Ouch!

Right now I am sitting in the waiting room of the Bronson LakeView Hospital's emergency room. 

One of my caretakers cut herself while preparing pico de gallo.  (She does make a mean salsa.). The knife slipped and cut her finger. We know that it cut through her nail. We do not know the extent of her injury. Although, I suspect that she now has a better idea since she has been with the doctor for awhile. 

Since she was bleeding profusely and in considerable pain, I felt the need to drive her. The struggle to get me down the stairs with my walker and then to get my walker into the car was time-consuming and exhausting. But we did it!

How quickly events can devolve. We all live on a tenuous edge - the edge of a knife. A slip can change our moments, our lives. 

Culture Clash

Normally when we think about cultures clashing, we consider cultures built around different ethnic groups, e.g., the Eastern Culture vs. the Western Culture. Our "common knowledge" understandings deeply embedded in our psyches hinder us from bridging the gaps - doable but difficult. However, there is  a more subtle culture that permeates our existence.

Recently, I had the opportunity to enjoy a visit by my grandchildren. We met at the pool of my big city apartment. For two mornings, the two little ones were able to have fun in the pool. Since there is no handicapped accessible stairs or lift, I was not able to join them in the water. 

At one point, my five-year-old grandson noticed that I was prevented from joining them in the pool. He wanted to know why there were no stairs or lift available for me. When his mother and I tried to explain to him that the apartment building management had refused my request because they were not legally bound to do so, he wanted to know why they wouldn't do it anyway.  Further explanation of the decision-making process involved finally resulted with my daughter saying that sometimes people just do not do the right thing. 

As our country moves away from Christian mores and "cultural understandings," we are left with a void. So, providing the physically handicapped with accessibility to "common facilities" vs. the legally-required accessibility is a difficult gap to be bridged.  I wonder, is it doable?

Standing in the Cold Rain

Well  intentioned. I guess that is my most generous assessment of her recent behavior.

The day had started gloriously. Finally, the rain had ceased and the sun was shining. First things first, I went to church. 

The church I attend is a terrific group of people. You would love them. Seriously, you would. 

As I was getting ready to leave the sanctuary, a visiting "musician" approached me. She said to me that God had more healing for me. Now, this is always good news to me since I live with the debilitating disease of myotonic dystrophy. But (it always seems that there is a but) the healing would come as I would open up myself to let God heal the scars of my childhood. Somehow, she was connecting childhood scars (and I use this word loosely) with the effects of a very specific disease. What? 

Yes.  Let us understand that it was not my fault. But she could see in my body how the trauma was taking its toll. I just needed to be willing to be healed. She was adamant and convinced. Oh, without a doubt in her mind, God had revealed this to her. She had special knowledge. 

This knowledge is so special that even I did not know. Somehow, I had scars that only she could know about. Let me tell you this, I do not carry scars from my childhood. What happened to me in the past, has been let go. I live a life of freedom. 

There is a fine line in the Christian world. We believe in the saving grace of Jesus. As I continue to live out my convictions, I find peace and joy. But, there is an "element" that makes the secular world look askance at Christians. It is when someone speaks for God and has not sought confirmation beforehand. God is not a God of disorder. 

Her words to me were dishonoring, disrespectful, and disquieting. I am left here: standing in the cold rain. 

Artist: Kate W.