SLEEPING WITH A BUG

Besides leaving me with a sore throat, my “little bug” from the hospital had me on the run most of the night. When I came back to bed each time, I couldn’t sleep very easily as my systems were still quite upset. Sleeping with a bug in my system has never been my forte. As things started to settle down though, I noticed the silhouette of Eileen fast asleep. For once, she had gone to bed before me. As I lay there at an increased distance from her, careful not to breathe my germs on her, I placed my hand upon her. That little connection started me to thinking. I thought about what a great person she is and how wonderfully she relates to people. I thought of her in her roles as a teacher, mother, and wife. Finally, I thought of how exceedingly blessed I am to have her love and devotion. Next, I thought of our children (including our daughter-in-law and grandchild). I gave them extra individual prayer time as I dwelled on them and the blessing they are. I fell asleep so very thankful of our family blessings.

We probably don’t do that enough…take the time to actually dwell on the blessing that our family members are. It’s good to take time to bathe in the details of their humanity and the way that they navigate through this world. It’s also good to take inventory of their special attributes and the way that they bless this earth. Life is a great challenge and we ought to make sure we take time to count our blessings, especially the blessings of those around us…even if we are sick and sleeping with a bug.

A LITTLE BUG

This is getting crazy. Once again after coming back from the hospital, after my EKG, I am ailing. I tried to be careful what I touched while at the hospital and I tried to keep my hands away from my mouth. I washed my hands as soon as possible after I left. I first spent about 30 minutes in the admission’s waiting room trying not to breathe every time someone hacked, coughed, or sneezed. When I was taken to the cardiac waiting area there were several people waiting on family members who were spewing germs. I was glad when they called me back to the cardiac area. Although I touched the bike and such that I’m sure wasn’t cleaned between patients, at least I was in touch with heart patients and not infectious diseases patients. Nevertheless, I seem to have contracted a bit of a bug.

It’s strange because I’ve not had a cold or flu since I started taking Gleevec. Although I have a lowered resistance, the cold and flu must not know about it. However, I’m always picking up these little bugs from public places, especially medical facilities. I’m sure that if I spent more time around medical facilities that I’d either build an immunity to it or I’d get really sick. I don’t plan on increasing my time there so I hope to never know. Even when I’m at restaurants, I wipe my utensils off prior to using them and try to use a straw when drinking so as to not put my mouth where someone may have left some cooties!! Anyway…

Well, in a couple of days I’m going to check to see if my EKG results are in. I hope to have shaken this bug by then.

STRESS EKG

I learned that there are several different types of Stress EKGs. The actual name of the EKG stress test I had is the Se Stamibi GXT. Maybe that means something to some of you but it meant nothing to me, and I didn’t look it up. I thought my Stress EKG would consist of walking on a treadmill with electrodes hooked up to me. The first indication that I was wrong is when the assistant asked if I’d have any trouble riding a bike. I responded, “No.” Then she took me back to a room where I was asked to take off my shirt. The lady used what felt like medium grade sandpaper to sand off the areas where she was going to put the electrodes. I looked up in time to see another lady walk in with a HUGE syringe. I casually suggested that syringe wasn’t for me. She laughed when answering,”Yes.” I then asked, “You’re kidding right? That’s not really for me, is it?” She said that they had to give me an I.V. port so that they could inject a radioisotope (and a wash) for images of my heart. Needless to say, I wasn’t ready for that. I really don’t like needles and if I have to have one, I like to know ahead of time. The nurse said I looked white and I knew I was sweating; she asked me to lie down while she inserted the needle. I was okay with the needle but my systems were a bit repulsed by the whole idea. It was probably good that I reclined back and breathed. The insertion of the needle was smooth with no problems.

I was then instructed to get on the bike and to pedal the bike to where the monitor read at least 75 but not more than 80. Meanwhile they would wait until my heart rate got up to 140 before injecting the isotope and taking a scan of my heart. Since I am such a fine physical specimen (ha, ha) it took a while for my heart rate to reach 140 despite them increasing the resistance of the pedaling. That was evidence enough for me that my heart is just fine!!

They then took me to a room across the hall and took more scans of my heart. These scans took around fifteen minutes to perform once the machine started doing its thing. Then the attendant said he has to check the scans to see if I need a CT scan. They determined I did so the machine did the CT scan for a few minutes. After checking these scans, the I.V. was removed and I was sent on my way.

All that remains are the results. Dr. Tan told me to call his “Patient Navigator” to get the results. I’ll do more than that; I’ll go get a copy of the results. Knowing how reluctant medical staffs are to give results before the doctor discusses them with the patient, I’m anticipating a little problem. I don’t see Dr. Tan for a year. The last time I had something like this was when the old battle axe used to work there. However, Dr. Tan is always pleased to give me copies of my results and I’ll invoke his name if I have to: I’ll have the “Patient Navigator” go ask Dr. Tan. If he’s not in the office that day, I’ll do what I did with the old battle axe, I’ll claim my patient right to have copies of my records.

Having said all that, I’m not going to expect problems but I’m going to be prepared if they come. The new staff has been very cordial, helpful, and sweet. I’ll expect them to be that way about my results too… but just be prepared if there is a glitch.

LIVING WATER

Psalms 1:3 tells us that the blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water. It’s interesting to note the backdrop of which this is written. These streams of water are in a desert. Even today, as one walks in the ancient desert, there is a tree here and there next to a wadi. A wadi is a stream bed which is dry except during heavy rains. So, there are trees along the wadi stream beds and essentially nowhere else. These trees don’t represent where water is always visibly flowing; these trees are evidence that living water has been absorbed by the tree from a source of water not always seen.

Too many times the chief indicator of our Christian faith is found in the cross we wear around our neck or the claim we make when it’s advantageous. The true indicator whether we are planted by living water is by what we exhibit. In the same way that the tree reveals the existence of living water by the existence of its trunk, branches, and fruits, the existence of our Christian values are the testimony of our living water.

We can plant a tree anywhere in the ancient desert but the tree only prospers if planted by a stream of living water. Likewise, people are planted all over this planet but we will only spiritually prosper if we are planted by the stream of Living Water.

POLITICAL RACISM

If you listen to the media and the political left you would believe that the political right is racist. Nearly every time a conservative disagrees with President Obama there is a racist accusation made somewhere by someone. The endless stream of racism charges was continued Friday by actor Morgan Freeman. The fact is that if it was not for whites President Obama would have never been elected. Now that many of those whites have seen what President Obama’s policies have done to America, they are against him. That is not racist.

So, what made me think of this? Well, Herman Cain, a black man, just won the Florida straw poll over a field of white people. I’m not sure he’ll win the nomination but perhaps the racism charges will stop for a day or two. Herman Cain is the former CEO of Godfather’s pizza. While he’s new to politics, he has a lot of common sense and is very principled. I don’t know if I’ll vote for him, but if I don’t, it doesn’t mean that I’m racist.

DR. PEPPER

As I watched a college football game, there was a Dr. Pepper commercial that came on. I was reminded of their ordeal a couple of months ago when they left “under God” of the Pledge off their patriotic cans. Among their various excuses, the one that stuck with me is that they didn’t want to offend anyone.

It’s amazing that when precautions are made not to offend someone no one is ever concerned with offending the people of God. It’s seems those who are on the fringe of societal ethics and morals have the loudest voice and biggest political stick. Those who believe in good and bad along with right and wrong are incessantly required to compromise those standards to accept what is not. It’s all a move to neuter the faith. After all, what is the faith without the morals and ethics which define it? It is then no different than the ways of the world.

Whoever thought that we’d live in a time in America where a company felt more comfortable taking God out of the Pledge rather than leaving Him in? There’s a meticulous effort to remove God from this nation and as our guiding principles. It seems that Dr. Pepper has joined the effort.

DISPLACED AGGRESSION

An example of “Displaced Aggression” is you’ve had a tough day at work and you come home and kick the dog sleeping on the porch. In other words, you take your aggravation and frustration out on someone or something else. I’m reminded of that as I look at the “soak the rich” mantra that is being parlayed around. The major problem that is facing America is jobs. Without jobs, not only do people not have the means to support themselves but it takes money out of the economy and lowers the income tax roles. Yet, soaking the rich will not add one new job to the free market economy. When the government is having a tough time, it’s always popular to go after the rich.

Even liberal think tanks have rebuffed President Obama’s assertion that the middle class pays a higher rate than the rich. President Clinton recently stated that increasing the taxes on the rich won’t help the economy. Taking money out of the pockets of the people who supply the jobs doesn’t entice them to hire.

Yet, there is a deeper concern here for me. It’s always popular to ravage the person who has a nicer car, larger house, better vacations, nicer clothes, and such. That is nothing but envy and covetousness. During these difficult times, it’s important that we not allow our frustration and fear to fuel the dark side of our humanity. Displacing our aggravation and frustration about the economy onto the rich won’t solve our problems. It won’t cause a job to open to us and it sure won’t make the high cost of insurance and living go down. It can, however, make us cynical, jealous, envious, and retaliatory people.