Memories have a way of fading over time. I distinctly remember throwing my medal Flipper lunch box at my best friend, Colleen, in the second grade. That was in 1969. I also recall that it gave her a black eye. For years I have felt genuine remorse for that juvenile act of aggression. I have had some email correspondence with Colleen recently. Her recollection of that altercation is much different. Colleen says that she threw her medal Snoopy lunch box…
Language barriers make communication in a clinical setting somewhat of a challenge. One year I inadvertently invited a teenage girl to my hotel room, because I used the wrong tense of a verb. Another year I said something else that was much worse. We have been very fortunate on this year’s medical campaign to have several native speakers as translators. They have worked very hard to assist the dentists and the doctors. I found out tonight that important life issues…
The dental and medical clinics in Chihuahua got underway in earnest this morning. We were able to see a total of 64 people on this first day. There was a quite a range in age and need. The doctors saw very small children with coughs, and elderly people with more severe health concerns. The dentists provided an entire range of services for their patients. Two events stand out to me today. I recall taking dentists to Mexico in past years…
It all started almost 11 years ago…. In the winter of 1999, my long time friend and former co-worker, Albert Garcia called about a medical mission trip to the city of Nueva Rosita in Northern Mexico. He informs me that he does not have a dentist for the trip. Could I possibly find one? I asked him when the trip was scheduled. In three weeks, I was told. I just laughed and told him he was asking for the impossible….
Tomorrow I am teaching an 8 hour continuing education class at Tarrant County College’s Criminal Justice Training Center. Police officers in Texas are required to complete a certain amount of approved coursework every year in order to keep their certification current. Tomorrow’s subject matter includes: death notifications, line of duty deaths, stress in law enforcement, and suicide.Will the students go home feeling totally depressed after a day of such subject matter? Hopefully tomorrow’s time in the classroom will be productive…
I readily admit that I am inclined to have a short fuse at times. I have worked really hard over the years at developing the virtue of patience. Consistently being the non anxious presence is quite the challenge. I had the opportunity to work on that virtue not once, but twice yesterday. We drove into Woodward, OK about 1:30 Friday morning after a six hour drive. I officiated at a funeral in Granbury Thursday afternoon before we took off. Another…
If you wait until you can afford to have kids, you most likely will wait a long time. If you postpone going to college until everything is just right, you will never get a degree. And if you delay serving other people until your own life circumstances are just right, you may forfeit the privilege of giving of yourself to others. Last night shortly after midnight we drove through Clinton, OK. Clinton is a mid-sized Oklahoma town just north of…
Our society is becoming increasingly casual. When my father worked for International Harvester and later for the J.I. Case Company, he wore dark suits and a pressed white shirt everyday. I seriously doubt that corporate employees across the board are that formal anymore. I still wear a dress shirt and a tie on most Sundays, when I preach. I am not inclined to wear a suit in the summertime. But that has not always been the case. There was a…
This week has been a whirlwind. I am officiating at funerals on both Thursday and Friday. I will in turn officiate at a wedding on Saturday. Major life changes for all three of the above mentioned families. They are all fine people. In the midst of those life altering events, I saw this quote on still another facebook status: “Some people think it’s holding on that makes one strong–sometimes it’s letting go.” Reading that quote actually caused me to want…
I am not very good at keeping up with the latest trends in men’s apparel. I am content to wear a pair of Levis and my t-shirt that says: Old Guys Rule on the back. I can even be seen a freshly starched shirt with a tie periodically too. During a recent school shopping run to Kohl’s the boys informed that scarves were stylish for men. You have got to be kidding? I immediately had flashbacks to my formative years….