A Crown That Fits

I was crowned last week.  No, I did not gain royal status and neither did I play a game of Checkers.  Rather, my dentist, Dr. Silverman, replaced a crown on a molar. 

I am the son of a dentist.  My father-in-law is also a dentist.  With two dentists in the family, until well into my 30s, I never needed to search for (or pay, for that matter) a dentist.  Neither my father nor father-in-law run an active practice now.  They deserve some rest after servicing thousands of mouths. 

Because of dentists in the family, two things (among others) are true.

1. I fear no dentist.  No dentophobia for me.  I fell asleep in the hygienist's chair two months ago!  I trust people who are trained to clean and treat teeth.
2. I had to experience dentistry in new ways.  I lost free dental care and back-door entrance perks.  While most dental offices have that "dental office" smell, each one looks different.  I had to learn new ways and adjust to different places.  

How well do you handle new ways and different places?  We tend to judge new ways and different places based on our comfort with the old ways and familiar places.  There are things about the closed location of the Alaska Club that I still miss.  

Where have you had to adjust?

• New school (or no school - thanks to COVID)
• New job
• New church

To what have you had to adjust?

• Different teacher
• New boss
• Unfamiliar songs / teaching style

When we face moments (opportunities) of adjustment, we, too, face a decision.  Will we embrace the new or cling to the familiar?  

New wineskins or old?

Not all change is helpful or good.  Yet many times change is a positive thing or, at least, necessary.  Because I trusted that more than two dentists are capable of excellent dentistry, my mouth is clean, and my smile is bright.  

Who do you need to learn to trust?
Where do you need to embrace change?

Do not fear new things.

Oh, and don't forget to floss!

#ordinarylives

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