Category: perspective

Do we know what is moral?

by worrylessjourney, posted in medical, morality, perspective, prejudice, sadness

I an living in Austin, Texas. It has been a real learning experience. There has been so much going on in the whole country. There is so much discord and separations that have made all of us become US/THEM. There is no longer an US in this country. I don’t know if all the conflict began with the issue of abortion but it is certainly a major part of it.

I don’t know what your views on abortion are. Each of us is entitled to our belief and it has become a major button to push. Still I am not sure how many people are aware of the extremes that is has reached here.

Many months ago there were two women who ran into problems with the law. One woman had an ectopic pregnancy and for those who are not familiar this is when the egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and not in the uterus. This is a very dangerous problem which can end in the woman’s death. This pregnancy has to be aborted. The baby CANNOT survive to full term where it is and if not operated on the result with be the death of the fetus but also the death of the mother. The doctors here followed the law and sent the woman home because they could do nothing within the law. I know somehow the woman received care (I don’t know if she left the state or what happened).

Now for the second case: a woman showed up at the hospital carrying a dead baby. Again the doctors could do nothing. She was sent home. She became septic. I do not know how the issue was resolved but I know she survived.

Just a few days ago there was a third case that made the papers. Another woman was carrying a dead baby and the hospital could do nothing to help. She became septic and died leaving the husband with another child to care for by himself.

I sincerely hope that someone is considering the state responsible for these women and their problems. This is what happens when we legislate medical care. Especially when women are the only ones being abused and it is abuse. If I were of childbearing age I would move somewhere that the law doesn’t allow women to be treated in this way. This is what has happened in this country where abuse is not only allowed but is demanded by law.

I do wonder if once again women are being targeted as being less than. I wonder what would happen if men were being targeted.

I have neither heard or seen any other media conversations about these three cases escept in the paper here. There may be more cases that have not even made the press.

Abortion is a moral topic. It is as complicated as Solomon offering to divide the baby in two. I don’t know what the answers are but some of the current solutions allow people to die. I don[‘t see this as any kind of morality.

Sorry about the rant but I had to get this off my mind.

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Who are our enemies

by worrylessjourney, posted in chaos, choices, common sense, divided world, frustration, perspective

With the elections going on in the US we are all bombarded with all sorts of rhetoric, promises and just stuff. I am so tired of it and will be glad when the election is over.

I recently watched a documentary on cults and found this quote. “To create fear you must create an enemy.” I had never thought about that but I think it is true. We have to have someone to be against and they can so easily become the enemy. The people running for office enjoy telling us bad things about their opponents. They waste little time talking about things that matter. It seems that maligning others is the method of today.

I am old enough to remember when this was only a marginal problem. The two parties did not seem to consider each other enemies. Compromises were made to get important bills passed. Now everyone follows party lines and nothing gets done.

Will we ever get past the anger and vituperation and do what is best for the country? Also, what happened to the moderates? I am one and feel very alone. If only dogs could vote.

Connections matter

by worrylessjourney, posted in connections, patterns, perspective

I posted this on my other site but realized that I wanted to share it here also.

I have long been a believer in the “butterfly effect.” The idea that somehow we are all connected. I see this in so many ways. There is a wonderful children’s book called “The Invisible String” that tells us that love is one of the ways we are connected and it is the “invisible string” that never goes away even with death.

Sometimes we have a strong feeling of connection to someone we have never physically met. I feel that way about some people I connect with on this blog. I hear their voice through their words. I have a sense of who they are and feel connected. Because I don’t know them otherwise I could be wrong but there is still something there. Kindness and compassion are clearly felt.

We are connected to the people we see in our everyday lives. It could be seeing the same grocery clerk every week or someone we meet for lunch. People touch us in our work. Obviously some of these links can be good or bad but there is still a connection. Each of us has an impact on those around us.

We are connected to those who have gone before us. We may not know about them or we may have heard stories about their lives. They are present in our DNA. We often find that there are personality traits that have been passed on. People say that I look like my great grandmother. Pictures do show a strong connection.

In the church where I worked for years there is a sense in the building of the lives that have gone before. It is something I feel when I sit in silence in the sanctuary. It is as if the “communion of saints” is physically present.

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Don’t doubt that we are all connected. The things that I do each day affects others. Science tells us that nothing is lost…just changed. What I do matters. What you do matters.

Moving ahead

by worrylessjourney, posted in moving ahead, perspective, retirement

What is it like to live in a retirement community? I am not sure that I can entirely answer that yet. I haven’t been here long enough. First impressions: there are good things. The food is good…there are three restaurants and many choices, someone cleans my apartment once a week, there are people to talk to when covid doesn’t interfere. My apartment is small but nice. Divesting myself of many things has been freeing.

Other thoughts: It is an adjustment as you see everyone else with grey hair (although this has become quite popular) and understand that living in a place where all of us are aging means that people will die.

Everything we do in life requires change. This is just another in many that make up my journey in life. There are still adventures to have, people to love and new things to experience and I am begging to look forward to that. There has been a real change in my perspective in the last few weeks.

Life goes forward. The question is are we willing to go with it or just rest in the past? I choose to move ahead.

New vision

by worrylessjourney, posted in belief, hope, perspective

Today I did the little decorating for Christmas that is possible in our small apartment. It looks nice. I still can’t get my mind around having to find gifts for those I love. I’m just not there yet. This is so unlike me. I usually have things done way in advance but then this has not be a normal year for any of us.

I am hoping that we can look toward Christmas as a new beginning. Some vaccines are due to come out soon (we hope) and maybe we will move into the new year with a new vision.

Time of mixed emotions

by worrylessjourney, posted in balance, life changes, perspective

I am continuing to clean things out and today I put all of my dvd’s in a case. That eliminated the cabinets that housed them. This is the first time that I have moved any pieces of furniture. I was a small thing but for the first time I realize that we are actually planning to move away from here.

This is a major life event. This is a complete change and an acceptance that we are growing older and need to be set for the time we have left. It may be long or short but we want it filled with people to meet, things to do and new adventures. Even though we are going to move to a retirement community it is one that has people who are still living fully, having fun, exploring new things to learn and enjoying a expansive life. It is connected with a University and has much learning experiences and opportunities.

We will also be near my youngest daughter and her family whose lifestyle makes them able to be supportive and caring. Their church home is also a plus since we have visited there many times and also feel at home there. The best of all worlds.

This kind of change comes with some sadness and loss. We will be leaving long time friends, a church home, a beautiful home with an amazing view and things we love. As a Parish Nurse I have seen so many people sit in a home they love until they can no longer manage and family has to make decisions for them. This leaves everyone unhappy and we decided that it is better to make the decision for ourselves.

This cannot happen too quickly due to medical issues and the problem of covid but we know it is on the near horizon. So this will be a time of looking forward to good things and still grieving over where we have been. A time of mixed emotions.

Getting on

by worrylessjourney, posted in acceptance, choices, perspective

If I don’t keep finding things to do, read, and see I will sink into boredom. I have been knitting, crocheting, cooking, reading, watching TV. I don’t want to walk since it is so hot outside but I really need the exercise. I get lots of steps caring for my husband that is one plus. I guess if I were counting steps I would be doing good.

Nevertheless it is hard not to slip into being bored. I don’t think it is because I don’t have anything to do but because I can’t do anything I want. Because of that I feel stifled. I know it is just a state of mind and I’m trying to get around it but it’s not working as well as I would like. Oh well…everyone else is in the same boat. We’re all just getting on with what we can.

Is temporary comfort possible?

by worrylessjourney, posted in acceptance, change, patterns, perspective

It is scary to think that I am beginning to think this life is normal. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I guess I am settling into a routine.

For me, routine is always a plus. Just getting up and following a pattern makes me comfortable. I don’t know how others feel but it works for me. I go out to go to the grocery store, the pharmacy and doctors visits. Otherwise I connect with people through electronic means. I do feel the absence of personal contact as I truly believe that human physical contact is necessary to our well being.

I suspect that this time has been more challenging for those of us alone or with someone else who needs care like my husband. We seek our connections with others and that is limited. My life has changed so drastically that covid is only one aspect of the whole. I have spent months adapting to constant change and now there is some sort of consistency and I suppose that is why I feel more settled.

I hope that each of us continues to find our way through into a routine that is helpful and sustainable. I pray for those who have lost job, income, health and whatever else has struck them.

Acquiring a new virtue

by worrylessjourney, posted in acceptance, impatience, perspective

Hallelujah! My husband is home at last. He is very weak and will need time to regain strength after this more than 3 month ordeal. Things have moved with frustrating slowness but they have moved…..just like covid.

Patience is not one of my virtues but I have had to use it and will get used to it more than I ever have before.

Quotes image of Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.

I am getting good at this. Maybe some day it will become one of my virtues.

She lived!

by worrylessjourney, posted in belief, celebrate, fun!, God, joy, love, perspective

In the last week a dear dear person I knew died. Her life was everything we are called to be. She had a loving family and loved and cared for them every day of her life. She loved God and often wrote wonderful posts about his love and his care for her. She never lost this nearness to God even in the darkest of times.

Her name was Elaine. I first met Elaine as a Parish Nurse and her health journey would have crushed most of us early on. She was determined to live every moment of her life in spite of all the doctors who couldn’t see her going on for long. She not only went on but went on with joy. She traveled, boated, spent time with family and friends. She shared her joy with everyone and each day was one to be explored and lived. She lived! Each and every day she lived!

welcome home

Now she is gone but never forgotten. Her example will remain with all of those who knew her and spur us on to live fully every moment. She has transitioned to be with the God she loved and who she knew with her whole being loved her. While those of us here are saying goodbye others are welcoming her home. Good journey Elaine.