Wednesday Thoughts

Electoral Fun

Life in Texas has been very busy. I have spent most of my nights for the past week fielding calls from various political personalities. Just last night, I spoke to Barack Obama, Cindy McCain, and Governor Rick Perry. Last week I spoke for quite a while with Hilary.

I was touched, humbled, to know that my vote was important enough to warrant a personal phone call from the 'movers and shakers' in both parties. After some thought, I came to the conclusion that my blog is read inside the 'Beltway' by someone, and that the political bosses see me as an influential force to be reckoned with in the blogosphere. In short, someone is trying to 'influence' me.

Today the phones are quiet. I feel neglected.

I got the feeling that I was witnessing the start of a whole lot of new friendships, and perhaps a new career as a political consultant - a breath of fresh air for Washington; a change from politics as usual. Of course I would miss the medical practice, but when called to serve one must answer in the affirmative. It is a thankless, lonely calling, but I would be ready to answer the call in the only way any of us would answer it: YES WE CAN!

Classified Section: Infirmarians Wanted

At a recent funeral for our dearly departed Fr. James Downey, I got to thinking about the medical care the monks up in Atchinson, Kansas must get. What prompted this distraction from prayer was seeing one of the monks in a wheelchair. This monk reminded me of another priest we know who is also wheelchair-bound. I suddenly got the idea for certain medical types who seem to be wrestling with a religious calling: why not combine primary care with the monastic life? I have suggested this to some people, and they all think it is a great idea. The only problem is that all of them are married, and could not leave the world without leaving behind some very upset families.

Death and the Miser:


This painting, by H. Bosch,was featured on last Sunday's notes at Mass. Fr. W. pointed out how this painting shows a man, a miser, who is seen at two stages in life. In the foreground, he is up and putting coins into a strongbox. The armor suggests that he was a knight at one time, and must have made quite a bit of money in the process. In the background, we see the miser on his deathbed, with Death himself entering the room. Note how his guardian angel is trying to make him look at the Crucifix in the window above - to turn his thoughts toward God. Unfortunately the miser seems more interested in the money one of the many demons is handing to him....

This painting shows the problems of an unprovided death, along with the hand of Mercy that God will always extend to us. There is a lot to think about in this painting, but I was drawn toward the demon with the bag of gold.

To me, it looks as if Bosch spent some time watching Saturday monster movies in his childhood. I think he took the Creature from the Black Lagoon as his model for the demon with the gold.

I leave this up to you, the reader to decide.

Dangerous Stuffed Animals

And you thought Scorpions stalking ducks were bad, look at these stuffed animals at this website: Giant Microbes(dot)com . Check out my favorite, the Ebola virus.