I’m becoming an old codger. Actually, that is redundant, as the Oxford American Dictionary defines a codger as an elderly man, especially one who is old-fashioned or eccentric. Gender aside, I do tend to cherish things from the “old days.” For instance, I love the “old” hymns. To be fair, maybe it’s not because I’m old-fashioned, but because so many of the old hymns have lyrics so biblical and rich in meaning.

Continue Reading

Smooth surgery depends, in part, on all the “working parts” synchronizing for the benefit of the patient. When I was scrubbed on surgery during my medical training, I remember more than one instance where the nurse was ready to hand an instrument when the surgeon asked for something not anticipated.

Continue Reading

When I was very young, my family lived in a house heated by a coal furnace. In the evenings, my father would bank the fire in the furnace; i.e., he would cover the hot coals with a layer of ash. This would keep the fire burning all night and would make it easier to get fresh coal burning in the morning.

Continue Reading

I know of no one who was not impacted by Covid-19 in his or her life. For some of us, Covid had a significant impact on our faith.

Continue Reading

After seven years, my cancer returned. I was aware that my particular type of cancer had a tendency to recur, so I was not shocked, just disappointed; but also grateful that I was under the care of a knowledgeable and vigilant physician who was right on top of things. I resumed my former course of treatment, which was relatively benign as far as chemotherapy side effects are concerned. Okay. We’ve got this.

Continue Reading

When I was in medical school, I used to say that if medicine were put to music, I would have no trouble memorizing any of it. There is something about music that helps me recall the text. I find this so often with old hymns that are full of scripture, or that just state biblical truths.

Continue Reading