With all of the advances in health care that have been made in the last 50 years many illnesses and injuries can be healed.  I sometimes find patients who are surprised that with their specific medical history there is not an ideal outcome for their illness.

These patients feel depressed, frustrated, and express very little hope for their future.  There are options on how these emotions can be processed.  Some patients blame themselves, others blame God, and sometimes the patient blames the health care team.

As I work with patients in these situations I try to move them away from “The Blame Game”.  My experience has shown me that spending your time and energy deciding who to blame and what reasons you have to blame them does not make you feel better about your situation.  I try to move the patient to thinking about what he or she wants to do with the new reality that is suddenly before them.  In almost every situation the patient still has options.  One example of this is whether they would like to go to a nursing home or go back to their own home with the assistance of Home Care or Hospice.  Some patients choose the nursing home because they do not want their family members to have to care for them at such an intensive level.  Others choose to home because being in their own surroundings and being cared for by those who love them is what they want.

There are no “right” and “wrong” answers in these situations.  What is available is choice, and it is the right of the patient to make the choice that they feel is best for their situation.  Once people see they have choice, their perceived need to place blame frequently either diminishes in intensity or disappears totally.  A chaplain along with other health care team members serves the needs of the patient as we help them make choices along their journey.

The emoticons shown above are used in social media as we put a visual label on how we are feeling at the moment.  Knowing how we are feeling at any given moment is important.  Did you know there is a scale to measure how you are feeling?  It works like a credit score works.

Television commercials continue to remind us that we each have a FICO credit score.  This score is designed to help lenders determine the likelihood that a borrower will repay a loan according to the terms established when the credit was granted.

As a chaplain, I have little use for the FICO score as I work with patients and visitors.  I do use the SRRS scale as I visit with patients.  It helps me assess how well the person is coping with the life events they are describing to me.  The SSRS is officially the “Social Readjustment Rating Scale”, more commonly known as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale.  It was created to help us measure the stress load we carry, and think about what we should do about it.  The scale has 43 indicators.

I don’t literally ask people all 43 questions.  As they tell me about their situation, I listen and mentally tally a score associated with the life events they describe.  I use this to determine what tools of spiritual care would be most effective for them.  It also helps evaluate my frequency of visits, given I don’t have time to visit every patient every day.

• If your total score is in the 11-150 point range you have only a low to moderate stress level.
• If your total score is in the 150-299 point range you have a moderate to high stress level.
• If your total score is in the 300-600 point range you have a high or very high risk stress level.

If you would like to take the test yourself, you can find it at the website below:

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTCS_82.htm

Jell-O is not a food that we often think of being particularly thankful to be eating.  Now don’t get me wrong Jell-O tastes fine, but it is not as extravagant a food as many other items are that take longer to prepare.

In my encounters with patients though I find many who are excited they have Jell-O on their meal tray.  They patients have had either no foods or only liquids due to their condition, and when they receive Jell-O it is the first soft food they have received.  Frequently they ask me to say a pray for the meal tray that has been brought to them.  So over time I have composed what I call my “Jell-O Prayer”.

Dear Lord, we thank you that _______ (name of patient) has progressed in the healing process so that he/she can eat again.  At this meal we are thankful for Jell-O.  More importantly we praise you for the healing that has taken place that allows him/her to have soft foods.  We also see this Jell-O as a sign of hope, that before long he/she will be able to have a regular diet.  We know that ______ (name of patient) has felt hungry while he/she has been restricted from foods.  As that restriction ends we celebrate your healing power at work in his/her body.  Amen.

I fell in love with this picture of a basset I saw in the Internet and decided to dedicate today’s post to Basset Hounds!

Here are four facts about the breed you may not know:

1. Popular in America, Originated in France. The Basset Hound has a special place in American lore, but the diminutive hound actually originated in France in the 16th century.  The name “Basset” comes from the French word bas, which loosely translates to mean low.  French monks were originally responsible for creating the Basset Hound breed through selective breeding.
2. Bassets became popular hunting partners because they were slow. Their short little legs do not allow them to run quickly, so they can only travel at a relatively slow trot. Rather than chasing faster hounds on horseback, French aristocrats found that a Basset was easily followed on foot.
3. While Basset Hounds are noted barkers and howlers when strangers come around, once you are on the “inside” with a Basset Hound you have likely made a friend for life. They are very loyal and very friendly towards their owners once a bond has been established.
4. The Basset Hound is a natural hunter with one of the most powerful noses on any dog breed. Even though they are typically lazy, their stubborn and determined nature also creates a potential danger that owners need to be aware of. It is not at all uncommon for a Basset to catch a scent and follow their nose for hours on end.
5. When a Basset is outside you need to keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t slip off on an hours-long adventure in the woods. You could face a long and frustrating search if you let your Basset Hound out of your sight while you are out and about. These dogs have a reputation for not responding to their owners’ calls when they are busy following a scent.

Now know why I like bassets, they run slowly and so do I.  Bassets like to make noise, and so do I.  Bassets are determined and so am I.  Bassets like to be independent and so do I.

I love the Washington and Jefferson Memorials and saw this picture taken at night that shows both of them and had to post it.

Here four facts about Washington’s Presidency that make is unique compared to other presidents:

1. Washington is the only president to have been unanimously elected by the Electoral College.
2. Washington was the only president inaugurated in two cities. However, neither of those cities was Washington, D.C., as the seat of government did not move there until 1800. Washington’s first inauguration occurred in New York City on the portico of Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan on April 30, 1789. The second inauguration was in Philadelphia, held in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall on March 4, 1793.
3. George Washington was strapped for cash during his presidency. Washington was frequently short on cash, with much of his wealth tied up in land holdings. In order to afford the move to New York City to become president, Washington borrowed £600 on a promissory note to cover his relocation expenses for the move from Mount Vernon to the presidential household at 3 Cherry Street in Manhattan. Washington explained that the situation forced him “to do what I never expected to be driven to, that is, to borrow money on Interest.”
4. The first Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued by President Washington

Here four facts about Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency that make is unique compared to other presidents:

1. Made the Louisiana Purchase (1803). In 1803 as President of the United States, Jefferson purchased more than 800,000 square miles of Louisiana Territory from France for about $15 million, effectively doubling the size of the United States.
2. Launched the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804). Having just greatly increased the size of the United States, Jefferson wanted to explore both the new part of the country and the rest of the continent. He appointed as his personal secretary Meriwether Lewis, who then enlisted William Clark. They left on their journey in 1804 with the goals of learning more about the landscape and the Native American tribes, and of finding a water passage between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean.
3. Participated in the founding of the Library of Congress (1815).
   James H. Billington, the current Librarian of Congress, wrote: “If ever a library had a single founder, Thomas Jefferson is the founder of the Library of Congress.” In 1815, Jefferson sold his personal library, consisting of almost 6,700 volumes, to the federal government for just under $24,000. These books formed the core collection of the Library of Congress.
4. Popularized macaroni and cheese in the United States. In his early career, Jefferson traveled in Europe and became enamored with its cuisine, especially pasta. He served macaroni and cheese to guests at Monticello and even drew plans for a macaroni machine. He has been referred to as a “Founding Foodie” and “America’s First Foodie,” and there is even a mac ‘n’ cheese recipe in his own handwriting.

Now after reading this blog you can impress your friends at 4th of July celebrations with what you know about these presidents!

Here are some highlights from the Court’s opinion, as read by Kennedy:

1. “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than they once were.”
2. “The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy, and spirituality. This is true for all persons, whatever their sexual orientation.”
3. “It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right
4. “The right of same-sex couples to marry that is part of the liberty promised by the Fourteenth Amendment is derived, too, from that Amendment’s guarantee of the equal protection of the laws.”

Chief Justice, John Roberts, used these words to voice his dissent with the majority opinion:

“If you are among the many Americans — of whatever sexual orientation — who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it.”

As I read what he writes he is stating the ruling on June 26^th was not based on the Constitution.  That confuses me because Justice Kennedy makes specific reference to the 14^th Amendment in his explanation of the ruling.  It appears to me that Justice Roberts is simply voicing his displeasure that his opinion was not the prevailing opinion on the case.

One thing is sure; the ruling will be one of the most discussed rulings of the Court since the Brown V. Board of Education on segregation.  And I see a parallel here because now there is one definition of marriage with it being available to all.  Today the ruling clearly defined marriage as a civil right just as access to education was defined as a civil right in Brown V. Board of Education.

One of the illnesses I see with frequency in the patients I meet is Parkinson’s disease.  The graphic I posted today taught me something I did not know.  It points out that 1 in 5 people have the disease and that many cases go undiagnosed.  The patients I see have profound displays of classic symptoms the most visible is the tremors in their arms and legs.  Patients deal with the frustration of not being able to control the actions of their limbs.  Often they need assistance with actions they have done with ease before they became symptomatic.  Depression is an emotion they face.  We spend time discussing how they feel about the changes the illness had forced into their daily living.  Parkinson’s is a disease that causes both physical and emotional stress.  I pray for all patients and their families as they deal with the illness.  It will be a blessing when the day comes when there is a cure for this illness!

The image above was part of my Twitter feed posted by Funpedia.  I thought the words in the image and realized they were “right on”.

Knowing how to act in public is a lesson we begin to learn as a toddler and hopefully have a good handle on it before we graduate from high school.  Sometimes we learn how to act as we imitate good role models, and receive praise for our actions.  Sometimes we learn how to act as we imitate poor role models and receive scolding or other responses that let us learn what we just did was not proper way to respond in that time and situation.  Learning discernment is difficult.  Once we start to learn our age throws us a curve because the rules for what is appropriate change as we age. The younger we are more latitude we are granted in what is appropriate or inappropriate in our behavior.  Sometimes it is not clear to us when we have “aged out of grace” and need to change our behavior.

So for those of you who are teaching others how to behave, remember what seems easy for us to understand at age 30+ looks different at age 10.  For those of you who are responsible for your own behavior I hope this is a reminder that the messages you send in your actions are seen by others and may be imitated by them.

As a chaplain I hear patients apologize frequently for something they have done or said because the feel it is impolite or otherwise not an appropriate response.  I assure them that they have nothing to apologize for in how they have treated me.  If a patient declines a visit because they are tired, that is their right and I am not offended by that. (Though many feel they need to apologize for that action).  Some patients swear and then realize they spoke what they were thinking and hope they have not offended me.  I assure the patient in these situations that I am not offended any most us get frustrated when we are not feeling well.

We serve as teachers for each other whether we realize it or not.  Let us work to send good lessons to those who are watching!

What follows below is the response  to the Charleston SC shooting of the Bishops of the denomination where I am ordained.  Their response also represents my reaction to the horrific event.

COUNCIL OF BISHOPS

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

100 Maryland Ave NE ● Washington DC 20002 ●

Phone: 202-547-6270 ● Fax: 202-547-6272

A letter from the President of the Council, Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr.,

to the bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dear Bishop Bryant and colleague African Methodist Episcopal Bishops,

Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Savior of our broken world. Your sisters and brothers in the Council of Bishops and congregations of The United Methodist Church are in prayer with and for you in the wake of the racist murders and hateful violence at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.  May the Holy Spirit endow you with a full measure of love, wisdom and courage as you lead the Church and witness to the world in this consequential time.

We join in mourning the tragic loss of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, and the other victims who were meeting with prayers offered to the One who is our hope.  We are all now a part of a global prayer meeting for these families and all families and communities deeply wounded by racism and violence.  We unite voices in proclaiming, “If God is for us, who can be against us?…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!”  (Romans 8) 

As other recent events of violence and racism have compelled us to do, again we call on United Methodists and all people of good will to support the victims of this and all acts of violence, to work to end racism and hatred, to seek peace with justice, and to live the prayer that our Lord gave us, that God’s “kingdom come, (and) will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

We go forward with Wesley’s assurance that “Best of all God is with us.”

In Christ’s Love,
Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr.

President, The Council of Bishops

The United Methodist Church is in a full Communion relationship with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the other member Methodist denominations of the Pan-Methodist Commission.

The Council of Bishops provides leadership and helps set the direction of the 12.8 million-member church and its mission throughout the world. The bishops are the top clergy leaders of The United Methodist Church, the second largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.

When I was growing up Wheaties was known by their advertising slogan, “Wheaties Breakfast of Champions!”  To my knowledge a basset hound was never pictured on one of the boxes of their cereal.  The image you see was created to advertise an event titled: Breakfast with the Bassets.  The graphic caught my attention because it used the sentence “Making Healthy Choices.”  This spoke to me because I am in two-pronged campaign in improve my health.  The first new activity is exercise.  I have joined a local gym and have an initial goal of using the tread mill three times a week for 30 minutes each time.  After I am comfortable with that regimen I expect to add other exercise activities to my routine.  The second new activity is healthier eating.  I love to eat desert!  Desert is not my friend when it has more than 100 calories per serving.  So I am seeking to eat deserts with 100 or fewer calories.  The two behavior changes I hope will make me healthier and allow me to lose some weight and also increase my body strength.  How will things go?   I can’t tell you now, but I do know it is up to me to make the changes I desire.