I shared the story of Mrs. Dudley, the teacher who awakened my fascination with the remarkable complexity of the human body. At the time, I simply thought I had discovered a subject I loved. I had no idea God was quietly preparing me for a journey I never would have chosen.

That preparation extended far beyond textbooks.

Have you ever stopped to think about the people who quietly changed the direction of your life?

Not the famous people.

Not the people everyone else admires.

The ones who stepped into your life at just the right moment. The ones who probably had no idea that the ordinary things they did would echo through the rest of your life.

Have you ever found yourself in church, listening to a sermon, and your thoughts drift away? I am sure we have all been there — writing notes to stay focused, fidgeting to calm nerves, or perhaps struggling to stay awake due to a lack of sleep. That is where I found myself on this Sunday, and adding to my distraction were thoughts of a recent discussion with my physician. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so am no stranger to difficult medical conversations, but discussing the future need for a knee replacement at age 47 had been a shock and was weighing on my mind.