Two miracles

If you've kept up with my blog(s) for any length of time, you have no doubt read me saying that I'm a miracle from God due to the fact that I was born with Hydrocephalus and have survived to be 48-years old. Well, after yesterday, I feel that He has touched my life with a miracle - actually two of them - yet again. I say that because, about six weeks ago, I started having trouble with atrial fibrillation where the top two chambers of my heart don't really beat efficiently, they basically just quivered. The result was I stayed weak, tired, and had to seriously curtail my activities -- even my writing which I dearly enjoy. What made it even worse was the fact that, even though my cardiologist had put me on medication, I was still having episodes and still finding my self having to go to the ER at Emory Midtown Hospital. Based on this, he said he wanted to do a heart cath, and that was done yesterday. Therein lies the first miracle: NO BLOCKAGES WERE FOUND! As soon as I found out that I needed a heart cath, I put a message up on Facebook asking my family and friends to be in prayer and their prayers were answered! He did find one thing . . . I have a enlarged aorta which he thinks was the result of my having hypertension since I was a teenager. Even that, however, wasn't causing a problem, but he said we would continue to monitor it.

The second miracle took place while I was waiting to be taken down for the cath. My dad and my step mom had come up to be with us during the procedure and my step mom and I had the opportunity to have a long, heart-to-heart talk . . . something we hadn't done since I was little. My biggest question was "can I call you mom". We both teared up and she said she had been waiting for the day I would ask her that because, even though she's my "step", I've always felt for her like she was my mom. So, what had been a day that filled me with fear and dread, ending up being one of the best days I've had in a long time! Thank you Jesus!

-- Walter

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 -- James 5:16 (KJV)

Some people . . .

. . .

. . .are just so incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to persons with disabilities. For example, last night I was surfing around on YouTube when I came across this video of "Praise Him, Praise Him" by Fanny J. Crosby. For those who might not be familiar with Ms. Crosby, here is a link to her profile on Wikipedia: Fanny Crosby; she became blind during an infancy so, as many sightless people do, she wore dark glasses. Well, as I was enjoying the video, I was also reading the comments and came across one that said "they shouldn't post videos by people who don't have eyes". How could people be so dumb and mean-spirited? Granted you have to look due to the quality of the old sepia print, but you can make out the frames of her glasses.

I thought it ironic that I came across that comment now as September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month -- another condition where it's sufferer's are made fun of because of our larger-than-normal heads. I use the term "our" because I am an adult survivor of Hydrocephalus. Most of my life - including the adults years - has been marked by people who made fun of my appearance or made ugly, rude comments. I remember as a junior in high school, I had a freshmen who wanted me to headbutt him just to see if it would cause my head to "bust open" (apparently he compared my head to a ripe water melon). I urge you, if you want to learn more about hydro, just ask me and I'll be glad to explain it. Also, you can check on Facebook as there are a number of Hydrocephalus Support groups on there. Just get educated . . . learn the facts!

Me as a child

Friends tweet before dying in Md. train derailment | ajc.com

Friends tweet before dying in Md. train derailment  | ajc.com

Headlines like those above are why pictures like this scare me to death:

Yes, the railroad track makes for a scenic backdrop, but if a train comes along - particularly on a curved track like in the picture - it's not going to be able to stop in time. I did a little research - just to make sure improvements  in technology hadn't decrease the time it takes for a locomotive running at full track speed to stop - and it's going to take that train one (1) mile to stop once brakes are fully applied. But, being hit by a train isn't the only hazard posed by being on the tracks. According to the article above, the two girls in Maryland where apparently knocked from the trestle by the impact of the accident, fell to the street below, and were then buried by coal falling from the hopper cars. Personally, I don't care to fall from that height and then have - approximately - 150 TONS land on top of me!

Don't get me wrong, I like the old-style trestles too, but I would never put myself at risk by sitting on one. Despite their large appearance, they are actually very narrow along the rail bed -- usually just wide enough for the train to clear.

-- Walter

I completely agree with Chic-Fil-A

Henson Company breaks off relationship with Chick-Fil-A over gay marriage stance

12:02 am July 24, 2012, by Theresa Walsh Giarrusso

The Jim Henson Company has announced via it’s Facebook page that it no longer wishes to partner with Chick-Fil-A because Henson’s company supports gay marriage.
The Huffington Post:

“… on Friday, the Jim Henson Company posted the following statement to their Facebook page:”
“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD. (http://www.glaad.org/)”
“With this, The Jim Henson Company joins the ranks of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who has vowed to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city, office star Ed Helms who tweeted that the chain had “lost a loyal fan,” and the countless individuals who have taken to social media to voice disapproval, including those planning a National Same Sex Kiss Day on August 3, in condemning the Chick-Fil-A’s CEO’s opposition to same sex marriage. “

A fan site reports that Chick-Fil-A kids meals were featuring a Jim Henson Creature Shop make-your-own puppet toy from mid July to Aug. 18^th.

How do you feel about  Chick-Fil-A’s stance on gay marriage? Does it influence your decision to buy your food there either way? If you are offended, it is hard to give it up? (That is some yummy chicken.) Do you think the owners should stop talking about their views?

(I know this is a polarizing issue but please try to stay polite and discuss it like adults. No name calling please.)

****

Let me say up front, that I too am "guility as charged" because I support the Biblical definition of marriage. Throughout the Bible it states that marriage shall be between an man and a woman, not a man and a man . . . as a matter of fact, the latter is considered an abomination to God! Why then is there all of this furor when a Christian business owner states publicly that he supports it? Mr. Cathy didn't say that Chick-Fil-A wouldn't serve gay customers, only that it doesn't support them joining in a marital union.

All of the furor isn't going to change how God looks at homosexuality, so why do folks think think boycotting such a fine business is going to change the Cathy family's resolve to operate it based on Biblical principles. My wife and I have always enjoyed eating at the Chick-Fil-A after we get off work - as our finances allowed us to eat out - and we're going to do it again August 1st  to show our support on "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day"

Until next time . . .

This article has me seeing red!

Junior high students place garbage in 9/11 memorial

My wife and I had been running errands this afternoon and I read the above article when I sat down to catch my breath after we got home. According to the blog, written by George Mathis of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a group of junior high school students were on a summer field trip to the 9/11 memorial when they "tossed garbage" into the reflecting pool. That in its self was bad enough, but some of the respondents to the blog attempted to say that President Obama was responsible for the children's actions.  It seems like those who don't like the president will go to any extreme to place blame upon him, but these comments bordered on the ridiculous. I think my favorite comment - and one that was very appropriate - was made by a U.S. Marine returning from two (2) tours in Afghanistan, he suggested that they be sent for a two-week "vacation" at Paris Island. OORAH!

Until next time . . .