A few days ago, my sister went into her dermatologist to have some bad cells removed. In the process, there were more bad cells to be removed than they all thought. She came home with a mound of gauze over her nose and some swollen areas under the eyes. Now, my sister spars in an MMA gym as a hobby, so I am not shocked to see her with a bruises or periodic swellings. But this kind of swelling is different. It’s the swelling that is a result of removing destructive cells from her skin. Cells, which unchecked, could steal her life. It’s one of those moments of threat that reinforce for me that mortality is certain.

Wednesday, the president of Ukraine issued a video message that asked the world for help against an aggressive invader coming to molest his country. He asserted that when the Russians came, that the the Ukrainians would meet them face to face, because the Russians would not come to find his people in retreat. The following morning, a photo and video then circulated, showing President Zelensky in soldier gear, with his pronouncement that he would not be leaving his country. This evening, as Russian armor closed in on the capital city of Kiev, the United States said they were ready to come pick and deliver him from the engagement that was coming. He restated he had no intention to leave his country. Should the Russians missile the city into the ground, he has decided it is most important for him- for his people, for his nation- that he is with them in the middle of what hell lies ahead.

I am amazed at people who can make the positive and strong decisions in these moments, when disease visits the body, or crises threaten lives, bringing with them the gray pall of unknowing.

Such folks are aware of the reality of risks and the potential outcomes of threats, but yet climb over them.

I guess that is the spirit of the fighter, who can see what may happen, and believe yet that good can come from where they must go. And they go there, with a trust that whatever the immediate fight is, all will settle out okay.

You have to have that fight to overcome in life, because in life there are so many issues to deal with.

And that fight is what gives you the incentive to deal with issues in life in the first place.