Category: Blog

A Letter of Encouragement from Dr. Scarborough

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

Letter Writing

by Dr. Grant Scarborough

Letter writing. Well that’s a crazy thought. What about tweeting!? Or maybe just emailing? Maybe a little TikTok messaging?

I know, I know. It’s old school. But sometimes old school is cool. Remember record players? They made a short and unnecessary return. My daughter played hers for at least two weeks. We even got her the Michael Jackson Thriller vinyl. I digress.

Letter writing. Not a long letter – just a little note. Put it in an envelope and mail it off with a stamp. I just read 2 John and 3 John. One is 13 verses and the other is 15 verses. Both end very similarly. This makes me laugh and it makes my heart happy.

“Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

After eleven verses, John says, “man I am exhausted – I don’t want to write anymore – so, I’m putting my paper and pen down and hope to see you soon.”

2 John was a short note. It was written to the elect lady and her children. The note had a basic theme: love one another. Then John mails it out.

3 John was to Gaius and ends almost the same way. “I had much to write you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.” This is not a microphone drop. It is a pen drop. Letter over. Again his message was short – hospitality to others.

It is interesting to note that 2 John is the shortest book in the Bible by verses and 3 John is the shortest by word count. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, wrote the two shortest books of the Bible to friends of his who at that time he could not see.

Do you think Gaius looked at that letter and said – “What? That lazy old man! He only wrote me a few words!” Or do you think he went running around the house showing everyone what John said. “Look everybody. Look what John wrote – He wants us to be kind and hospitable to others! Let’s do it! And he cannot see us right now, but he wants to! John loves us!”

Maybe during this time when we cannot see people that we really want to see, we write them a letter. Just a short letter and tell them something simple like I love you or be strong and courageous, or don’t lose hope, or do not be afraid, or love one another. Then say, I had more to write, but I am saving it for the time we can sit down once again at a coffee house and be face to face.

Imagine, all of us waiting for the mailman to show up and celebrating the few words you sent me and I sent you. I promise if you send me a letter I will read it to everybody and celebrate your kindness in thinking of me! By the way, I need a little encouragement right now and I am sure you do as well.

I actually had a lot more to tell you about this, but I am putting down my keyboard until I can see you again.

These are the Days to Remember

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

These are the Days to Remember

by Dr. Grant Scarborough

Dr. Scarborough’s writings from March 17,2020 that ring true still today.

Emotions are everywhere at my house. Life is changing right in front of us. I have a child mourning the loss of soccer season, prom, friends and school. I have another so excited to be out of school, she is not sure what to do. A friend of my daughter’s friend flying off to a national park in the west and we have another friend who has filled up his car with gas and bunkered down. We bought some extra meat to freeze and cans to have around the house in case it got bad. Then realized we spent all our money, so now we need to eat what we bought in case of an emergency.

I even heard they started playing the old REM song on the radio again, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.” Well if this is the end, then we better go out holding on to as much toilet paper as possible.

Over the last week, I have checked every news source a thousand times. There is a case here, and one over there. CDC, WHO, and the President have all spoken and given advice. For the sake of our physical health, we do not meet in groups larger than ten, only pick up food to go, socially distance ourselves from others and the list goes on. I have even read a few articles about how to survive in isolation: binge watch a few shows, pull out Monopoly to play with the family, and sing opera out your window.

But what about our own soul care?

Yesterday I was reading in First Peter and came across a verse that started like this, “the end of all things is at hand…” Huh? I was intrigued. I don’t think this is the end of the world, but in the midst of this viral outbreak I felt this might be significant. I often like to read the words in a different translation called The Message and I think it is a good word to remember:

1 Peter 4: 7-11  Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

Peter goes into bullet point mode. The end is at hand, everything is about to be wrapped up, so…

  • Pray
  • Love each other
  • Feed the hungry
  • Be generous
  • Speak God’s words
  • Help Others

In doing these things, Peter says, God will be glorified.

But the more I read the passage (please go back and read it again), my bullet points are lacking. There is a certain passion and urgency my bullet points missed. Let’s try again:

  • Pray – “stay wide awake in prayer”
  • Love each other – “as if your life depended on it”
  • Feed the hungry – “be quick about it”
  • Be generous and cheerful about it and spread it around so “all get in on it”

Do you see Peter’s passion in this? He says that the end is near, so love, pray, be kind to all – be all in. Do this today, and do it for others. Go! Be quick about it! And God will get the credit as the one Mighty in everything!

I met with a friend the other day who encouraged me. He said that in the midst of this crisis, it is a moment in time where Christ can shine. “What can we do?”

What can we do? I think Peter had great advice and I think as a doctor I will pass it on to you.

For your soul care my prescription is to gather your family and pray, love each other, serve, be generous, speak God’s words and help others in need – as if your life depended on it (Peter would want me to add this passion to my list). Through this God will be glorified and you will make a difference.

And maybe, just maybe, once this crisis is diverted, and normalcy has returned. Maybe we will not forget what we have learned about praying, loving others, feeding the hungry, and speaking God’s truth. Maybe this crisis is reminding us how to be Christian again.

The chapter ends by encouraging us to entrust our “souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” May we trust and do good now and the next day and the next season so that we can glorify God and be truly human.

 

Joyce’s Laptop: The Stolen Computer Caper of 2018

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

by Dr. Grant Scarborough

Black Friday comes first, then Cyber Monday, and finally Giving Tuesday.

Giving Tuesday is the day people give online to local non-profits. Here at MercyMed, we want money to be given, but sometimes we want other gifts too – like a laptop.

Allow me to explain. Our story begins on Cyber Monday, 11/26 (2018).

It was late in the morning when a couple of the staff yelled at me as I was walking out of an exam room. Someone was having a seizure in the waiting room. I peeked through the window and saw Dr. Joyce Kim and two other staff members attending to the patient. They had it under control, so I went to the next patient. When I walked out of the room I noticed Joyce was still in the waiting room. The patient was slowly coming out of a seizure and not minimally responsive. Four of our staff were trying to get him into a wheelchair – so I went out to help. After a few minutes we transitioned him to a wheelchair. He was pushed back into an exam room after 20 minutes of chaos out front. We settled back into work, and that is when Joyce realized her laptop computer was gone. This was bad. She takes this with her to every patient appointment to access notes, charts, and more. This was bad.

At once we realized what happened, and even who took the computer: I will refer to him as “Buddy.” In our neighborhood, things that are stolen get moved quickly – mostly for money that would be used for drugs. We also knew most of that occurred next to the local gas station. Our front desk lady took off her high heels and ran to the gas station only to find Buddy leaving in a car. We replayed the video security camera, called his phone, went to his home and called the police. Buddy was gone and so was the computer.

Giving Tuesday, 11/27.

Emails and Facebook posts went out encouraging others to give, but deep down inside all I wanted was for Joyce’s computer to be returned. As Tony (the Office Manager) and I discussed a replacement computer for Joyce, our nurse came in. She told us she had spotted Buddy a half block away. Tony and I jumped in the car and saw him waiting at the bus stop. We tried to do a quick U turn, but the traffic was too heavy and then the local bus passed us. It stopped and he got on and left. “Tony! Follow that bus!”

*Editor’s Note: Do not follow known thieves. This is dangerous.*

We finally caught up and went in to private investigator mode. We did not stay back a safe distance, we were right on the tail of the bus. When the bus stopped we stopped. When the bus started, we started. We did not know when he would get off, but we were ready for a long stakeout. Eventually the bus pulled forward and Buddy was left behind with a backpack in hand.

With Tony’s experience in the military, he was even keeled. My heart was pounding and I was ready for a chase. Tony has this uncanny ability to make people confess of anything they have done or even think about doing. He gets out, and approaches him.

“Sir, were you at MercyMed yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Did you take a computer?”

“No.”

“Sir, I have cameras all over the waiting room. I have you on video taking the computer and walking out with it. I can give it to the police but I want to ask you again. Did you take the computer?”

Long pause, “Yes.”

“What did you do with the computer?”

“I sold it to a man in a white van outside the gas station.”

“Well” Tony said, “That was Dr Kim’s computer and she needs it back.”

“That’s my doctor!” he responded with strange excitement.

“She needs it back and she needs it back today.”

“OK OK OK “ he responded “I’ll get it back today.”

And he walked off.

This Giving Tuesday we were hoping for donations, and Buddy to do the right thing. The odds were low. He told us he sold it to a man in a white van. He probably already spent the money on drugs, and the man in the van was probably sitting outside a pawn shop right now.

We told the news to the staff back at the office and came up with plan B. We can check with the police and call the pawn shops. Joyce had activated her find computer app so that it would go off once connected to the internet. They cancelled all information someone could find on the computer. We found a spare computer and all went back to work.

Billy informed me that donations were coming in. We celebrated, but Giving Tuesday had a sadness to it. The Lord gives and takes away – could we be content with where the Lord had us today? We had donations, but a lost computer.

Later that afternoon, just before we closed, the waiting room door opened and closed and then opened and closed again. Something was left at the front desk for Joyce.  It was her computer – in perfect condition! Our front desk lady went out after him again and this time caught up to him – Joyce came running as well. Buddy apologized to Joyce, and she thanked him for doing the right thing to return it. Tony went outside and shook his hand  – thanking him for returning the computer.

“We will see you at your next appointment, Buddy” they said.

All of our emotions were mixed this Giving Tuesday. We were sad he would steal her computer while another patient was seizing. But we were proud that he would make the tough decision to find that computer and I assume buy it back to give it to Joyce. I assume addiction would drive this behavior. Yet in the mess of addiction, we saw hope of a man who desired to do right. I cannot help but hope this decision to do right  might be the one thing he needs to bring change in his life. He made the right decision and he realized the joy of doing good.

He gave us the computer back and maybe we gave him a glimpse of what his life can become.

Giving Tuesday worked out okay.

 

 

Recovery

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

An Interview with Jimmy Ward

September is Recovery Month so we wanted to do something special. We sat down with Jimmy, our Substance Abuse Counselor, and asked him to tell his story. His work is so important, and an inspiration to all of us at MercyMed. He has dedicated his life to pursuing people who are suffering from addiction to help them in any way that he can. We hope you are encouraged by this in-house interview with Jimmy.

1.) Introduce yourself.  Who you are, what you do, and why you do it.

I’m Jimmy Ward. And I’m a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Level II. I do treatment assessment and placement, crisis intervention, relapse prevention, and recovery coaching. I ‘m also on call 24/7 outside of MercyMed. I escort people to treatment centers, I work with the families – a lot of crisis intervention is working with families – and in general act as a mini crisis center. My calling is one of advocacy because I’m in recovery. Most [substance abuse] counselors are in recovery. Probably 9 out of 10. Most of the treatment centers, primarily the people that work there are in recovery. The cooks, the nurses, all of the counselors. Because they’ve been there. You do it [become involved in others recovery] because you know. You’re just constantly trying to help people. We’re dealing with a fatal disease. It is a fatal disease. We teach recovery, and help people understand what they can do, and what they can’t. Recovery is for life.

We can’t do it alone. That’s why we have support groups. I like to use medical terms. Your medicine is in these walls. You’re a diabetic, you need to take your meds. You’ve got cancer, you need to undergo chemo treatment. You’re an alcoholic you need to go to group, come to counseling, call your sponsor, call your network. My number one motto, “Whatever it takes!”

It starts with the physical side. You’re going through withdrawals. And that’s tough. But then the real work comes when you go through emotional sobriety. How did you get here? Divorce, childhood abuse, you lost a job. That’s where you do your 12 step work. People [that have] years of sobriety become sponsors. You get a sponsor when you go to AA meetings. When you’re new to AA if you’re a woman/man, then all the women/men in the room will write their numbers down for you. That’s part of your network.

2.) What do you think is the most difficult thing for someone struggling with substance abuse to overcome?

Acceptance.  Acceptance. Admission. Step one: “We admit that we were powerless over alcohol/drugs.” “Who cares to admit defeat? Practically no one.” No longer being in denial. D.E.N.I.A.L. = Don’t Even kNow I Am Lying. Phrases like, “I don’t have a drinking/drug problem. I just drink a little on the weekends.” Usually the consequences are what get people to the point of admission. Everybody has that – bam! – atomic bomb moment. Like mine, I almost died. Other people’s moment might look like, “My wife is going to divorce me if I don’t do something,” “I got a DUI,” or “I over dosed and wound up in ICU,” etc. I tell people either do this [recovery] or you die. Addiction is a fatal disease.

3.) What do the families go through?

Well [addiction] is a family disease. They would start with Al-Anon (the family members version of AA) where they learn the three C’s. I didn’t Cause it. I can’t Cure it. I can’t Control it. They learn detachment with love. I hate the disease but love the “qualifier.” [The “qualifier” being the family member with the substance abuse problem.] They learn that they have to be in recovery too. They learn how to set boundaries. How to stop enabling. The last week of a six week treatment program is actually for the family. That’s when they establish/get started in an Al-Anon. Recovery is equally as important for the family as the patient. You drop a rock in a lake and the water ripples out. It affects all the family (and friends). Al-Anon is a key part of recovery.

4.) What kind of people struggle with substance abuse?

Across the board. Teenagers, baby boomers. Anybody – young or old. There’s 23 million people in recovery. Addiction is a developmental disease. You’re not born with it. There are five causes for addiction: genetics, mental illness, childhood trauma, social environment, and early use. You can be from under the bridge (I hate to say that), or you can be from Green Island Hills. It can start at fifteen. I hear people say, “I used to could take a few pills on the weekend,” “smoke a little weed from time to time,” “drink a glass or two.” But this disease is progressive. We call it the growing tiger. It starts as a little kitten. It’s always there, though. Always growing in the background, until one day it’s a full-grown tiger able to take you out completely. It has no age limit, no social barrier.

5.) For people who want help, where do they start?

Patients of MercyMed or people in general can start with their family physician. They’re a good source. They can go hospitals. There’s 800 help lines. They can call me! We’ve got the MercyMed beacon on; like the airport. Always here to assist. They can go to the Bradley Center and say, “I have a drinking problem.” They can talk to a family member or friend. Just start by saying, “I need help.” “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” The disease is so powerful. It says, “Nah. You’re okay. Try it on your own. Do something next week.” Like I did; they go 30 days, 60 days. Playing the game.

6.) Can you tell me a story of a friend or patient who is in recovery?

Me. You can tell that story. You’ve got functional alcoholics like me. I did it for years. Only I didn’t want to stop. This is too much fun. When I look back I see myself as a cadaver, this is the old Jimmy. And I’ve dissected Jimmy all the way back to when I started at 15. Then my 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s. Wow! It got progressively worse. In the 80’s people would say, “Jimmy you might be drinking too much.” My wife said, “you might want to cut down.” My daughter would say, “Daddy, you’re probably drinking too much.” “No-o-o. I’m okay.” “I’ve got this big high-powered job, I’m national salesman manager; I’ve got to do this to entertain.” So, I got away with it. What happened? Bam! Cross addiction. So, I quit drinking. I couldn’t drink anymore. The hangovers got too bad. So, I started taking prescription pills. Not every day at first, but that was the cross addiction. It too got progressively worse. I became isolated. That’s what all substance abusers do eventually, they isolate themselves. I was living out at my lake house for about year. Consumed with my addiction. Isolated. It got so bad I could hardly walk. I had to learn how to write again. One night it was so bad, I got up and tried to walk down the hallway. I crashed into the wall. Then I started vomiting blood profusely. I fell out.

My wife at the time found me and dialed 9-1-1. There’s nothing up there at the lake. It just so happened a fire truck that’s usually far away, was in the area and responded to her call. If they hadn’t been out there, Jimmy wouldn’t be here. That’s how far gone I was. The pills had caused ulcers. I was bleeding out internally. By the grace of God, I made it to St. Francis hospital. I was laying in that bed, and I heard the doctor say, “he’s not going to make it.” I could see a choice between black (death) and white (life). I said, “God, if you’ll put me back together again, I’ll be yours forever.” And He did. He put me back together again. Now when I sit in here [my counseling office] and do this [counsel patients], this is my recovery. This goes back to why I’m a counselor. I’ve been there. I know. I have seven years of sobriety. Now I’m giving back what was so freely given to me.

Helping others.

Help Resources:

For Jimmy Ward 24/7: (706) 326-3123

Georgia Crisis and Access Line: 1-800-715-4225

For recovery support you can call or text the Cares Warm Line* 8:30am-11:30pm: 1-844-326-5400

For Alcoholics Anonymous in the Columbus-Phenix City area call 24/7: (706) 327-6078

For Al-Anon Family Group Meetings in the Columbus-Phenix City area call: (706) 327-7630

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) : https://www.samhsa.gov/

*Not an emergency number.  In the event of an emergency call 9-1-1

 

I Got a Ticket

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

Dr. Grant Scarborough

I got a ticket two days ago – and yes I am bitter. It is all I can talk about. Maybe if I write it down, I can let it go. But before I let it go, I need to set the record straight. I need to make things right. I need to clear the air and my name.

I received a ticket for not wearing my seat belt. . . . . while wearing my seat belt. That’s right people. The officer asked, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” A very leading question, but I had no idea why he pulled me over. “No sir.” His next line was my favorite, “I see you have conveniently put on your seat belt since driving past me.” That little accusatory, spiteful sentence got my blood going. “Excuse me – I had my seat belt on the entire time.”

I got a ticket.

I have thought about my situation for 2 days now. Do I drive back down 5 hours away to fight this or do I just pay the fine? It would cost more to drive down there – but boy do I want to say in court – “I was wearing my seat belt!!!!” I want to be vindicated. I did nothing wrong and I would like my name cleared.

Whew – Feeling better already. Maybe if you read this and know I am not an evil law breaker, that would give me the peace I need. I have been wronged and I desire justice! OK forget the sentence you just read about peace. My blood is still boiling!

–

“Why not rather suffer wrong?”

“Why not rather be defrauded?”

–

What, are you kidding me? I will not stand for being defrauded. Forget it.

But Paul writes in Corinthians those two lines – Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

He is talking about two Christians having arguments that they are unable to settle. They cannot agree and the argument is so intense, they take it to court to have the matter settled. In the process, the church looks divided and Christ’s name is tarnished. The Christians were unable to love each other enough to settle their disputes so they go to open court, which hurts the cause of Christ. Then he writes those two questions.

Wouldn’t you rather suffer wrong or be defrauded so that you can love your brother and promote the cause of the church – to usher in the kingdom of Christ?

Ummmm, NO – I desire to be right!

Listen – just lose the argument even though you were right. Just take one for team Jesus. Suffer wrongly so that Christ’s kingdom goes forward. Do not even try to justify yourself. Let your brother win. Stop trying to be right. Just take the shame, the loss of money, the loss of property, the feeling of being right. Take it for something bigger then yourself. Let your name be smeared so Christ’s kingdom will be glorified. Suffer wrongly! Be defrauded for the name of Christ.

ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH – to heck with that! I am going to fight this ticket.

There is something in me that will not let things go until we are made right. The thought of being wronged is too much for me – do not even think about defrauding me! I have rights.

But Paul says to lay your rights down for King Jesus. This is a hard pill for me to swallow. Christ is more important than me being right. Others are more important than me as well. I can lose and I can lose big, but I never lose with Christ. If I lose the entire world, I have lost nothing with Christ. Christ plus nothing is everything. My good name, being right, having everything except Christ is nothing.

God executed Jesus instead of me. Ponder that phrase for a moment. God sacrificed his own Son so that He can spare us. Jesus was wronged, and He was defrauded so that we could be in relationship with God. Maybe it is time we believed the gospel. Christ’s name is better than ours. We now live for His name and His kingdom and His people.  We live so that His name will never be defrauded again, even if ours is.

Oh dear friend – Be wronged! Be Defrauded! Be both if need be for the purification of the church, the love of the brotherhood, the name of Christ, and the advancement of the kingdom.

And please share this with that policeman in Florida!