The Grace of the Good Lord, Bluegrass Music, and Door Knob Diagnosis
Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna preach at y’all. I’m not good enough to tell anybody how to live. I’m just as imperfect a sinner as the next guy.
I do want to tell you though, that what humble success I have had in this world is not my doing. I was blessed beyond what anyone deserves. I can’t tell you how many times I had my mind made up on diagnosis, and right as I got to the door, a voice would call and say “Son, I’d advise you rethink that.”
Sometimes it’d be when my patient asked one last question. “Hey Doc, by the way…” Other times it was because they had a funny look their face; just a hint of disappointment that Doc had only made a ‘B’ on that encounter in a business where anything less than an ‘A+’ is unacceptable. And often it was simply the voice. “Son, you didn’t finish your job here.”
I call it a door knob diagnosis. My hand was on the door to open it and move on the next room, and but for the Grace of God I would have. There were a few times along the way where the implications of difference were so profound I had to go in my office, close the door, and sit there for a minute and dry up the tears and recompose myself.
God also sent me my music. He gave me just the right amount of talent; enough to enjoy it to the fullest but not enough to get confused about what I was supposed to do for a living, If anyone loves it more than me I am happy for ’em, but as the song says there are 1352 guitar pickers in Nashville. If Steve Earle knows the competition is stiff, Doc didn’t have to be brilliant to know he’d best keep his day job.
I’m don’t think I’d a made it without music. Many a night I drove home dead dog tired and only stayed out of the ditches ’cause the cassette player in my Scout blared away Flatt and Scruggs or some other favorite. I listened to a lot of bluegrass going back and forth to the hospital. If you ever played a note I thank you ’cause somehow it filtered down to old Doc and very well might have saved my life one of those lonely nights.
Well I said I wouldn’t preach so I’ll get off. God bless all my music pals. Life as a Doc can have some hard times, but between the Good Lord, my family and bluegrass music I managed to get me by. I hope all of you have a blessed Sunday.
Dr. B
Explore posts in the same categories: Philosophy, WritingTags: bluegrass music, God's blessings
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Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass Music Road 
August 9, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Bless you Doctor B.
You are a wonderful inspriation to a lot of us out there in the world. God always give you the clues if you pay attention. Sometimes He whispers in your ears and sometimes He screams it….
That “right thing” stuff keeps popping up!
Hope that you and yours are fine. The kitties and I are moving on along. Wrangled a goat at the Vet’s office the other day.
August 9, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Ms Cindy,
You’re right. Every so often He has to scream to get my attention but I do try to listen.
All is well here. You keep on keeping on ’cause better days are just around the next bend.
Dr. B
August 9, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Doc, sounds like you were always inclining thy ear. He was and is speaking to you, so at least you did not have deaf ear.
Bluegrass music will keep you awake and if it does not on the open road home, might ought to pull over because serious things could happen.
I am listening to Sirius on Sunday mornig before we go to church and the DJ are playing more and more Brooke and Darin. Thanks for the inside connection. When you are listenig to music and kinda of know the story behind it, the song are more alive.
By the way Steve Gulley has recorded “Prepare to Meet Thy God”. We sing the song at the little white church in June every year. J.H Stanley was the writer and I know the story behind the song. My point is-it means more to our band.
We are playing the nursing home tomorrow night. We will be playing those wonderful hymns so they can sing along. Take care and keep up the great post.
August 9, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Smitty,
Always so good to hear from you. There were a few times I just barely listened in time, but so far so good.
Darin and Brooke are recording this week. I went to the sudio on my day off and heard them. Jerry Salley is in from Nashville and he is cracker-jack of a producer. It is hard to understand how they could get much better, but I declare I believe this is going to be their best album yet. Jerry has a lot of faith in them both as artists and fine human beings. Of course it ain’t a secret I feel the same way.
I love Steve Gulley’s work, and that mando man (Alan Bibey) is a long time favorite.
Still on track for book release in 2010. I hope to have some new news in the next few months.
Keep on playing the Nursing Home brother, that’s the Lord’s work as sure as preaching.
Dr. B
August 10, 2009 at 9:30 am
I hope I’ll learn to always keep my ears open. It’s oftentimes deafened by my own thoughts.
God bless you!
August 10, 2009 at 9:58 am
junebugger,
As humans we all get in our own way at times. As I get older my hearing sometimes isn’t what it used to be, so I have to watch that, but I keep trying.
Dr. B