W.D. McComb's Blog

I have heard my wife's family talk about how, as a little girl watching television, she would frequently ask, "Is it true, is it true?" That image, so emblematic of a child's naivete, always generates a chuckle. But it is reminiscent of a similar question I often ask myself when reading a work of fiction, "Is any of this is inspired by the author's experiences, or is it totally made up?"

I am reminded of the classic television show, To Tell The Truth, where a remarkable story is told about a mystery person, and three guests, each of them claiming to be the real person, are quizzed about details of the story to find out which of them is telling the truth. I seldom guessed the right person on the television show, and rarely are we privy to which details of a fictional story are based on reality. What I can say with certainty of course, is how much of my writing is inspired by real people, places or events.

So, I thought it would be fun to share a few nuggets from my writing for entertainment purposes. Some you may already know. Some you may have guessed and can now find out if you were correct. Keep in mind that any people, places, or events I use are starting points only and never intended to be exact representations. The great thing about fiction is you can change it however you want!

Here are ten of them. There are countless others, perhaps for a future post. If you think of any you would like to know about, put it in the comments! (No spoilers, though, please!)

Case, Jack, and Jet - The Case for Truth trilogy: Many have tried to guess which of these characters are based on me or some of my friends. The truth is, I have taken bits of myself and many of my friends and created a compilation distributed through these three characters.

Amberton, Mississippi - The Case for Truth triology: This is a fictional place, inspired in part by several. Without giving away the origin of the name, I'll tell you that I grew up in one place, married a girl from another, and now live in another. You can take it from there.

Papa Mac's farm - The Recruit and The Case for Truth trilogy: No surprises here for those who grew up with me. Inspired by a farm near my home on the outskirts of town, where we camped, fished, and rode ATVs. Yes, there was a barn, and yes, we found some bones one time. But they were from an animal of some sort, I think... A story was born in my mind, though.

Cadaver with gunshot wound - Anatomy of the Truth: This was based on the cadaver we dissected in my Gross Anatomy class in medical school. The moment I first saw him on my first day of school is an indelible memory, both sobering and enlightening. And yes, I wondered what happened to him (but never found out.) Of course, much like the skeleton in the barn, I knew there was a story to be told.

Logan's Bluff - Truth on the Brink: On the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway near Aberdeen is a place called Blue Bluff. I first saw it as a Boy Scout when we camped there, long before it became a destination for motor homes. I remember looking over the edge way back then wondering if anyone had ever fallen over ...

V. J. MacIntosh - The Truth that Lies Between, et al: Think of the three or four most despicable people you knew growing up, and there you go.

Clifton "Tiger" Townsend Sports Complex - The Truth that Lies Between: The baseball complex where several iconic scenes took place in this book is based on the Dixie Youth complex from my childhood. So many great memories!

Forgotten cemetery - They Roam Those Hills: Inspired by a small, overgrown hillside cemetery on family land. I would love to know the stories behind the names on the stones.

Tractor scene with Papa Mac and FBI agents - The Recruit: Legend has it that FBI Agents approached my grandfather questioning if he had attended a local Ku Klux Klan event. He was so insulted by the false accusation that he told them to get off his property and threatened to fight them with a wrench if they did not do so.

Mysterious river table rider - Truth on the Brink: Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Believe it or not, when I asked one of my patients who is a lock and dam operator what was the strangest thing he had ever seen on his job, he told me about a man riding a kitchen table down the river. I told him that story would live on into perpetuity and kept my word.

A leisurely walk along the edge of a field one day became a deeper reflection about how the best laid plans in life often take an unexpected detour. Which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Once upon a time, a tree trunk began to grow. He had high hopes that one day he might support huge limbs to spread wide in all directions like the other majestic oaks. But as he grew, he realized he only had two tiny limbs on one side, and so his dream was not to be. Still, he hoped maybe he could grow tall, maybe one day be the tallest tree in the forest.

The two limbs on the scrawny trunk were lonely and jealous of limbs that had family on all sides, the kind that together could grow to spread long and strong and looming from their trunk and shade the forest floor beneath in all directions. But they accepted their fate to be second rate limbs on a second rate trunk, for they had no other options.

But one day a strong gust of wind swept along the edge of the field where the trunk and his limbs lived and blew them all down.

As the little trunk fell, he thought it must surely be the end, but by instinct he held on to the ground as firmly as he could. And somehow his roots held. But what was the point? What good was a tree lying on the ground, even if it lives?

The limbs too feared for their lives but praised their little trunk for hanging on. Still, they were devastated that their pitiful plight was now even worse. What good were limbs that can’t grow over the forest floor, even if only a little bit?

And that is when God whispered softly to himself, “I’m sorry that happened, but now I have other plans for you.”

And so a scrawny trunk and two seemingly misplaced, lonely limbs, together barely qualified to be

called a tree, a trio whose dreams were dashed when they were violently blown to the ground, suddenly found themselves with a new purpose.

The limbs would become trunks themselves, to one day grow straight and tall and strong, with families of limbs of their own to spread wide above the forest floor and provide shade in all directions, together reaching twice as far as they had hoped before.

The trunk would become the foundation and roots for two new trees unlike any other in the forest. He would be a perch for rabbit and raccoon and robin and maybe a even a seat for a weary traveler.

Together they would become a sight to give pause to a distracted passerby, to have him appreciate the beauty of it, to take a photo and tell the world about how the tree touched him and made him ponder the mysteries of God’s purpose for him and all of creation.

I recently challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone. Tired of the constant barrage of negativity we are faced with today, I decided to use Philippians 4:8 as a tool to focus on positive thoughts for a time.

,,"Finally, brethren, whatever is TRUE, whatever is HONORABLE, whatever is JUST, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is COMMENDABLE, if there is any EXCELLENCE, if there is anything WORTHY OF PRAISE, think about these things."

I decided to craft 8 positive thoughts from verse 8 in 8 days. I called it my 888 Challenge.

For the record, the number 8 symbolizes new beginnings, and 888 represents Christ.

Here is what I came up with:

Day 1 - TRUE: What has never been more true is the faith of millions of Americans. Despite church doors being closed for weeks due to Covid19, our faith has remained strong. We have gathered with “two or more” to worship in our homes, whether live-streaming or watching TV, YouTube, or Facebook recordings, all while eagerly anticipating the day when we could safely come together again. And I think the expression “absence makes the heart grow fonder” has never rung more true.

This word wall was put up in one of our church classrooms this past week - ready for when Bible class begins again. Jesus loves me and the fruits of the Spirit - truths!

Day 2 - HONORABLE: For all those who have served our country in the armed forces, be it as a career or, like my grandfathers in World War 2 who answered when the country needed them, thank you for your honorable service. To borrow a movie quote: “they stand upon a wall and say, ‘Nothing's going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.’”

,I borrowed this photo from the recent post of a friend from my hometown who dedicated his life to the service of our country. He was moving from an assignment as commander at Kadena Air Base in Japan to the U.S. for a new post as commander at a different base.

Day 3 - JUST: I’ll share a simple story from my childhood that came to mind as I thought about this principle.

First, lest you read this and think otherwise, let me assure my father is a nice guy. But that’s not what this story is about. It’s about high expectations and what happens when they’re not met.

Those who played for my dad or were one of his students may be familiar with this look of displeasure on his face and should appreciate this story.

This is circa 1982, and Dad was not happy with something on the football field. And of course, it wasn’t the first or last time his face bore this look that said he meant business. As his son and team manager, I may have seen this scowl more than anyone.

One day, when I was probably about nine, one of the older managers, a high school student, picked on me and pushed my buttons until I lost my cool and erupted in a profanity-laced tirade. I don’t remember the exact words, only that they were locker room lingo of the strongest kind. What the older manager said next - “Ooh, I’m gonna tell your daddy right now” - made me weak in the knees. I begged for my life, but he just smirked and marched right into the room where Dad was taping ankles before practice.

After listening to the detailed replay of my transgression, Dad’s face twisted into a darker version of the one in this photo, and I knew I was dead. But he didn’t kill me. Instead, he eyed that boy, who he must have sensed had been harassing me, and said, “I really don’t like tattletales.” Then he looked me in the eye, with the same knowing frown that made me shrink two inches, and said, “Plus, I know my son doesn’t talk like that.”

Then he told us to get back to work and quit wasting his time. We both got the point.

,,Day 4 - PURE,: The word can mean many different things and bring all sorts of ideas to mind, but is there anything more pure than the elated smile of a child?

,This is one of my favorite photos, from a time when baseball was played purely for the love of the game and time spent with friends who share that love. It brings a smile to my face every time I think of it. My son had just hit a home run, and his buddies were just as happy as he was. They are all still the best of friends. I’ve had the privilege of seeing hundreds of these smiles on the faces of all three of my kids and their friends over the years, and it never gets old. I long for a time when we see more pure, unadulterated joy like this in the world again.

Day 5 - LOVELY: This isn’t a word I use much, except maybe in sarcasm.

“Your back left tire is flat.”
“Well, that’s just lovely.”

It’s actually a fine word, and the Bible tells me to think on lovely things, so I need to add its proper use to my repertoire. But still, it’s a bit out of my comfort zone, so I wondered, how best to share an example of something lovely? I thought of picturesque landscapes. Favorite songs. Hummingbirds. A dozen other things.

The possibilities are infinite, but for me, one image comes to mind first every time - the faces of my wife and daughters. They are most definitely my shining stars, definitely worth thinking about when I need a lift. Mothers, sisters, wives daughters - it's worth recognizing all the lovely ladies who make life better.

“Women are the poetry of the world in the same sense as the stars are the poetry of heaven.”
- Francis Hargrave

Day 6 - COMMENDABLE: During this Covid19 health crisis, if you watch the news, you’ll see story after story from big urban hospitals and the staff who work there. That’s fine, and they deserve to be lauded, but let me tell you about what’s happening elsewhere. All across the country, rural hospitals battle to provide quality care within their community, where their citizens are more likely than their urban counterparts to be uninsured, to have serious chronic health conditions, and to have geographic barriers to access for preventive care. Plus, only 11% of physicians work in rural areas, whereas 20% of Americans live in them. In short, rural hospitals have to do more with less.

Unfortunately, some small hospitals are not able to survive and are closing their doors. Others, however, have not only survived but are thriving and are able to deliver care that rivals any hospital, anywhere. There are hundreds across the country, and they hold a special place in my heart. If you have one in your community, support them!

We have one in Amory, Mississippi where I live and work. I would put the providers, nurses, and ancillary staff of what is affectionately known as Gilmore Memorial, and the quality of care they deliver, up against any, anywhere. I say this today more so from the perspective of being a recent patient than as a physician on staff here. My time spent connected to all these infusions fostered two things within me: deeper empathy for the suffering of my patients, and greater appreciation for the people who so nobly care for them when they come to our fine hospital. The efforts of Gilmore’s staff and those of others like them everywhere deserve to be commended!

,,Day 7 - EXCELLENCE: ,Despite the photo, t,his post is not a tribute to legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi, though he is a worthy candidate, a man known for harsh discipline, success on the field, and a big heart. A man ahead of his time in both coaching philosophy and social justice ideas.

No, this post is about what Lombardi represented - the pursuit of excellence. This is about the people in our lives who have demanded more of us than we thought we had to offer and pushed us to exceed our own expectations. Whether a parent, grandparent, spouse, teacher, coach, friend, boss, or someone else, most of us have had one or more people in our lives who meet that description. My parents and wife, among others, certainly fit that bill.

Those people are worth remembering when you turn your thoughts to positive things and need something to smile about. Thank them if you can. Seek perfection for yourself and expect excellence to follow. And push those under your guidance to be all they can be.

Day 8 - WORTHY OF PRAISE: This one was difficult, and I wasn’t sure if it was because there are so many things that qualify or not nearly enough. Both are true. But what is an appropriate, worthy, single example right now, at this moment in time?

I considered the efforts of thousands of researchers and clinicians who have come together from the private and public sector, from countless disciplines, like never before in history, to collaborate on treatments and vaccines for the scourge that plagues us.

I thought of the efforts of thousands of educators across the country who are working tirelessly to find a way to educate our children despite an unprecedented, and worse yet, poorly understood obstacle in their way.

And then there are the efforts of the currently much-maligned law enforcement community, which of course has some bad apples among it - but hasn’t every group of humans since the beginning of time? Yes, there are also bad doctors in the world, but sick folks sure seem glad the good ones are there when they need them.

After careful consideration though, there seems to be only one logical candidate. Only one who is wholly and perfectly deserving. has been called the greatest chapter in the Bible by some. If you haven’t read it lately, I suggest you study it against the context of current events and your worries for the future. To summarize, we aren’t guaranteed very much in this life, but we can always count on one thing: no matter how bad things get, God’s love for us never wavers.

Romans 8:29-29: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Worthy of praise

For the first time in what seemed like weeks, January 1, 2020 dawned clear and cold. And just like that, a new year burst forth with one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen, in a river bottom that is, simple as it may seem, one of my favorite places on Earth.

I thought about what the year might hold for me - personally, professionally, spiritually - and how a new year seems like a new chance for so many of us. As a newly published author, I thought about what might be in store for me there. Would I sell many more books? Would I be able to get my second book out as planned? Would the feedback on my first novel be encouraging enough that I would even want to put myself through it again? I gathered my thoughts, summarized them as succinctly and generically as I could, and made a few social media posts while I watched the colors of the sky swirl like a kaleidoscope and then merge into a single pastel blue. And then I forgot about it.

And then, almost a month later, out of the blue (pun probably intended), this was given to me:

As you can probably tell, it is a painting. A beautiful painting done by a friend, but not the kind of friend I grew up with or who comes over to watch TV or meets up with us on vacation, but the kind my wife and I love to see around town and cheer beside at school sporting events, and smile and talk with for a few minutes when the occasion arises. Yet this friend, who for now wishes to remain anonymous, felt compelled by my social media post to paint this painting. The friend told me about how the idea of brand new hopes and dreams touched her heart. In fact, "A New Hope And Dream" was the name for the painting, carefully brushed onto the back of the canvas.

This friend shared with me how she had wanted to be an artist since she was a young girl, but life and family obligations got in the way.

Until one day they didn't.

Until one day when she finally began to release all that had been begging to see the light for so many years.

She tells me that she is not where she wants to be as an artist, that she is still learning. In fact, that very thing made her reluctant to let me share her work here. But the quality of the painting - which to my eye is spectacular - is not a point to be discussed here. The point is that she did it. The point is that she had a hope and dream to paint, and she did it. One day, she picked up a brush, and she made the first stroke. And then another and another and another. And in painting, she found a unique type of joy and peace and satisfaction.

I remember the day in 2015 - July 5th, to be exact - when I finally sat down and began typing on the novel I'd been kicking around in my head for so many years. The novel for which I had found every excuse not to begin for so long. But once I finally started, I haven't looked back. If I never write another word or sell another book or publish another piece, it will still be one of the most rewarding things I've ever done in my life.

Now, here is the point of my ramblings. If you have something you've always wanted to do, DO IT! A new hobby, a full time business venture or a side hustle, an artistic endeavor, a trip you want to take - whatever your hope and dream is - DO IT!

Time waits for no one, and it certainly won't wait for you. The Bible tells us that in this life we are but a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Maybe you believe your sun is still rising, or maybe you know it's already reached its apex and is drifting westward. Either way, you know it won't stay up there forever! Pick up your brush and start painting your dream. I don't think you'll regret it.

"...the more you see of life outside the narrow circle of your work the better equipped you will be for the struggle." - Sir William Osler

Get the inside preview of "Gross Injustice," coming in 2020.

Symbol of a community. Metaphor for much more than that.

A small-town doctor writing a novel? Surely I was joking.