Cancer/Writing Journal #83
My PSA level was tested today. It was again too low to be detectable. I told the physician's assistant that I must be a boring patient. She conceded that I was.
While I waited to see the PA, I felt what I thought was a nudge to go pray with a lady. I followed the nudge. I don't know that the pray was exactly what the lady needed but we sure had an interesting time talking afterward, She reported that she hears voices that give her wise council, mainly on art that she does. She asked me if I knew about "crop circles". I had a vague idea about farmers' fields having their crops knocked over in an odd decorative way. Turns out that there is a branch of art that uses those designs as the subject of their art. This woman does stitching with golden thread on a linen canvas that is then stretched and framed. She reports that museums are interested in acquiring what she has does. She showed me some pictures. Looked pretty darn good, I thought, Made me wonder if the voices are from the same source that mess up farmers' fields.
She has had four bouts with cancer but is now troubled by a liver disorder of some kind that requires infusion of something, she was vague on what. She is 86 years old so it's no big surprise that she should be vague. When I reported that I was 73, she was amused at how young I was. I'm not used to that reaction. I thought I was pretty venerable. She talked about having a whole life time ahead of me, in a way reminiscent of how someone would talk to a high school graduate. I found it a little disorienting.
She also talked about a book that has had a major impact on her life and made things so much better. It is called "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. I looked it up. It's a book that Oprah championed and that has sold 30 million copies. Someone said that it was full of "Misplaced cliches, silly quotes, and superstitious drivel". That it is a "playbook for entitlement and self-absorption." Nothing's perfect.
I looked up "crop circles" on Google and sure enough, there are both messed up fields and artistic pieces on a canvas or maybe jewelry that look all about the same. Pleasant intricate designs. All arising from the same voice you might say.
Anyway, next time you go to the doctor's, start talking with whoever is in there. I find asking to pray with them works but everyone has their own approach. Find out interesting things.
Wow! What an interesting visit. First, glad to hear the numbers are staying low.
ReplyDeleteIt IS so wonderful to get into good conversations with people, isn't it? How fascinating that she does crop circle art, something I never would have suspected existed. Life is so multi-faceted and marvelous.
Kind of a gift she gave you of having the perspective that you "still have your life ahead of you"! I love that. Bless her.
Yeah, The Secret has, I think, at its core a good message of the value of setting intentions and the benefits of that, but, I think, it over-promises riches and everything and anything you would like just by believing you can have it. Yeah, I don't think so. Like most things, it seems to me a healthy balance there is the best path.
Jan, that reminds me of "name it and claim it" in some Christian circles. You know...if you have enough FAITH, it will happen! I found that philosophy a bitter pill (It was my fault that I didn't receive a miracle, as my faith wasn't strong enough).
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult when someone you have regard for is all enthusiastic about some book, maybe one that Oprah liked, and wants you to read it. If it's misplaced cliches, silly quotes and superstitious drivel, it's such medicine to try to through the thing and it's not medicine that's good for you. But you said you'd read it so you better read it.
DeleteSo odd that what can be so valuable for one person just is no good at all for the next one. I suppose that if the lady doesn't recognize it as a cliche` and only sees the underlying truth of the importance of gratitude, then who is to argue with that.
Jean, yes, it sounds like that! It's a fun ride while it "works," but a hard fall when it doesn't. And yes, blaming YOU because you "don't have enough faith." The Secret was big in my massage therapy school circle. I remember one man in the movie said he made a pretend check which was made out to him for a million dollars and taped it to the ceiling above his bed so he'd see that first thing in the morning and last thing when he went to sleep. He claimed that it wasn't long before he HAD that much money, but didn't say exactly how. And what a cruel thing to taunt a less fortunate person with.
DeleteCharlie, the thing is too that there are some good points in the book/movie. It *is* important to love yourself, accept yourself, value yourself. It *is*, I think, good to set intentions and ask God/the Universe/whatever to bring about things you need. But, at the same time, it just seemed to me to be too easy, to not take into account the realities of life and the possibility that maybe Spirit has a reason for you NOT to get everything you might want.
DeleteIt is hard when someone suggests a book and you feel like you have to read it. But do you have to really? Could you not say to her, "Hey, I started that book you suggested, but it didn't resonate with me. Thank you for suggesting it, though. I appreciate you thinking of me." Or something like that. Life is too short, too precious, to waste time reading something that doesn't feed you, unless there is some reason why you need to, like if you're trying to pass an accounting exam or something.
I agree that gratitude is super important, and hopefully that can be a common ground between you and her.
The other thing is that we each need different things at different points in our lives. What feeds and genuinely helps one person at one point may be completely different than for another person. May we each find the spiritual food we need as we go through our individual stages of ripening.
I doubt I will see the woman again and if I do, I wouldn't expect her to say, "How you doing on that book I recommended?" At 86, very unlikely she would remember. But that sort of thing happens from time to time and you make a good point that you should be the one in control (with some limitations) of how you spend your time. Mostly I just marvel that what can be so valuable for one person is such sludge for another.
DeleteAh, I see. I agree, it IS a marvel!
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