Extraction

 

Extraction

 

There I was! I couldn’t believe that I was sitting in the dentist chair again. I have spent an inordinate amount of time and money there. If someone told me what the future held for my teeth, I would have opted for dentures years ago. To late to avoid the inevitable.

 

How I got to this place I blame on a genetic defect and poor dental hygiene. I grew up in an era when the learning curve of dental hygiene was slow. Brushing twice a day was an unexciting chore and flossing had yet to become a gymnastic exercise.

 

Anyway, my dentist told me that in addition to another crown I had two teeth that needed to be pulled. Not the kind of news I wanted to hear at my annual checkup. I opted for a cavity fill instead of a crown thinking that at my age it wasn’t worth the investment. No choice about the extractions. It was either bite the bullet now or face excruciating pain as decay found its way to the nerve.

 

They were very nice at the oral surgeon’s office: pretty, young dental assistants with soft voices assuring me that it wouldn’t hurt. The dentist asked if I wanted Novocain or sedation. Even though the first was cheaper, the later was a no brainer. Before I knew it, I was awake, the teeth were out, and I was handing them my credit card.

 

That was two weeks ago. I kept a strict regiment of ibuprofen as prescribed. My tongue had a hard time staying away from open wounds. The pain was tolerable. Healing came just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. I discovered that wine is a great mouth wash when taken in moderation.

 

The song that kept me sane during recovery was “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.” I just changed the lyrics to “ all I want for Christmas is my two back teeth.”

 

I sense my time in the dentist chair isn’t over.

Thanksgiving 2020

 

Thanksgiving 2020

 

Sitting in the weekly staff meeting at the hospice office, my mind was a million miles away. Thinking about the day ahead and what it may bring, I lost track of time and what was being discussed. Then I heard the words “Thanksgiving 2020”. I refocused. A chaplain was reading a poem about the upcoming holiday. It speaks of the depth of this Thanksgiving. I share it with you:

 

“This is a strange Thanksgiving. Not what we hoped for, not what we expected. Does it help that we’re in the same boat? Maybe. Maybe not. We may be feeling disappointed, frustrated, anxious. We miss those we usually would see around the table on Thursday. We are changing our routines of travel, entertaining, preparing food. We don’t like any of it. That much is true, we might as well admit it.

 

That being said, it is Thanksgiving. The first ones to celebrate Thanksgiving also were grieving for loved ones who had died. They had almost starved to death. They were experiencing illness and fear. They had left behind everything familiar and comfortable. But they gave thanks for life, love and hope.

 

Perhaps we can do the same: Thanks for the breath that fills our lungs and support the life of our bodies. Thanks for the food that comes from the good earth, to nourish us and to share with others. Thanks for those we love, and those who love us. Thanks for the scientists working to save our lives, thanks for that by this time next year, things will be different. Thanks for life. Thanks for love. Thanks for hope.” Rev. Audrey Turner (used with permission)

 

The Bible says: “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

 

 

Pollsters and Prophets

 

Pollsters and Prophets

 

I thought the weatherman was the only one who could wrongly predict and still keep his job. Weather forecasters are notorious for missing the mark. Although, with scientific advances, the odds are getting better. If in doubt, look out the window and be your own prognosticator.  If you live in Montana, all you have to do is wait five minutes and the weather will change.

 

Pollsters are a breed of their own. They come out in droves during an election year. Using all the savvy technological tools, they attempt to sense the drift of the electorate. Unfortunately, their tools deceive them time and again. After this past week, many have egg on their face, crying foul as they stand in the unemployment line.

 

Prophets have a long and honorable history dating back to biblical times. It was a dangerous job often ending in persecution or death from those who disagreed. Modern day prophets have it far easier. One can shout from the housetop fresh revelation from heaven without fear of reprisal. Unfortunately, many contemporary seers have found themselves barking up the wrong tree. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around to cast the first stone.

 

Predicting the future on any level is tricky business. Humankind has an inmate desire to know what the future holds. That way we feel more in control and can run from a future we don’t want. It takes a person of integrity to own up to a wrong forecast, election miscall or a word of the Lord that came from wishful thinking.

 

It was Alexander Pope, the famous 18^th century English poet who coined these words: “To err is human, to forgive divine.”  Let us forgive those who lead us astray.

Onboarding

 

Onboarding

 

What? When I first heard the word I though someone was talking about getting on board a train or a plane. The word has to do with a new job. I haven’t applied for a “real” job in over forty years. Finally, I consulted Google. Onboarding is management jargon referring to the process through which new employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviors in order to become effective organizational members.

 

A year ago, last July, I applied for a hospice chaplain position. After filling out the required documentation, I had an interview. For over a year I heard nothing. Then this past October I got a call asking if I was still interested in the position. No questions asked, I signed on.

 

The onboarding process was quite extensive. In addition to a security check and personal references, I was required to hand over lots more info. Once that was done, I began the official onboarding process: learning all that is necessary to be part of a hospice team. It is done through online tutorials. From the comfort of my home office I spend many hours staring at the computer.

 

I was introduced to a new world of Medicare and Medicaid regulations, hospice protocols and basic medical procedures for end of life patients. Although I have been around the sick and dying for many years, this was a major upgrade in  medical education. My physician father would be proud of me.

 

Now that I am onboarded, I can begin shadowing (following) RNs, social workers and fellow chaplains to get acquainted with all that hospice provides. This new job dovetails my hospital chaplain position. For those who fear I am chewing off too much for my age need not fear. In addition to pastoring a local church, I find chaplaincy challenging.

 

Besides, it confirms that fact that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

 

 

One Book

 

One Book

 

I remember my father’s warning about the person of one book.  In fact, he strongly recommended that I be skeptical of any person who promotes only one point of view. I understood him to mean that for a person to be well educated you need to keep an open mind. His warning was an encouragement to be a discriminating reader.

 

However, I confess that I am a proponent of one book, the Bible. Before you hit the delete button on your reading devise, hear me out. The Bible is the handbook for living. It contains all that one needs to know about our relationship with God, with others and oneself. You may not agree but crack open the Good Book and read it. It’s the number one best seller of all time!

 

I hope this book review might prick your interest:

 

“ The Bible reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, it’s decisions immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is a traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heavens opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object, our good is its design, the glory of God it’s end. It should fill your memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is given in life, will be opened in the judgement and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor and will condemn all those who trifle with its sacred content.”  Author Unknown

 

A Sunday School tune says it all:

 

“The B-I-B-L-E, Yes that’s the book for me; I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.”