Improving Peoples' Lives

by Liz O'Neill

Background
We're reading more about Mickey's desire to improve the quality of people's lives and how he did it.

Remember how Mickey bought a grinder for a fellow who was hungry? As we might expect or hope in helping someone, he would be rewarded in some way.

The grinder building thief mailed the wallet back to Mickey filled with emptiness. We could have a discussion here now as to why the thief sent an empty wallet back to the victim.

Was it to assuage his guilt? Or was he clearing excess baggage from his belongings? Maybe the empty wallet was nothing he had use for. Maybe a Christian moment or a thought struck him.

What would be any other reason he returned that wallet? This is something that will stay in our heads. Every so often we'll think back and wonder why he returned that empty wallet by mail.

On other occasions, Mickey was helping the needy during the time he was West of Chicago. A fellow needed a ride and Mickey was able to get a cab for him. Other times he helped a parent buy some diapers which he as a father knew would be vital.

Early on, he used to make regular donations of money to the local battered women's shelter. One guy said, “You're just like Jesus.” All our hero responded with was, “I do my best to make life easier for people. I like to improve the quality of people's lives wherever I am able.

He spent many months volunteering in missions throughout the country helping in any way he could. He hung out a lot in the Kansas City, Missouri area. Mickey gives us an interesting tidbit about all missions in the United States.

He said. “Amid the multitude of city lights, you will find several red lights. No not that kind.” It turns out every mission has a lighted cross with the words Jesus saves, lit up in red lights.

In St Paul/Minneapolis, he volunteered in a managed care facility. He was elated to be able to help so many people in a structured situation. Because of his selflessness, he was honored to be interviewed by an author of the St. Paul Newspaper.

*******

The Interview

In the interview, he discussed how in his routine, he missed catching a lot of buses which he thought was providential. He would end up in another location, almost as if the Lord was taking him to a needful area.

He got to help people in an unplanned, unexpected location. He has a list of many small assists which may not seem like much to some. When he found himself in a certain spot, he felt directed toward the people who needed his assistance.

He saw a fellow sitting on the sidewalk curb appearing hungry. He ended up buying a burger for the guy who it turned out, didn't have any money. Mickey sensed because the bus took him there, he was supposed to help that fellow. He kept following God's direction to know who the next one was that he was supposed to help.

One compelling message he received confirmed to him he was destined to help people. It rang out when he found a fistful of money in the bus station. He heard some guy say he needed to find a way to visit his son. Mike bought him a bus ticket with the found money.

In the 60’s he called himself a street minister. After flagging down and accompanying a homeless man in a cab, he hiked a distance returning to his original location. He did a lot of hiking back then. This was before he got himself in great shape by running in the late 70’s

He even got his sister to begin jogging. She got up to 6 miles a day with his encouragement and instruction. He wishes he could recapture that same spirit of kindness and generosity.

He knows he has lost a lot because of his TBI, traumatic brain injury. He is aware his brain has regressed and he misses the ole Mickey. It’s as if his brain is morphing in reverse with his personality and disposition. It's a growing tragedy.

This is one of the reasons I am writing this book so he can see the life he lived before a car slammed into him on his bicycle, on his way home from his tree manager position, a week before he turned 40.

Another way Mike wanted to get in better shape was to adopt a weight training regimen with dumbells.

He wanted to better his body strength inner and outer to help with his blood pressure, and stress relief. He gained greater self-esteem. That kind of training strengthened his bones and helped with his metabolism. It strengthened his tendons, ligament and bones

He didn't have to join a gym or get a lot of machines. He planned to pay for his dumbbells and a bench to lay upon to lift his weights but he came up with another idea. He got a shelf and put it on his bed and layed upon that shelf which served as his bench.

He did not want to become like some people who become over enthused about the workouts and injure themselves because they are not being careful. His safe tactic was to use lightweights, and do many reps.

The first step is understanding reps and sets and how they apply to his workout program. A repetition, or rep, references one complete movement. So, one biceps curl equals one rep, and 5 biceps curls are 5 reps. Reps make up a set, which is usually the total number of reps he'll do before taking a break.

*****

Mike's brother-in-law Gary wanted a sparring partner for martial arts so he encouraged Mike to sign up. They trained with an instructor whom they addressed as Sensei.

To address the Sensei, at the beginning of their instructions, they would have one hand open and would pound their fist into their empty hand. Bowing their head to the Sensei, they yelled hi oh, Kuma te'.

Both Mike and Gary learned a very painful lesson. While sparring in their home, Mike was attempting to kick high toward Gary's face. He was using his shin, however, Gary was using his shin to block Mike. They shockingly locked shins, some of the most tender parts of their leg. They were in such pain they couldn't do much for a long while.

Mike says of all the advice he would give to anyone beginning, such training he would tell them do not block with your shin. It hurt terribly for both of them and they both developed hematoma on their shins, which is described as a pool of blood trapped outside a blood vessel.

Sadly, their sparring endeavors were short-lived. Mike's fantasy of becoming another Billy Jack, one of his karate role models had gone up in smoke.

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As you can see mickey did many good things for people when he went out and did his ministry work. I want people to see who he was and how now most of it is lost.

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Mickey wanted to help

A chapter in the book Danger is my business

Improving Peoples' Lives

by Liz O'Neill

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