$merica Today

Boot Camp

My son began boot camp this week, his initiation into the military culture in preparation for the Coast Guard Academy this fall. I'm impressed that he was selected by the Academy for a full ride, four-year college education--this is quite an accomplishment. However, as his dad, I do wonder what will happen to his human spirit during the next seven weeks of hazing and indoctrination. Will this serve as the first step in becoming another cog in the military machine, or will he engage his intellectual, creative capacities to learn about himself, others, and the world?......Most likely I'm missing it all together and he'll simply come away from these weeks with his story. Will I listen?

Asa King

Asa and friend landed a king at Willow River yesterday. He was thrilled!

Compassion is action

I attended a presentation this morning and was reminded that compassion is action: listening to a friend's story, holding a frightened child, picking up a piece of trash. When asked if we would share personal examples, I immediately thought about the night a few weeks ago, when I was still hurting from surgery, I slowly made my way into a chair at the dinner table. Just as I was settling in, out of the blue my four-year old daughter, Eva, gently placed a pillow against my back. Without deliberation, she saw a need and simply took action. That's compassion.

Post-op Day 20: All is Well

After almost three weeks since surgery, I'm driving, walking without assistance, riding a stationary bike, and generally feeling much better. The doctor released me for work beginning tomorrow. Although I still need an occasional short nap to restore my energy, all is well.

Post-Op Day 10: Better, but slow

I went into this surgery with expectations of bouncing back in a flash. Funny how expectations set me up for frustration, disappointment. Fact is, I am improving each day, but it's a slow process. Right now my typical morning is consumed by very few activities: eating breakfast, doing exercises, taking a short walk, resting--and by then it's lunch time! Challenging my sense of productivity.

Post-Op Day 5: Surgery is Violent

The pain, swelling, bruises, and raw incision so much a part of these first few days of post-op remind me that surgery is inherently violent: A surgeon’s job is to cut, saw, rip, and otherwise dismember the human body. I know the "end justifies the means" rationale—that is what allowed me to give consent last Monday. But even though the procedure serves a greater good, the actions themselves are forceful, intense, violent. So I'm curious about who becomes a surgeon? Or, asked in a slightly different way, who is this person when being a surgeon? What is it like to perform actions that are unacceptable in any other arena? And how does the dehumanization that must be necessary to effectively do this work affect the way the surgeon experiences him(her)self and other human beings outside the OR?...