"Why me", I thought as I lay helpless on the deck of our fishing boat. "What have I ever done to deserve this? Why did God allow this to happen?"

It was April 19, 1986; I was on our 28-foot fishing boat, with a group of engineers, heading out of New York Harbor into the open Atlantic Ocean. This particular morning was unlike any other. My intuition told me not to go out in the Atlantic Ocean that day; however, I didn't listen.

The weather report predicted, for the New York coast, a stable system, with high overcast clouds and 3-4 foot swells on the Atlantic. The wind was coming from the east, blowing about 5-10 knots. Not a bad day. There was nothing alarming about going out of the safety of New York Harbor. I had gone out of this harbor countless times. The only thing that lured in the back of my mind, on this particular morning, was the premonition I had, not to go out.

I was the Project Coordinator for a Christian Based Youth Organization, Y.E.S. (Youth For An Ethical Society). We offered the usage of our boat for an upcoming electronics firm to field-test their invention, a new navigation system. In exchange for usage of the boat, the electronics firm was going to provide some publicity for our Youth Organization.

The engineers from the electronics firm were anxious about conducting their research. This was the day they were all waiting for, to field-test the new navigation system. I still had that premonition about going out in the Atlantic. I shook it off thinking, "how can I disappoint these excited engineers? How can I even think about calling off the event? A lot of preparation work went into this "Day" and besides I want to see this new navigation system, perhaps we can get a prototype for the boat.

8:00 a.m., I arrived at the boat. The boat was moored at the Sea Knights Marina on Staten Island. I had left our home in Brooklyn early that morning, giving ample time to prepare the boat. I wanted to be early, just to double-check everything. The group of engineers weren't scheduled to arrive until 9:00 a.m. This gave me ample time to check the weather again and stow away some equipment. I also took the opportunity to relax, listen to the gulls in the morning hours and converse with God. It was also my time, away from the hustle and bustle of nearby New York City.

9:00 a.m., right on time. The three engineers arrived in a van with all of their electronic equipment. The four of us carried various pieces of equipment to the boat. One engineer was tasked with mounting a transducer (an electronic sensing device) to the stern of the boat. Another was running coax cable throughout the boat, while the third engineer was mounting monitoring equipment in the pilothouse.

It took nearly an hour for the engineering group to get their equipment placed properly. They ran through a few checks of the system and gave the thumbs-up signal…everything is a go.

10:05 a.m. I untied the boat, coiled the lines and pushed away from the dock. (Little did I know that this would be my last time leaving this dock.)

10:45 a.m. We were passing the last marker buoy heading out of New York Harbor, heading directly out into the open ocean. I gazed at the buoy thinking about the ship that sank near this location several years ago. "What was going through the crews mind when their ship was sinking", I thought. They almost made it to the safety of New York Harbor.

The seas were rolling with 3-4 foot swells, just as the National Weather Service predicated. Occasionally a whitecap broke on the top of a wave sending a spray of seawater over the boat. Nothing to worry about, nothing unusual. I've been in seas like this hundreds of times. I shook off any worries from the previous intuitive feeling that I had about going out into the Atlantic. I felt at ease and relaxed in the environment I was very familiar with, the open ocean.

The three engineers and myself were huddled in the pilothouse looking at the results of this new navigation equipment, state of the art at that time. The area in the pilothouse was small. To make more room I decided to leave the piloting of the boat over to Michelle, one of the engineers. Michelle, originally from France, had some previous ocean experience so I felt comfortable with him handling the boat. I left the pilothouse and went forward to the bow to take care of some other equipment.

We were about 20 miles offshore, again nothing unusual. The bow was riding up and down with the occasional spray of seawater dousing the boat. I was focused on getting some equipment organized and getting the rain gear out of the forward compartment.

I reached down to open the hatch in search of the rain gear when all of a sudden a giant wave picked the boat up and hurled it out of the water. I was thrown upwards into the air as if I was launched from a teeter-totter. Everything was in total disarray. It was a slow motion effect. I seemed to be suspended in mid air, much like descending to the earth under a parachute. (I's not until the last few feet that the earth appears to rush towards you. This is typical in parachuting and I was experiencing this same effect, tossed from a boat.)

I could see the boat beneath me, about 15 feet to the deck and the frothy green seas off to my left and right. Behind the boat, heading towards shore, was the huge wave that tossed us like a cork. It had broad like shoulders protruding high above and engulfing the other waves.

I quickly regained my composure and asked myself, "Where am I going to land, in the sea or on the boat? If I land in the sea will Michelle pick me up or was I going to drown in the Atlantic? If I land on the boat, what would I hit? What kind of injury would I sustain…probably some good bruises. Whatever happens I need to protect my head. It does not require much of a blow to get head injuries…somehow I need to protect my head."

All of a sudden the deck was rushing towards me. I didn't have a sense of falling, just the boat deck rushing towards me. I landed with a big thud and loud crack right on the boat's deck near the pilothouse. I heard and felt the "snap" of my back and laid lifeless in agonizing piercing pain. "Do I dare move", I thought?

The pain was so intense in my head that I began blacking out. I fought to keep consciousness. I reached around to feel my back; it was as if I had no backbone. It was gone. Thoughts were racing through my mind. What am I going to do now? What about the programs for Y.E.S.? What about the future? Then I could hear Michelle, "Craig, are you ok?" I responded, "No, take me to shore." One of the other engineers said, "But we haven’t finished the testing." "Take me to shore, now!" I said.

"Can we help you up", Michelle asked. "No", I replied. I did not want to take any chances of getting up, especially on a boat that was moving about. I didn't want to risk it.

I asked one of the engineers to give me a cold soda. I poured it over my head to ease the pain and keep alert. "Get me to shore, now!" I stated again.

Once everyone saw how seriously injured I was they quickly made adjustments to take me back to shore. The distance was about 20 miles; however, it seemed like an eternal ride back in. I laid in the exact spot in which I landed feeling each movement of the boat with a shot of excruciating pain up the back of my neck. I had never felt so much intense pain.

As I lay on the deck of the boat I tried to evaluate my injuries. I continually reached around my back feeling up and down my spine searching for a backbone. (Apparently the muscles along my back bone had gotten so tight reacting to the injury it appeared as if my backbone was gone. All I could feel was the two muscles running up and down my spine.)

I kept moving my toes. I didn't want to stop moving them. As long as I can keep my toes moving I will be "OK". Sometimes I wasn't sure if my toes were moving or not. I had checked them so much that it became difficult to tell if they were still moving.

Eventually I began feeling a large lump on the center of my back right along the spine. As minutes progressed the lump got larger. My legs were numb, similar to the feeling of the "after affects" of a novacan shot at the dentist. I kept up the toe wiggling routine just to reassure myself.

My mind wandered back to an injury I had while climbing mountains 10 years earlier. I had severely cut my knee and lost the feeling in the area surrounding my kneecap. The nerves never completely regained their full capability of sensation. I began thinking, "are my legs going to be like that little place on my knee? Am I going to walk?"

As much as I did not want to believe it, I knew I had broken my back. "Why me?" I asked myself quietly. "What have I done to deserve this?" My mind was racing with thoughts. "If only I had stayed in the pilot house this would not have happened. How stupid I was to leave the boat in someone else’s control. Why didn’t I keep watch of the waves? I know better than to turn my back to the sea, it can change at any moment. Why did God allow this to happen to me? The reason I am on this boat today is to support the Y.E.S. programs and this is what I get for helping others?" Tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought that God had left me. I felt alone and abandoned. It was hard to find any belief in the principle "ask and receive".

I had a lot of time to think on that journey back to Staten Island. I gave some thought to Paul's live and how his live was changed dramatically while on the road to Damascus. "Is this my road to Damascus? Is this the turning point in my life? What have I done to deserve this? It isn't fair…I am helping people and this is what I get?" I had a lot of unanswered questions to face. I wanted God to give me some answers!

I remembered the intuition I had earlier that morning, not to go out in the boat. "Why didn't I listen?" I was beating myself for being so stupid and careless. Now what lies ahead of me…is God teaching me something? Why must I go through so much agony?

It was extremely difficult that I was incapacitated…I had relied on my physical strength for so long to accomplish things. Now I was beaten to the bitter end. I just lay there, feeling every move of the boat and wishing I could turn the hands of time back. I just want to forget that this ever happened and continue on with life, as I had known it.

One Bible verse kept appearing in my mind, "If you lose your life you will gain it". "Well", I thought, "I surely lost it now…just let me gain it back. What is the meaning of this, I would often question? It was not until several weeks later that I would begin to understand the meaning of this verse.

I was rushed off to a recommended doctor upon arriving at the marina in Staten Island. The doctor evaluated my situation, checking over the x-rays and feeling up and down my spine. I was anxiously waiting for the prognosis.

Maria was in Chicago on business unaware of the events that occurred on this unforgettable day. I didn't want to send any unnecessary worries to Maria so I held off until I heard the doctor's comments. Hans, a good friend of mine was with me at this initial doctor examination.

After the doctor evaluated the tests he simply explained that I had severely pulled some muscles. I couldn't believe it, I had thought of the worst, a broken back. Pulled muscles I could live with and heal in no time. I was elated and happy that I did not send any unnecessary worries to Maria.

The doctor prescribed some pain, inflammatory medication and put me on a therapy program. He admitted that I would be back in shape in a couple of weeks.

I could walk a few yards; however, I was hunched from the waist down. Thinking I had pulled muscles I felt confident that I could push myself through that. A muscle injury I could handle and recover quickly.

As much as I tried I could not get my back to go into an up-right position. The lump was getting bigger with each passing day. I was in constant, excruciating pain. The painkillers did not help, they only made me drowsy. I kept thinking that, at least with the pain I could feel something, I was alive. In fact, it reached a point that I did not know what it was like without pain.

Trust God

"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing yet had been done."
- C. S. Lewis

The tingling in my legs increased. The lump on my back grew larger. The doctor I had initially seen called in a specialist. More x-rays were taken and immediately the new doctor consoled with me. "Do you realize that you have broken your back?" I replied, "No!" Then I recounted the accident and hearing the cracking sound of my backbone snapping. I turned and looked at the doctor and said, "I initially thought so".

Apparently the first diagnosis was wrong. The doctor had not taken a complete body scan, therefore, over looking the major break. I was rather angered by this. How could someone in the medical profession make such a mistake? I had a few acquaintances (I won't call them friends) that suggested that I sue this doctor for medical mal practice. My first reaction was "Yes", but as I turned in prayer I strongly felt I needed to focus on getting healed. Suing someone would not bring my health. If I was going to get healthy I needed all of my energy. If I spent the energy with legal battles I would not get healed. This became very clear to me in my prayers.

Maria had returned from Chicago and did everything possible to take care of me. We did not know what the future was unfolding, we only knew we had to find a way to have faith, belief and hope.

Facing Reality

A delicate operation was needed. Bone fragments around my spine required removal, my back required fusing together for support and alignment. Apparently a vertebrae was shattered. Shattered bone was pushing against the spinal cord, my back was shaped like an "S", no longer straight and it was bent forward. The miss-alignment of my back was also affecting the internal organs. The intestines were not functioning properly, the kidneys, initially bruised from the fall, were also not up to par.

Two weeks had gone by since the accident and I had no proper medical treatment due to the misdiagnosis of the first doctor. My mind was racing. I did not even hear this doctor anymore. "Why me" I thought. "How could the first doctor make such a mistake? What is God doing?" "Is this what ask and receive is all about?"

I was drifting in and out of reality sometimes racing with thoughts and catching a few profound words from the doctor. He was emphasizing that if surgery did not happen immediately my chances of recovery would grow less and less with each passing day. I asked him what kind of guarantee I could get so I could be back to normal. He responded, "there are no guarantees and I should face reality, I would not do the things that I had done in the past like: mountaineering, skiing, hiking with a back pack and any kind of sport that requires any impact". He further added, "depending upon any other internal damage there could be that possibility it could affect the reproductive organs…there was that possibility of not having children".

I quit listening…my mind raced again, I was thinking about the accident. "How could this have happened? I've been married for a short time, only four years. Maria and I both were involved in a lot of volunteer work. I was a volunteer to help in the building of a youth organization with a handful of others. Our blood, sweat and tears went into that Organization. It was a dream and belief that we all had, develop a Youth Organization that focused on teaching youth about God. We had a variety of exciting and stimulating programs; horses, boats, and mountaineering as a means of teaching.

I had just turned 32; our whole lives were in front of us. I had lots of thoughts, "What are my chances if I go through this operation? Will the doctors be successful, operating so close to the central nervous system, the spine? Will I end up in a wheel chair the rest of my life? Will I be able to have children? And if I do have children, will I be able to hold them? What about my wife? Will she have to take care of me? How are we going to survive? How are we going to pay the bills, even the doctor bills, we don't have medical insurance?" So many questions of uncertainty were racing through my mind. Then, out of know where a strong intuitive feeling came over me, a sense of calmness and surety. A voice sounded within me, not in my head like a thought but deep within. All it said was "No surgery".

I broke out of my mind racing thought process; the doctor was still talking. I interrupted him and simply said, "No Surgery". The doctor said, "What?" I repeated, "No surgery, at least not now", I responded. I wanted time to explore every possible option. The doctor further explained, "You do not fully understand the severity of your injury". I quietly responded, "No surgery". I did not fully trust the doctor…I trusted the voice I heard within me, yet I did not know where it came from. My intuition on the morning of the accident told me not to go out on the boat that day…I was going to listen to my intuition this time! I was going to follow some principle of ask and receive, even though I didn't really understand the principle.

I left this doctor with only a little hope of the intuition I had, "No Surgery". I certainly had a fear of surgery and the possible outcome. And definitely the fear of the unknown was a challenge, whether I had surgery or not…the fear of the unknown was before me.

Maria had the endless chore of making money that consumed a lot of her time. She also did not have a driver's license so we relied upon our close friend, Hans to shuttle me from doctor to doctor.

Our Brooklyn apartment was small. It was not the kind of place I would call home with the hustle and bustle of big city life all around me. I longed to be back on the boat, taking student's horseback riding or climbing a mountain…anyplace but where I was. I was helpless. I had countless hours of thinking time and researching the best possible way of getting healed. The Internet was not yet developed so my research was mostly done in prayer and the few books that we had. It was through prayer that doors would open, people would come for a visit and give their advice.

I had often reverted back, within my mind, to my comfort zone, what I was familiar with. I needed that reassurance of familiar ground. My mind ventured back in time to pleasant moments searching for comfort from the uncertainty that lay before me. Times when I was in high school playing sports with friends. The times I was involved in mountain search and rescue…learning survival skills to win over the uneven odds.

I used these moments of thought to search for a meaning of why this accident happened. Why did my life come to an absolute halt? I was extremely physically fit then within a split second I could not rely on my physical body.

I reflected many hours about the "why" I should get healed. I knew from my mountain climbing experiences that if I did not have a good enough answer to why I was climbing a particular mountain I would definitely not succeed. To accomplish any great task takes a lot of determination and endurance. If the answer to the "why" is not strong enough then the determination and endurance gradually subsides until it turns into a wish…"I wish I could do this or I wish I could do that".

It was important to me to truly answer the "why" then I would have the commitment never to give up. I often thought about my future, my wife and a future family. The more I thought the more indignant I became. With absolute assuredness I made the decision that I will succeed. I had my "why" question answered. There were still a lot of unanswered questions but the MOST IMPORTANT question was answered. I had a reason to fight and to continue to fight until I won! I had to follow some sort of principles of ask and receive.

The more I searched deep within the more I thought about God. I began reading the Bible as if I had never read it before…not just the words written on paper but the meaning behind the words. I was desperately searching for answers of "Why me?"

The more I prayed and searched, I knew I had to trust God. I needed that necessary faith to believe that doors would continually open and opportunities would prevail. It was challenging to say to myself, "OK, have faith" and then really believe it. The situation I was in seemed impossible. I wanted more than anything to have hope, belief and have complete faith in God that everything would work out for the best…but words are only words, I needed to live and breath those words of hope, belief and faith. The principles of ask and receive were just beginning to make sense.

The more I searched the more I was intrigued with the people in the Bible. They were living people, some of them going through very difficult challenges. I wanted to get into their shoes and empathize with them.

I was fascinated with the book of Job. I wanted to understand his thought process and his relationship with God. Job was a wealthy man, living a nomadic life and free from worldly concerns. Without warning a catastrophe happened and he was faced with the problems of human suffering. He was seeking answers of why would a loving God allow such a catastrophe to happen.

Throughout Job's search he encountered many experiences with God. At the end his faith prevailed, God's Blessings were abundant. Job received twice as much as he had before.

"If only I could be like Job", I thought. I read this book over and over again searching for clues, looking for answers.

As I studied I knew that the success in regaining my health depended on my ability to believe. This is the only thing that stands between anyone and what they want from life. I simply needed the will and determination to go on and the FAITH to believe that my recovery is possible.

I began changing my thought process from, "If I can only be like so and so", to "I believe I will make it". This was the beginning process of developing the belief I needed. I began verbalizing; "With God I can do anything"...ask and receive.

I began watching movies about Moses, Noah, Jesus, and any Biblical character I could find. I followed along in the Bible comparing the scenes of the movie with the words of the Bible. I became more and more intrigued. The more I studied the more I was amazed with their strong beliefs. Their belief began enhancing mine.

As the days went on some friends of mine went into action. Someone had heard about a faith healer in Boston that could surely heal me. Hans took me to Boston. We met with the faith healer briefly. I described my condition. He placed his hands on me, prayed, and then declared that I was healed. I waited momentarily but my injury was not healed. I later realized that this was the beginning process towards my belief building. I had taken another step towards my healing process, visiting the faith healer. All the while I continued verbalizing, "With God I can do anything" and doors were continually opening for me to take action.

From Boston, Hans took me to Gloucester where we hung out for a few days enjoying nature. I just wanted to free my mind of this accident and somehow carry on with life as it was before. There were moments that I had actually forgotten about my injury and I was able to enjoy the surroundings. I yearned for the opportunities to visit God's natural wonderlands again.

We ventured back to New York City for a visit to doctor number 7. I wasn't expecting much difference between this doctor and the others that had previously examined me. I had the attitude, "what do I have to lose?" I knew this was not the best attitude to have. I needed an attitude of optimism; however, it was difficult to force it. I prayed to have a better attitude and continued developing my mindset verbalizing the words; "With God I can do anything".

Hans and I talked a lot while I was in the searching process of recovering from this injury. He had some great insight into life and Biblical characters. We discussed how my life was now going through remolding stage much like what Jeremiah noted when he visited a potter. Whenever a clay vessel came out wrong the potter would rework the clay into a new vessel. I was much the same, God had his hand at reworking me.

Making the vessel from clay was creating a map for success. Without some sort of direction or map to follow would lead me into aimless wandering. Jeremiah made it quite clear, why complicate things? Achieving success is not a secret. Make a plan; follow the plan with faith and belief.

I know God had a plan for me, more than what I am currently experiencing. "This is temporary" I repeated over and over again. God had a plan creating the universe, and we are all apart of some Bigger Plan. I know it is my responsibility just like everyone else, to "get into" the plan and follow it. "Now, how do I or anyone else follow the plan, I'm not sure what it is?" Simply put; follow your God given destiny.

Back in New York several days passed and more friends passed through for a visit, each giving their share of advice. One thing I learned, people are quick to give advice but many are not able to act on their own advice. I found this to be very interesting and humorous.

I had to reflect deeply and keep an open mind. I wanted to keep the door open for God to work. I wanted to listen to everyone as if God was speaking through that person.

Opportunities are around us all of the time, I didn't want to miss any of them. I have to be ready for any opportunity, be ready and take advantage of it.

One friend approached me with one of those opportunities. He suggested Reiki.

I had never heard of it but I was willing to listen and not miss an opportunity. Reiki is a form of healing using the natural energy to promote healing. I was desperate, ready and willing to try nearly anything. I studied and received a Reiki certificate so I could perform the natural healing of Reiki on myself.

Another friend suggested herbs so I tried them too. Another friend took me to a natural path doctor. This doctor had prescribed an assortment of natural pathetic medicines.

Each and every time I tried something new it did not work. I began losing hope thinking and believing it was useless to even try. I could not even control my thoughts to have faith, belief and hope. It was God who put me in this situation in the first place so how could I possibly fight him? or so I thought at the time.

Five months had gone by and my condition had not improved. It only worsened. I knew I needed to have the right thinking, a good attitude or I would never get out of this situation. But to go beyond reality into faith was my challenge. Up to this time I had many prayerful moments trying to find out why this accident had happened to me? The more I prayed the more angry I got. I reached a point that I did not want to pray anymore. It seemed as if God was not listening to my prayers.

I reflected back over experiences in my life that I could grab a hold of and use. I needed something tangible, a real experience that I had…an experience that required faith and the right type of thinking to emerge from a difficult situation. As I searched my memory banks I could recount some challenging situations that I had some physical control of. Like the time on a climb up Mt. Rainier, four of us had to dig in for three days at 12,000 feet. A storm emerged out of nowhere, we had no choice but to build an igloo and wait out the storm. But even that experience wasn't so hard. I had some control and could have remained in the igloo for several days. I looked at it as a fun challenge. But this situation I am in now is not a fun challenge!

"Is life ever going to be the same as it was?", I thought. There are so many obstacles thrown at me and I have no desire anymore to deal with them. Everything that we had worked so hard for was slipping away. Hans took over the day to day run of the horse stables in the Bronx. We were having some personnel problems with employees, ones that I could definitely not deal with, at least under my current health conditions. We had to liquidate the stables and the boat, eventually losing everything.

It was very difficult to face reality and watch what we had built as a team come crumbling down. All the dreams were disappearing right before me. I couldn't get up and make things happen, as I once had known. Things were different now. As much as I wanted to have a good attitude, prayers of gratitude and appreciation about life, I could not. I wasn't able to force myself to be happy and appreciative under such dire circumstances.

I thought more and more about Job, the character in the Bible and other individuals who had gone through incredible hardships. I remembered back in college; I was a classmate with a person who lost all control of his body from his neck down. He was diving into a swimming pool, hit his head on the concrete bottom, snapped his neck and never walked again. This was a guy that was on the swim team and had hoped someday to go on to the Olympics. His dream was shattered. But somehow he found another dream, another mission in life to fight for. He wanted to graduate from college and set new standards for others who were subject to physical limitations.

I reflected a lot about this guy and others in history who overcame great obstacles. The more I thought and read their stories the more inspired I became. My initial inspiration and dream was to build a school for young people to learn about God through His own creation. I had experienced so much in my life I wanted to share that with others. Now I was repositioning my dream. I wanted to carry that initial inspiration even further. I wanted to get healed. I needed to get healed. It wasn't just a "pie in the sky" dream, it was a fact! I had to get healed because I could inspire others who encountered great physical challenges. I was not about to go down in history as the guy who "gave up" or the guy who just accepted things as they are. I wanted to make a difference. Now was my chance...I had no choice but to get healed, not only for myself but also for the future of my family and those around me.

It took a lot of soul searching to realize the Destiny that God had for me. Part of that Destiny was having my health restored. Everyone has a Destiny. Whether you fulfill that Destiny or not is up to YOU. It's very easy to get caught up in the problems of life and lose sight of our dreams or destiny. The simplest way to find your destiny is ask yourself, "What is it that you truly desire? What is it that you are naturally good at"? What would you like to do if money were no object?" Now that you have that figured out, go out and do it.

The power to fulfill my dream was within me. I had the responsibility to God and future generations to shape my life. It was up to me and no one could deny that success. God and I are a team, pushing forward, nothing holding us back BUT me. I was not about to allow myself, the one to hold God back. I was taking the responsibility and commitment with God to achieve our goal of success, regaining my health. There are no excuses, no one to blame…we go to the top together, God and I.

The six-month came but it was unlike any other month. I knew that something was going to happen. Another friend came by with Kenji, his name is John. He was telling us about a doctor in Japan that had developed a therapy program specific to back ailments and injuries. I took great interest and listened to every word that John said. My enthusiasm grew. Kenji, originally from Japan, offered to call the doctor and get some consultation.

The following day Kenji placed the call. The doctor asked several questions, one question in particular, "if I had surgery on my back"? Kenji replied "no". The doctor replied over the phone, "I have confidence, I can help him". (Even before Kenji made that call I knew that God had arranged this doctor to come into my life.) Kenji relayed the doctor's response to me, I was completely elated. My level of belief, faith and hope escalated to even higher levels!

I knew within my heart that something was going to happen, I didn't know what BUT I expected it to happen. And sure enough it happened.

Kenji offered to escort me to Japan; however, Maria and I had no money to purchase any air tickets, pay a doctor, let alone survive in another country with a major injury. But we knew somehow I would get there and everything would work out, I had the faith, belief and hope. I knew without a doubt that God and I were working together so it was inevitable to work out.

Another friend, Robin, had heard that I needed to get to Japan to see a doctor. Remarkably, where she worked they had two extra round trip tickets to Tokyo and no one was planning on using them. Rather than have the tickets expire she handed them over to Kenji and I. Now we had tickets to Japan.

My friend John had talked with a friend of his in Japan, Mr. Wakayama regarding my situation. Mr. Wakayama agreed to offer any assistance to me while I stayed in Japan in exchange for teaching his children English.

All I had to do was walk through the doors as God opened them. Walking through these doors caused me to reflect very deeply as to the "why" the doors were finally opening. For years I had taught concepts about: facing fears, overcoming obstacles and simple action plans to get some momentum. For some reason I found myself stuck for months unable to get moving. Like a car stuck in the mud with it's wheels spinning, going no where, until it finally runs out of gas and stops.

During this entire process intellectually I knew I needed a good attitude but I did not know the steps to change it. Yet at one given moment in time my attitude did change. I had the Faith, Belief and Hope needed. It took several more weeks for me to understand the steps taken for my attitude to change. If I clearly understood the process I could have moved much quicker.

More than six months had gone by and I found myself on a flight from New York to Tokyo. The flight from New York to Tokyo was long, grueling and painful. I felt every jolt of air turbulence the 747 flew into. I laid on the floor near the rear of the plane counting the minutes before we would land in Tokyo. Kenji was by my side offering assistance whenever possible.

I had a lot of hours to reflect about my injury during this flight. So many things had happened in six months that I never realized. Friends stepped forward and took action. One friend, Vickie, knew Maria and I were struggling with finances so she took it upon herself to donate her earnings from work to us.

In the jet, at 40,000 feet, it was as if I could look down on every situation and see the bigger picture. Miracles were happening, right before me but from my vantage point at that time I could not see them. God was surely working even when I wasn't.

• The visit to the minister in Boston
• Studying the Bible in depth.
• Friends appearing and offering help.
• Kenji seeks out a doctor.
• A doctor who said he had "confidence".
• Robin giving us air tickets.
• The family in Japan offering assistance.
• Kenji escorting me to Japan.

The beauty of all of this is I knew there were more miracles to come. I was consciously searching for them, knowing they would come. It was all of the little miracles that would ultimately be the big miracle, my ability to be healed. I knew it was a combination of steps, just like a child learning to walk…one step at a time. My healing process was one miracle at a time.

My engagement in each miracle was an act of faith. When I visited the healing minister in Boston, I went there in faith that I would be healed. It was a part of the process. I did the best I could, I showed up. The minister did his best, he prayed for me, putting his faith out there with God. After leaving the minister, more miracles emerged. If I just laid dormant, with no action on my behalf that is what I would have gotten…no action and no miracles.

During the long flight I communicated with God in Prayer. That is what prayer is all about, honest communication with God. I reflected a lot about the power of prayer, having that faith, expecting the best and getting it. These are principles I believe in and I was challenged with living these same principles. It is one thing to talk and say words, it is another to live what you believe.

I reflected a lot about friends during this long enduring flight. True friends emerge during the most difficult times of your life. You will know who your true friends are during the difficult times.

As I listened to the humming of the jet engines I couldn't stop thinking about the jet and it's commitment to flight, to stay in the air. The jet took off from JFK Airport, once airborne there was a commitment made. There was no turning back. If there was any second guessing by the pilot if the plane could really fly, and the pilot hesitated at the commitment stage, the jet would surely crash.

I felt that I had reached that same point in a level of commitment. I was traveling to another country with little money, I cannot speak Japanese, and I had a major injury so I could not rely on my own resourcefulness yet I had the inevitable faith that I would succeed. I had crossed the line.

Similar to the Spanish explorer, Hernan Cortes in 1519, he burnt his ships when he landed on the coast of Mexico. Cortes left Cuba to explore the coast of Mexico. After Cortes landed he had the supplies removed from the ships then gave the order to set all of the ships on fire. There would be no retreat. Cortes had committed himself and his troops to conquer and face every obstacle in front of them. They had no choice.

Like Cortes and his men, I too had no choice. I burned my ship making ready to face every obstacle before me in a foreign land, trusting God to work with a new doctor. A doctor I had never met before but a doctor I had faith in.

We landed in Narita, Tokyo's major airport. Mr. Wakayama was there to greet us.

This was not a vacation or social visit, I was on a mission of regaining my health, Kenji escorted me to the Isogai Clinic in Nakano, Japan just a few miles south of Tokyo.

We arrived at the clinic in the late morning. Kenji explained to the receptionist that we had arrived. The receptionist wasn't aware of our arrival and was informing us that we needed to make an appointment. He wasn't about to inform Dr. Isogai that we were there if we did not have an appointment. I mentioned to Kenji to tell the receptionist that," I will remain in the waiting area, I have no where else to go". The receptionist summoned the main doctor, Dr. Isogai.

Dr. Isogai was an elderly man in his seventies. He was a specialist with the spine and had a major commitment to help people with major disorders walk and live healthy lives.

Dr. Isogai examined me and made some comments to Kenji in Japanese. I had no idea what they conversed about. Kenji translated to me that Dr. Isogai said; "You will be alright". That was again reassuring to finally hear from a doctor that I was going to be fine. Dr. Isogai was my 8^th doctor!

The clinic required upfront money for their therapy program. I had very little. Kenji asked his parents who lived in Sapporo, Japan for some money and like another miracle they wired money so I could begin the therapy program.

Kenji planned on staying with me for 3 weeks then he would return to the United States. He was working on a plan of building an Outdoor School in Montana. (He built the school, International Outdoor Adventure Tours Inc., and is currently operating it out of the Bozeman, Montana area.)

Three weeks went by, it was time for Kenji to depart. My Japanese was very limited. I learned a few words like "pain" and "do you understand" but not enough to communicate. But somehow I had developed a heartistic relationship with Dr. Isogai. It was one that did not require words for communication.

Before Kenji's departure Dr. Isogai explained in greater detail the recovery process. In their conversations Dr. Isogai made some profound remark. I asked Kenji, "what did Dr. Isogai say?" Kenji remarked, "he said you will be alright". I said, "I know that". Then Kenji went on to say, "at the very first examination Dr. Isogai explained that he did not think he could help you". I was astonished and said to Kenji, "I'm glad you did not tell me".

I pondered the thoughts that, "isn't it ironic that I trusted and believed so much in Dr. Isogai that what I believed came reality even if he did not believe it?" God truly goes beyond. It all goes back to the saying, "Expect the Best and Get It".

Dr. Isogai explained that he was reworking the bones with his natural therapy exercises. The exercises allowed the body to naturally heal itself, aligning the backbone. He explained that the spine is central to everything. When the spine is functioning properly the entire body can live a healthy life. Unfortunately most people have spinal problems and do not even realize it. Dr. Isogai developed a very regimented therapy program that can help people with several ailments.

Kenji left to head back to the U.S. I felt very much at home, on the road to recovery. The Wakayama family provided a very healthy diet as prescribed by Dr. Isogai, no sugar and lots of protein. I was able to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. Wakayama's 2 children teaching them English.

The Isogai Clinic took a financial toll; however, it was not long that I was soon making money teaching English, I aquaired a few private students.

I had a lot of time to reflect…especially about the accident and how God was continually working to open doors. How was it possible, that since my accident, so many obstacles were overcome? No one person could have orchestrated every move and set up key individuals to be in the right place at the right time.

It was as if I was following a road map, the map which God and I had fretted months before. Each and every doctor I visited, the friends that supported me, all played some key role to my getting to Japan. The monetary support from Vickie, Kenji and John guiding me to Dr. Isogai, Robin with the airline tickets, the Wakayama family offering support in Japan, and the ability to self sustain teaching English while in a clinic in Japan. Who could have organized all of this? Only God!

I reflected a lot about God guiding me…I felt like I was working together with God, our communication was so open. I had reached a level of complete belief…nothing could stop me from getting healed.

Dr. Isogai checked my progress daily. The first few weeks I progressed at a rapid rate. I still had the continual pain, numbness in my legs but the exercises were easier and I could do more. It was the 6^th week; I had reached a plateau. No matter how much effort I exerted there was no progress.

I did not let this plateau worry me. I could sense that Dr. Isogai was concerned about the little progress I was making. He was worried that I was disappointed showing no progress. However, I knew from my experiences in sports it is typical to reach a plateau before reaching a higher peak performance. To get to a higher level required greater persistent effort. I figured the same principles must apply in the healing process as it does in sports. I knew this was a critical turning point in my healing process.

I watched several patients around me reach this turning point, a plateau. I could see in their eyes and actions that they had given up. I had often thought, "If only they can keep going a little longer…just believe. I knew with complete confidence it was a phase that everyone goes through. There is nothing magical about it…only faith to keep going. I undertook a mission, to be an inspiration to others in the clinic so they would continue.

Dr. Isogai occasionally made some comments in English (he must have prepared a lot for his English comments), "Americans have great determination". I believe he was saying this to challenge the other patients and me as well.

God placed me in a situation where I was able to help others and myself. I was aware that the other patients were watching me. My determination got even stronger. I could not let any one down. I knew the presence of God was here in this clinic, miles away from the scene of the accident.

Dr. Isogai was constantly busy with other patients. He was in his seventies, worked long hours. I was inspired by his commitment to help others. During his busy schedule he was writing articles for medical journals. He wrote an article about my injury and rehabilitation.

Day after day I continued with the exercise therapy program, applying Faith, Belief and Hope. It was the 10^th week that I began making progress again. Four weeks nothing had changed, that is, anything that was physically measurable.  Internally my determination got stronger. This was reflected in the Faith and Belief that even other patients observed.

I was not only engaged in the physical but the mental too. My attitude was crucial…it was positive thoughts that I surrounded myself with.  I always prayed for the best attitude possible…that was a key…having God help me with the best attitude in difficult situations. With the positive attitude emerged a strong Faith, Belief and Hope.

The pain that I had lived with for months was now subsiding. There were moments that I had no pain. WOW!! I thought I had complete freedom. It was my goal from the moment I set foot in Japan to return to the U.S. in 28 weeks, completely healed. I shared this with Dr. Isogai but he thought I should remain under his care for a total of 52 weeks. I wanted to stick with my original goal that I prayed about daily, 28 weeks.

As I continued to progress in my recovery Dr. Isogai introduced a new program into my therapy. He wanted me to run around the perimeter of the clinic, a square block. I was surprised and challenged with this routine. I felt like I was a piece of crystal, apprehensive about bumping into anything because I might break. Running would exert stronger forces on my back, forces that I had not been use to for awhile. Then there was the fear that I might collapse and surely break something.

I knew I had to face this fear. I thought about the other patients in the clinic and how far I had come in my recovery. Now it was time to spread my wings and fly and get out of the nest. This was the 24^th week. I trusted Dr. Isogai, I knew God was working through him. I had to run.

It was a cool morning in Nakano as I prepared for my brief run around the perimeter of the clinic. For some reason there were not many people on the streets that morning. (I thought that perhaps God had sent people home so I would not have potential obstacles to bump into.) I began my run, very slowly. I reached around my back to feel up and down the spine to see if there were any obvious disorders. None that I could feel. I was waiting for the pain to come…no pain.

During the run, tears rolled down my checks. I was so grateful to God for guiding me and helping me have the Faith, Belief and Hope. I felt like a complete new person.

I paced myself at an easy stride, not over exerting and using common sense with each step. As I rounded the final corner I could see several patients gathered in the windows cheering for me. I felt as if I was in the Olympics, the crowd cheering as I was approaching the finish line. The tears were streaming from my eyes now…I knew I had achieved, I regained my health with God. I knew I could give hope to those patients that were watching me. I knew I was going home soon.

Dr. Isogai met me at the front of the building. He made the comment; "There must be a God". He never took the opportunity to learn about God…he felt he was too busy either studying or helping patients. Dr. Isogai was proud. His therapy provided the means for me to recover. I knew God was working with Dr. Isogai, even if He did not realize it.

Dr. Isogai did a thorough examination on me. My spine was completely straight. There was no evidence of bone fragments protruding into any vital areas. I had all of the feeling throughout my entire body, except for the small area around my knee that I had previously injured from a mountain climbing accident. I felt very strong and ready to go. In fact I was waiting for Dr. Isogai to release me but instead he wanted me to do one more thing, to climb Mt. Fuji.

Dr. Isogai knew I loved climbing. Climbing Mt. Fuji was one of my goals while growing up. I was excited, yet again apprehensive because it would be a real physical challenge. The more I thought and prayed, the more I realized that perhaps it might not be wise to climb. Typically, I would invest a lot before a climb, assemble a team, test all of the equipment and know the mountain very well. I was not prepared to climb. I explained this to Dr. Isogai. He then came up with another idea.

The airline ticket from the U.S. to Japan also included a flight to Korea returning to Japan. Dr. Isogai asked me to go to Korea for four days, away from the clinic. I believe he thought this was a test before I made the long journey back to the U.S. I would only be out of his care for only four days.

I flew to Seoul, Korea. I toured around a little but I was anxious to get back to the clinic. It was definitely not a vacation.

Four days later I returned to the clinic. Dr. Isogai was anxiously waiting for me. He did another thorough exam and concluded that I was free to go…he released me. I was no longer a patient.

It was hard to believe that the journey had come to an end. I was already missing the clinic, even before leaving. I took the opportunity to say my "good-byes" to other patients and encouraged them. Dr. Isogai's staff was busy taking pictures of this momentous occasion. Dr. Isogai and I reached out to each other, shook hands and hugged. Both Dr. Isogai and I had tears streaming from our eyes as we bade our farewells. We had come a long ways together. Neither of us forgetting this unforgettable experience of 28 weeks together.

I returned back to the U.S. to start a new life. All of the material things that we had were liquidated. My wife and I had nothing materially yet we had everything. We had our health and a deeper relationship with the Living God.

Dr. Isogai called me monthly for the next year checking on my status. I always gave a good report back to Dr. Isogai. I continued exercising and gradually eased into a more active lifestyle. Within another year I was skiing, mountain climbing and enjoying the physically challenging lifestyle I once new.

A couple of years later I learned that Dr. Isogai had passed away. I knew he had experienced God in my healing process. We never did communicate with words, only with the heart. It was his deepest desire to help people regain their health. He allowed the power of God to guide him in his research about the human body and thus develop a unique therapy program to help thousands of people.

Each chapter in this book is a stepping stone to accomplishing your dream. In your journey you will find many skeptics, just as I did while going through my fight of re-claiming my health. Probably 9 out of 10 people will laugh at you for pursuing your dream, attempting to pull you down to their level. Don't listen, don't pull yourself down.

You will also find people that have a "cosmic" belief in God. They may ask God to give them this or give them that, give me a new Cadillac or make me rich. They may not understand some fundamental principles of God, let alone prayer.

God wants to BLESS everyone BUT you have to know how to ask. HE expects when you receive a Blessing that you pass it on to others. In other words, be a giver and not a taker.

When asking for God's help for anything, be prepared to use that Blessing for others. It is a fundamental principle, just like the principle of gravity, it exists. God does not live for Himself but for you and others. When you ask for God's Blessings, expect it with Faith and also expect to pass it on.

"Just don't give up doing what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think that you can go wrong." -Ella Fitzgerald, Known as America's "first Lady of Song".

People have said that I was "lucky". "You can endure those hardships but I could never do that". How wrong people are to think that. (Remember, we must first remove "can't" from our vocabulary. It is ok to say, I "will not" but never say, "I cannot".) Luck is where preparedness and opportunity meet then taking action. This encompasses the necessary belief and faith needed to attain the goal, in my case, regaining my health. Everyone has the ability to create "LUCK".

Whatever one wants to accomplish, begin with prayer and follow with action. Then do it again, begin with prayer and follow with action. Then do it again and again and again…never giving up. Even if there is little belief and no faith. Take one step at a time. Belief and Faith grow as one takes action.

The ultimate secret, the honest consistent communication with God, known as prayer and following it with action. It's that simple. Prayer is powerful.

• The first thing to do is ask yourself "why" you want something. You need to know "why" or you will just flounder and never accomplish.
• Pray, Pray and Pray. Take your "why" you want something and pray with God. Let him know your conviction.
• There is nothing magical but prayer does require effort and sincerity.
• Pray with your heart, not merely words but search deeply within yourself to communicate with God. This does require consistent effort.
• Take action. After praying, do the absolute best you can to live what you pray for. Don't just wait for miracles to happen, go look for them.
• Ask questions, just as the Bible says, "Ask, and it will be given to you…" There is a lot of truth in this.
• If your attitude is bad, pray to have a good attitude.
• Pray consistently, not once or twice but all the time.
• Build a personal relationship with God.
• Be aware as doors of opportunities open. Sometimes we are busy looking for answers that we want and neglect to see the answer that God has provided.
• When the doors of opportunity open, walk through them. Even if you have some fear about walking through a door of opportunity, don't let it stop you…continue walking and use the faith you have built. Faith cancels out fear.
• Look at God as your loving parent. It may, at times be hard to believe that God loves you especially after a tragic accident, but look to Him as your parent. He has no desire to hurt or harm you in any way. With that thought process you will promote trust, confidence and faith in God.
• Live with positive thoughts. Surround yourself with only good things, good positive people. Fight off those negative thoughts. How? Read good books, like the Bible and converse only in positive thoughts. I have personally found the Bible to be an amazing source of profound powerful words. You can find a passage that will yield great wisdom to any difficulty. Read, use and act on the words of this great book, The Bible.
• Imagine God walking with you, going from place to place. When you have Him in your heart, he is with you and wants the Best for you.
• Express gratitude to God. You say "Thank you" to friends, don't you? Then be sure to express your gratitude and appreciation to God.
• Joel Osteen summarizes it best, converse with God in this manner; "Father, I thank you that I have your Favor. Your Favor is opening doors of opportunity. Your Favor is bringing success into my life. Your Favor is causing people to want to help me"

Now, over 20 years later with over 20 years of marriage, my wife and I reflect back on this physical and emotional journey many times. It has reinforced what we live and act by the power of prayer to obtain Faith, Belief and Hope.

Not only is the Bible the source of God's Word, we have also found the Bible as a great Book of Inspiration. The profound passages throughout the Bible give great wisdom in confronting and overcoming any challenge. If you have not read the Bible we encourage you to do so. You have the opportunity for great insights.

Chapter 11

It is our hope and desire to pass the Blessings that God has given us to YOU! We have come a long way since that tragic day off the coast of New York. God wants to Bless you abundantly just as He did and is doing for us...simply know that you can ask and receive.

Before I dedicated my time volunteering to help build a Christian Youth Organization, I was acquiring a variety of skills to help testify to God. God helped me turn a negative experience into a positive experience, not only for me but also for everyone.

The skills I acquired began at a young age. I fell in love with nature, the beauty and challenge it brought. The adventurous life that nature yields was engrained within me. I am to this day, awe-struck at God's creation; the mountains, the oceans, the entire universe.

My adventurous spirit led me to: mountaineering, sailing, diving, parachuting, kayaking, flying and any adventurous sport that brought me a challenge. I felt close to God during those adventurous moments. (At that time in my life I did not realize there was more to life than some adventure.)

I later furthered my education studying geology and the natural sciences at a University. I wanted to learn the intricacies of the mountains I was climbing and oceans I was sailing.

The challenges in adventure led me to seek out a deeper relationship with God (God worked in many ways, I later learned). I became very active in Church Organizations sharing with others the skills I had learned from adventure related activities. I had a strong desire to connect the skills of adventure with a spiritual life. I was led to study Religious Education at a Seminary. During my studies there I wrote my first book, The Call To Adventure.

I met my future wife, Maria, while doing my graduate studies. We both had a strong desire to work with youth and testify about God. We wanted a family and raise them with moral and ethical values. It was a God given dream that Maria and I found each other, our principles were the same. We got married while I was in graduate school.

Upon graduating, with our original goals, we volunteered to help build an International Christian Youth Organization. We acquired horses, mountaineering equipment and a fishing boat for the purpose of teaching a variety of programs. We were so excited with the opportunity to share about God and live our dream.

The most important that we have learned in our journey, "When God Blesses You, Pass The Blessings On To Others".

We would like to hear from you...send us your story of Faith...ask and receive.

God Bless and Guide You,

Craig Dahl
Senior Editor

Return to Abolish Back Pain

We're also the Senior Editors for Northwest Travel Tips, Love Quotes For You, and Luxury Romantic Vacations; we've brought the Best of the worlds together, Health, Love & Travel