Support through Acceptance Without Exception

When I think about life, I many times use analogies, metaphors and parables. Sometimes it is very hard for people to get beyond their own thoughts, so they simply can open up their ears, which stems from the heart. So that they may listen and feel. Many people reach success. In today's world, it has become a necessity to be recognized. As fame has been overshadowed by infamy. We all want to be recognized, in fact we need it. And biblically speaking it is a part of life as God said to Abraham, for you will be famous amongst all the nations, knowing that this is of human nature.  Often I think how people get lost in the shuffle. As we have forgotten the smallest gestures that have helped us succeed.
When I think about this, it immediately takes me to the game of chess. Though just a game, what an incredible metaphor for life.  Starting from the pawns, to the king. Yet, one piece must always start, and in life, one person must always start the process.  No move can be made without another move to deflect and/or protect.  As people are willing to sacrifice in the smallest to largest ways. But in the opposition of chess where the goal is to win the game, counting on each and every piece to achieve success; in life the goal is not only to beat your opponent, but many times to use every person you can to do so. In chess, we simply pick the pieces back up and start over.  As it is known that without every piece on the board, ultimately there is no possibility of success. Yet, we pass this over hour by hour, day by day, year by year. As we look down upon people.

 I always wonder what pain others are feeling and what brings joy to their life.  Going through a life full of illness and torture. I have truly reached deep inside for a greater understanding. As we are involved with ourself, we forget about others and then we pass judgment.  An example of this: if a man is trying to make a meeting, a career opportunity that will change his life, his family's life, on the way to receive an advancement, a promotion in his life, he stops at a gas station. The gas attendant pumps his gas, helps him to get to his opportunity faster, yet that man or woman is overlooked and never appreciated for the hard work they put in. This man has a small wage, yet could be providing for a family, struggling to succeed and reach their dreams and goals. Yet no credit is given to them because they are simply doing their job. And most of the time we look down upon these people. Yet this person that is helping you could be the next Martin Luther King Jr. or Albert Einstein or could end up being your best friend and supporter. Yet, how different it is and how the blame is twisted if your dreams and goals are not met because of your own irresponsibility.  Please stay with me here.

If the night before your tank runs on empty, causing you to rush the next morning.  As you pull into the gas station, you are not greeted. You pump your own gas, you tried to pay with your credit card, it doesn't work.  You go into the gas station itself to pay and there is a long line. you expect mountains to be moved because of your irresponsibility.  And as your opportunity passes, there are only two things that happen. You blame those people or you pity yourself.Taking responsibility, accepting responsibility.  You must do so for yourself, but also for others. Some people wake up with such extreme struggles and torment. We judge them for we feel that it is impossible for this to be happening without them causing it for themselves, so we assume the worst. Oh! The rose colored glasses that we see ourselves through.  We give no one the benefit of the doubt, and we bare false witness. Most people who live their life in health go through struggles of their own. Everyday, the importance of one individual outweighs the importance of the other and this happens billions of times every day. It is very easy to look within yourself and give others the credit that you'd do so for you.  But we choose to drown in our own bottomless pit. Most people spend their life wading. Yet, someone has already built a bridge for you, not to have to push through the water and muck with all the weight that is slowing you down.  Many times we take the bridge, but as we walk across it, we often burn it so that no one else can come across.  Every second of every day, it is the opportunity to set the perfect example for someone else.  But to do so, we must be a positive example for ourself.  We must support everyone. In my years on this earth, I have seen people come together for many different reasons. Yet, somehow they all end in tragedy for the need to be a part of something, whether good or bad, will be accepted and taken advantage of.  For in these instances, the cause seems to have no effect.

As I have layed in the hospital many a times, faced with death, but worse than that was mistreated and left for dead in horrible suffering.  I can not even remember the number of times I have been asked by a doctor, what would you like me to do, as my reply was simple. Please help. Please make me well. Through years of people hurting me, years of suffering, what no man should have to endure,  I have built up a strength.  Yet, that strength, no man should have.  If I were healthy, that strength would be worth something. It could be applied. As I have never been weak in my life, I have found that the stronger that I become, the less people want to help.  Again, I will use analogies to explain as I have done so for my family and for doctors.  Less than 50 years ago, people were enduring incredible sufferings. Finding strength to survive, yet the help was there. A hundred years ago a man could suffer a gunshot wound to his leg.  As part of my schooling, when I became a doctor (and though it has been years since I practiced) we had to learn the history of medicine.  Which by the way is derived and structured from Christianity.  Continuing, men would be bludgeoned over the head with a hammer or have to drink whiskey as their leg would be sawn off. It was expected for men to be tough. Some of them died. Some of them healed. Getting up everyday, working and helping, providing, supporting.  Til their body gave out yet suffering the whole time. Dying at the age of 35.

A person's strength now seems to be a sign of a lie. It is impossible, in the eyes of man, to believe that somebody could be dealing with something so horrific, but pick themselves up everyday and just do. I have seen people go into a hospital crying, screaming, which is a normal reaction to pain.  Coming down to something as simple as indigestion.  Yet, there comes a time in a man's life to be capable of enduring torture.They suck it up. They adapt. And as my body is riddled with cancer and every other disease possible, I many times am told that I am too large of a man, too well built, and too strong.  As I was told once that I can not be that sick because I was crossing my feet.  As I was recently in the hospital, my white cell count was 250,000, my red cell count was 2. I should not be alive.  But yet, here I am.  Though doctors refuse to do surgery, because of liability based upon the fact that I will in most likelihood die. Somehow the common sense and logic that I am a walking, talking miracle surpasses their common sense. Their humanity and the oath that they have taken.  It is not normal.  As I receive no peace. But yet my heart remains the same. As there are so many things I want to do.  but I cant. But what I can do, I do not try I just do.  I just take the action of doing. And with that I have a hard time keeping up.  I have lost many of my gifts, and I do not know if they can be fixed.  I look at the people along the way in my life, The people that are supposed to be the closest to me and I have had little or no support.  Yet, people that I have not physically met, some through social media have supported me more in one day than my family has done in their entire life.  Is it out of sight out of mind? Or is it that the people that do care and support do so because they love.  And they love without consequence.  It is just who they are. I surely did not have to go through these sufferings to be this way.  We are all born with the same heart and the same spirit. I believe there is a point in every person's life where they truly are in need.  And how easily that is passed over when the problem/problems become so great.that their life is turned into worthlessness.  

People are worthy. When they are in need and want the help, please do not deem yourself worthy of helping, for it is easy to come to the rescue, please do not throw people away.  Many people state that they will die for someone, but will you live for someone?  When we are in great need, we often turn our back on those who need.  When they are not and we come back into their lives, we are leaving those people with a feeling of worthlessness. Whether people support me or not, I still support them. People have hurt me along the way.  Yes I am not infallible, it angers me that they keep living their life in blessings without realizing what they have done as most continue on hurting me and of course, others.. But I understand that those that do the hurting are miserable, but I do not want this for them.  As I suffer, I seek out joy, and I want those people to find the same.  Not for me, but for themselves.  Happiness comes and goes, it is fleeting.  Joy is derived fro love and it sustain indefinitely, infinitely. It can not be taken away, it can not be lost and it will never have to be searched for again.  But I must add that we shall always long for it.  So when I state that I search for joy daily, it is not that i and searching for the the feeling of joy as it is constant, it is for the fact that I do not take it for granted and just like any virtue and everything in life, it can become greater and better.  Searching for that one day that you are so filled with joy and love, there s no room for anything else.  When I look at doctors, when I think about marriage.  You take an oath, a vow.  You have given your word.  We must take care of each other, love each other, I promise you this; if you hold out your hand in support, the person that latches on will never let go and you will have their support for the rest of your days. And through a chain of events, as we all have heard the term 6 degrees of separation, that does truly exist.  Yes, we have used the term pay it forward.  I do like that term, but it is slightly contradicting in itself. Meaning don't wait for someone to do good for you for you to do good for someone else. From the smallest to the largest gesture of love, the person you give it to will always remember. Your life has no meaning or purpose without God, without Christ,  without the Holy Spirit and you have no discernment. And it will have none without others.  As much as we would like to fool ourselves to believing that we don't need anyone, we are degrading ourselves and others in that thought. I wonder what life would be like if you were the only person on this planet.  What it would feel like to have no one. No one to talk to. No one to listen to. No one to touch. No one to laugh with.  No one to care.  And no one to love.

As I have lived my life seeing people make excuses for their behavior, going down to my own experiences, the two questions that I come up with to ask myself and others are simply this: Why and How? If you know the answer to these questions then you have done right by your own life and others, and in my last example. If you are to win a million dollars, no one asks why or how, why did I get this, how? Why did I deserve this? But if your neighbor does how you will quickly say why and how? Why do they deserve this? Why not me? But it must start with you. For what you want for others must come from what you want for yourself.  And if you want greatness for yourself, you surely should want it for others.  If you live your life in pity, crave, want that, then obviously, you can truly not want a healthy successful life for others. So let's stand up, walk tall. Unite! Support each other! Take Care of Each Other! Do Not take for granted what your savior has said. As Jesus Christ spoke, very clearly, you ARE your brother's keeper, and there is no exception.

~Joshua Jet Vaughan~

The Story of Joshua~ Chapter 3.5

Rocky the raccoon. 

      Though with this story and stories to come, we will be sharing some of Joshua's Joys.  They are all intertwined with sickness and many times horrors. By this time in his life, because of the injuries he had sustained, he was constantly having to go to the chiropractor.  And was blessed enough to find a family physician named Dr. Ludwig, who was a retired military doctor who served in Korea.  A man who knew so much as he had once told Joshua that he had performed over 1000 surgeries on wounded/injured soldiers in a 24 hour period.  An old school man's man standing about 6'8'' and weighing about 350lbs.  Though he had helped Joshua in many ways. The testing available at the time, mainly the technology, was not available.  Though many of his family members were plagued with illness, and Joshua had many of the same symptoms, because his family were very selfish people, was not a consideration or was really ever noticed the problems that he was suffering.  And though at this young age he was a man in his own right, and children are resilient.

There was no way possible with him to associate any of these things with severe illnesses.  Which makes what he has accomplished that we will be sharing that much more powerful and inspirational.  Because the illness, the gifts, success, that he had and has accomplished, though for him it's simply joys, these two things must be intertwined to understand how hard he had to work and push to accomplish what he has in his life by understanding the illnesses that he had and has.  He has worked hard for so many things, but has never been able to  get to the place where he needs to be and the rest of the world needs to see.


And to make it clear, many of the people in Joshua's story will be left out for they are far to personal and far too painful for even us to speak about let alone write about. And that is not what this page is about. As of the next few stories of his life, we will be talking about wonderful strides he had made, the unbelievable accomplishments, yet the nightmares of being sick and the people around him that have hurt him so tremendously there is no reason why he should be alive today. Injury after injury, sickness after sickness, beating after beating, want to emphasize on what he has done for himself, but mainly for others. Always helping and changing people's lives for the better.


 He cared nothing of fame, money, or being on tv as he grew up in a different time, all he wanted to do was play professional basketball. Though Joshua's always made right choices, based upon morality, faith, discernment and purely the heart that he was given.  Being such a convicted, but beaten down young man, what you will see is how other people and situations in life can affect someones life so drastically that it can be ended.  How much people can push if they truly care for themselves and for others. As a Christian, living his life in faith.

All the stories now, and to come, he and our team hope shows, how from the simplest thing to the biggest thing, can affect a person's life.  Their heart.  Their spirit.   Hopefully, helping people to build, not to destroy.  As what he had grasped early on, is how the smallest thing in an individual's perspective, can change the life of another person's drastically.  Again, destroying their life, or bettering them.

The Story of Joshua ~Chapter 3

At 12 years old, in 6th grade, Mr. Graves, Joshua's school counselor, had taken his class went to visit an airforce base.  There they were walked through the programs that they had to offer, and were encouraged to take the very same tests that their Airforce recruits were required to take.  Joshua blew them away, not just with one test, but acing all of them.  They invited him to try their Airforce simulator which the fighter pilots use to train on.  He aced this program as well.

At this age he stood 4'10" and wore glasses due to eye conditions called conjunctivitis and photo-sensitivity.  During the day he would often have to wear sunglasses to protect his eyes from the brightness of light, and at night his eyes would often glow from the over sensitivity to take in light, even in the dark.  The diseases would make his eyes twitch very badly and give him facial ticks.  He had prescription eye drops, as his eyes would produce no natural tears.  He dreamed of being a fighter pilot, but at the time, with his glasses, it was not a possibility.

At the age of 13, Joshua had grown into a very attractive young man.  He excelled at every sport and had the honor of walking down the "senior hall" not just without any bullying, but with the support, encouragement and friendship of the senior boys, and the flattery of the senior girls.  The girls would surround his and tousle his hair, and comment on what a lady killer he would be when he got older.

Joshua has always excelled in athletics.  Every sport he excelled in, he pushed himself beyond the limits that even he imagined until he was known as the golden boy of his area.  But this was not a term that he embraced or was proud of, because his quest was always to better himself.  But his athletic passion was basketball.  During his 8th grade year he scored 51 points in one game, breaking records, and led his tea

m to go on to score over 90 points together.  He broke national records with a quadruple double; scoring 51 points, performing 12 steals, getting 15 rebounds and 11 assists.


At the end of his 8th grade year went to see an eye doctor.  His eyes had corrected themselves.  When he showed up at school Mr. Graves, his semi-retired school counselor, and asked Joshua if he had gotten contacts.  Joshua replied, "No, my eyes corrected themselves. I have 20/10 vision now."

When Mr. Graves had seen and heard this, he was elated for Joshua.  Mr. Grave's son was the captain of a nuclear submarine. He loved the military and immediately set up an opportunity for Joshua to fly in a military helicopter and, what is a gunship, gave Joshua the stick to fly himself for about 5 minutes.  As everyone watched, Joshua got to fly over their local areas, basically confined within a few square miles.  But by this time, he had already given his heart over to basketball.

He spent hours and hours after working a laborious job, sometimes up to 12 hours a day during the summer practicing; even when school started, into the winter months sometimes playing so late into the evening, he'd play by just a solitary street light.  And many times, not having a light at all using only the light of the moon.  When he became a freshman in high school he grew to 5'1".  He was asked to move up to varsity, but he turned it down because he did not feel he had anything to contribute/for the team; and he also felt that it would cause problems with his classmates who were not offered this opportunity.  With these factors combined, it did not seem like the best decision for the time.

Coming into his sophomore year, throughout the summer, he had played almost 1000 hours of basketball and shot up to a height of 5'8" though still short in the world of basketball.  As he came into the first open gym, he stole the ball from an opponent, took off from the corner of the free throw line and dunked it.  He would stretch religiously, even hanging from the clothes line bar, hoping he would grow.  He would do hours of exercises to increase his jumping ability, but what also helped was his Uncle Vinny, who was in the Navy, and introduced Joshua to martial arts.  By this time he had already reached a black belt in Tai Kwon Do, a brown belt in judo, and had been long into his quest of mastering the art of Jeet Kune Do.

But Joshua always felt as though something were missing.  He'd say, 'I feel like I need a guitar in my hand.'


Throughout his young life he was groomed by another man who was a coach, a teacher and a mentor to Joshua.  That man's name was Mr. McNally.  He had coached college and professional teams in both football and basketball.  Mr. McNally started Joshua out, at a young age, managing the teams.  Helping both he and the players out in both football and basketball.  He would always encourage Joshua, and often ask him to demonstrate something for the older kids to watch.


Joshua's sister was an All State, which later turned into All American, track sprinter; because of this it was expected out of him as well.  Joshua ran track, overlapped running cross country with playing football, and of course his passion, basketball.  Mr. McNally had groomed Joshua to be his golden boy.  He had planned to retire once Joshua had graduated; however, his wife became very ill, forcing Mr. McNally to retire when Joshua was just a freshman in high school; bringing on chaos into the school with coaches coming in and out all the time as well as teachers to fill the void.

 Even with these hiccups, Joshua was still recognized as one of the two best high school basketball players in the United States.  At only 5'8" he was barely beat out for the number one spot by Chris Webber, who was his friend and ended up going on to play professional basketball. Joshua was rated just under Chris, though Chris was a full foot taller.  Joshua had broken records in dunks per game, points, assists, rebounds and steals.  He played with migraines that plagued him almost daily, and had severe hypoglycemia; having no idea at the time the autoimmune diseases that plagued his body, not to find out until years later.

As many at this time looked to one man for basketball, Joshua did as well. This was, of course, none other than Michael Jordan. Though gifted in the style of how Michael played, he also learned and patterned his game after Michael Jordan; and his professional behavior both on and off the court.  As Joshua was everything Michael at this time, he had heard of the same situation with height happening to MJ and the love and desire they both had for the game of basketball. When Joshua was young, doctors had told him that he's supposed to be 6'6", which as a young man like Joshua, made him elated; because that was and is Michael Jordan's height. Though he eventually grew to well over 6'3", at 5'8" he was capable of doing anything and everything Michael Jordan could do. For all those who remember MJ, every dunk that he was doing, Joshua was doing as a sophomore at only 5'8".

As Joshua had foot problems, specifically trouble with his arches, it was very difficult to find a pair of shoes.  Also the fact that he had very large feet and very large hands.  Being able to palm the ball when only at 5'1". As his team wore the same shoes, and Joshua was given the number 23, he was also allowed to be the only player on the team to wear Air Jordans, at this time called Hare Jordans. These were one of the many pair of Michael Jordan shoes he had owned over the years.  As stated earlier, Joshua was everything Michael Jordan, owning over 50 hats, 25 t-shirts, a dozen warm up suits, and every pair of Michael Jordan shoes that had ever come out. All Nike Air Jordan clothing. As many would say it was an obsession, Joshua would say, 'it's not an obsession when it's healthy.' Convicted as just a young man.

Practice

By the end of Joshua's sophomore year, he had broken a multitude of national records. Though his team's success and camaraderie was more important; his abilities and his team would only get better in the years to come.  One of the records that Joshua had broken at 5'8"and just turning 16 January 14th of his sophomore year, was that he had broken the national dunk record for one game.  In one game he had dunked 9 times.  Which was quite an achievement for him, as it would be for anyone. He very proudly held that record; until three days later his good friend, Chris Webber broke it by only one dunk.  (We must add again; that Chris Webber was a foot taller and almost two years older than Joshua)Though mainly a one footed jumper, Joshua was measured jumping off of two legs as having a 51" vertical.

AAU league game

To be continued...

Joshua's Joys ~ Driving South LIVE from Nashville TN

Joshua Jet Vaughan and the Voice of God will be releasing an album version of Driving South Soon.  This rare live version was recorded while Joshua was in remission.  It took a month to perfect it note for note, as they do several SRV covers when playing live.  Whenever vocals are involved; word for word, SRV's phrasing, guitar, bass and drums, note for note, beat for beat.  For this is one man and one band that must be honored this way, trying to do SRV and his band Double Trouble justice and pay their respects.

As Joshua's band had played a few SRV songs throughout the night, this was the encore.  Joshua played the guitar/ lead, his wife Anna Bella Vaughan  is playing bass, and his cousin Jackson Smith is on drums.  Putting the power back in power trio. Enjoy!



As with most musicians, typically they have OCD, or as Joshua would say OCB, Obssessive Compulsive Behavior, Musically he is prodiguous and a phenom.  Through years of sickness he has not been happy with many of the vocal performances, til the age of 34 during his remission where everything that he had worked for had finally came to fruition.  So until his album is released, much of the music that we share will not have vocals. With a variety of songs on his album, not just blues, with trying to produce other songs that he has recorded, making it a double disc/cd release.  Originals and remakes from songs like Just a Gigalo, to No Sugar Tonight, and many others of this style and nature and of course his true passion the blues. Through personal conversation with Joshua, at this point he had finally felt that again he had achieved what he had been working so hard for. After his album is released, due to his wishes, many other songs that have been recorded will be released that have vocals on them. As there have been times as of late that it has been difficult for him to sing because of his illness.  Personally, Joshua feels that once the album is released, it will show truly what he is capable of vocally and in all aspects musically.  About the time of remission he was still not at his best, but this is where he felt he was at his most confident. And will be heard for what he truly sounds like and who he truly is using his music as an example and platform. Simply stating, that after the release of his album, he will be heard for the gifts that he has been given and the hard work, then allowing other recordings to be released to show the difference that his illness has made in his life in a negative and positive way, in this case specifically musically helping to give people an understanding of himself, but also knowing that others will be able to relate and in all fields and all walks of life, many people struggle through the same obstacles. Having peace knowing that they have reached their goals, as we all want to be seen and show our true selves.  Also this is one of the times that he has felt the best in his life to where his passion can truly shine through. Though, truly his health was only about 35%, it is enough to give him peace and satisfaction.  For in music is one of very few professions that you must be confident and vulnerable at the same time. Allowing yourself to live pure righteous emotion.

Joshua's Joys ~Studio Warm UP SRV Style Fast/Slow Jam

Joshua's wife, Anna Bella, recorded Joshua's Warm up while in the studio yesterday on her phone. She sent us the link so we can post it here, so everyone can hear the amazing talent of this man.  He doesn't know that it's posted yet.  Surprise recording.

 

Joshua's Joys ~Praise The Lord

Feel free to sing along!

Joshua's Joys

Leaning on his cousin Perry's boat at just 12 years old.  At this age, Joshua had started helping others trying to raise money for St. Jude's.  He walked for miles from home to home, knocking on doors asking for donations.  There were two ways to donate, one was a simple lump sum of money, and the other was to donate a certain amount of money for each mile ridden on his bike.  Every person that had donated to Joshua for St. Judes, donated the amount to the miles ridden.  Because the amount was so little from each person, for each mile, Joshua decided to ride his bike 51 miles.  While others who had gotten large amounts of money and would ride 7-8 miles and then sat for the rest of the day, Joshua pedaled his one gear bicycle, again, 51 miles, raising thousands of dollars for St. Jude's.  

Joshua's Joys

While Joshua's story is filled with tragedy, there have also been moments of great Joy.  During the next few weeks, while we post Joshua's story; we will also be posting short anecdotes about moments of joy in his life.  While the great tragedy makes his fight that much more inspirational, and his drive that much more motivational, Joshua believes that balance is key to life.  We shall provide you with the bits "Joshua's Joys." May it bring as much joy to your life as it has to him and to ours.

Joshua's Joys~Pride & Joy

Growing up in a family that was all about the blues, Joshua finally learned a family song. With a voice so powerful and such natural rasp and getting the sound down of SRV perfectly, he played this song in a crowd of 45,000 people.  After this he had had his first national magazine article published, and by the next day he had over 100 major record labels that had called and left messages on his answering machine after only playing the guitar for six months. Note for note. The exact sound of SRV. With a voice more powerful than that of an adult Elvis Presley. And a natural rasp that out-grasped anyone. Though this was not enough for Joshua. Always taking compliments with a grain of salt because of wanting to better himself in every way so that he could some day change the world.

Situational Stevie

Vaughan's Victories

Speaking through your heart to make the world a little lighter.

I have started this blog for many reasons. There is much I have to say, yet more I would love to hear. I believe everyone has a story to tell. Good and Bad. We all have a voice and we all need to be heard. Here is your chance to share and care. With and for the people of this world. Whether it's funny, sad, happy, joyful, whether you're hurt, angry. If you're need is to share your dreams, to share your heart, simply to be heard. This is the place that you can call home. We are all ordinary; it is what we do that makes us extraordinary. Whether you are famous, rich, poor, lonely: through this we will all become a family. What we must learn is simple. Our words and our actions are only as good as the heart behind them. To lead we must follow. To follow we must lead. To realize that we know everything by understanding that we know nothing. And to realize that you are perfect by understanding that we will never reach perfection. Everyone has a story to tell. Here is your chance. We are here to learn and love through the grace of God.