The Hip Bone's Connected to the Knee Bone

The Hip Bone’s Connected to the Knee Bone

Remember that old “spiritual?” Perhaps you sang it in church or the school choir. I loved it because it seemed so full of life. But it was about “Dry Bones.”

I will soon go into the hospital for knee “revision” a fancy medical term for knee replacement. It will be the second time for my left knee. Almost twenty years ago, Dr. B. replaced my 60-year-old knee with what he called a 10-year knee. If I quit running, the cause of the whole problem, I might get more years. I am grateful for almost 20. Here’s where the hip bone enters the story. Because I was favoring my old “new” knee I wore out my right hip. Are you with me? “The hip bone’s connected to the knee bone.” Several months ago, Dr. F asked me “What hurts more?” and I told him my hip, so he replaced it. I am grateful for the team of medical folks who lovingly swarmed like busy bees around my sedated self and fixed my hip. Here’s a picture.

But the knee still needed “revision.” On Monday I look forward to the whole amazing process. I am an adventure kayaker who paddles vast distances on rivers, canals, and fjords. Pain is nothing new to me. The journey ahead will have plenty of discomfort. But once again family, friends, and a physical therapist will join me in my recovery. My goal is to be back on my bike and in the fall, peddle the Mississippi River Road from Minnesota to New Orleans, retracing by road the path I paddled in my kayak years ago.

The song keeps playing in my head as I reflect on these troubled times. Long ago, the prophet Ezekiel spoke of dry bones to symbolize the people of Israel, who were in a state of spiritual and physical death due to their exile and lack of faith. The vision of the bones being animated and brought back together represented God’s promise of restoring life and hope to his people.

Ezekiel’s words inspired the great African American lyricist James Weldon Johnson, who also wrote the lyrics to Lift Every Voice and Sing, to encourage his people “to hear the word of the Lord.” The Delta Rhythm Boys popularized “Dry Bones” in 1952 on the Ed Sullivan Show perhaps prophesying the budding Civil Rights Movement.

As I prepare for my surgery and continue my life journey join me in singing about “Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones.”