GREEN FLAG--LAP 71 AROUND THE SUN

 

Well readers, it’s time for my annual stream of semi consciousness in honor of the start of my 71^st lap around the Sun. 

But first, a cancer update:

My PSA continues to be , for all intents and purposes, “0”.  It is actually a very small number less than 1, but my doctor explained that for diagnostic purposes, it’s zero.  It has been at that level for over 18 months.

 Now, a doctor will NOT say that I am cancer free, in remission, or any other term they use for “healed” , but I think that I can report that, for now, there is no sign of disease. The testosterone suppression treatment will continue for another 6 months, and that has its own unpleasant set of side effects.  I’m told by someone who has been through it that eventually I will feel “normal” (Whatever that is.)

 

Now for the stream of thoughts and observations: 

--I am so glad that the elections are over (for now)!  I was so weary of having my intelligence insulted on a constant basis by BOTH sides.  I have lived though every US President since Dwight Eisenhower, and my life went on no matter who won elections.  I can’t think of a single electoral outcome in my life that had any effect on the course of my life.  Not one.  (Except maybe in the amount of taxes I paid or was refunded.)  I make it a policy to give every administration a chance before judging them.  I’m often disappointed.

--If you are looking for a human being to save you, to make your life fulfilled, well, good luck with that. Sorry, but none of us is perfect, we’re all broken.  We all mess up.  That’s where faith comes in.  I’m still learning how to live my faith, even at my age.  How about you?

 

-- I am much more "faith oriented" these days.  Perhaps I am coming to grips with the fact of my own mortality and am giving a lot of thought to the next life.  I make no excuses for my Christian, Roman Catholic faith.  I really believe that truth is truth,  it is objective, and it does not change.  My faith can trace its roots back directly to its Founder, and it has taught the truth since before a “Church” was even established. Despite its myriad problems, my Church has educated generations, healed the sick, fed the hungry, built colleges, hospitals and universities.  It does my heart good to see a sort of revival of faith going on in the world, especially with all the not so good things going on in the world, and especially a revival within my Church.   We need more of what people of faith do.

--If you do not have faith, and the world goes to hell, what do you have?  Do you really wonder why the increase in depression and suicide?   The whole thing suggests spiritual malaise to me.  If depression is the result of some “chemical imbalance”, then why did it increase in the wake of COVID?  Hopelessness is NOT a chemical imbalance. It’s a lack of faith in anything.

--Speaking of faith, have you seen the TV series, “The Chosen”?  It’s a must watch.  If you start with Season 1, Episode 1 things might seem disjointed and confusing. Stay with it, the first two episodes are setting the stage.  By the end of the third episode, you’ll be hooked.  I sure was!  

--It is heartening to see the stories coming out of California, in the wildfire areas.  It isn’t government, but thousands of volunteers with millions of dollars’ worth of donated materials and supplies who are on the ground providing much needed aid.  Individual stories of kindness, bravery and generosity are many. 

 

--On to other subjects…I was really disappointed in my favorite college team this year.  (I pay little attention to the NFL.)  Penn State has everything it needs to be champions—talent, coaching, etc.-- but can’t seem to draw on any of it when push comes to shove.  Still, the semi final game against Notre Dame was a really good one, genuinely exciting.  Maybe next year…

--As I type, it’s 4.8 degrees outside, according to my home weather station.  We (my wife and I) are truly blessed and thankful to God that we are protected from the cold and pray for those who are not.  (We especially pray for a local motorcycle police officer who rides by our house going to and from his shift, on his Harley, in this weather.  I cannot imagine!)

--Just heard from my cousin in Louisiana that they had snow!  It won’t last long as the temperature will be above freezing this afternoon in Baton Rouge.  ( I should harass my cuz about LSU not making the playoffs, and that PSU did, but he might be traumatized enough from snow.  Hurricanes, they can handle, but not snow!)   

--Just came from the grocery store.  Unless I wanted to buy a box of 60 eggs, there were none to be had.  Empty shelves. The avian flu seems to be just another gift from those nice people who brought us COVID.  This too, will pass...

 

--I’m sure that I could pontificate on so much more, but one Pope is enough.  I will leave you with this passage from the Bible: (Micah chapter 6, verse 8)

“You have been told, O mortal, what is good,

and what the LORD requires of you:

Only to do justice and to love goodness,

and to walk humbly with your God .”

Doesn’t seem so hard, does it? Most of us have a hard time with the “humbly” part, though…Thanks for reading!