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THANKSGIVING DAY 2009

GRATEFUL to be able to post to my blog, “We the People” today – THANKSGIVING DAY 2009. My awareness of and gratitude for the blessings of LIFE is stronger today than it has been for many years since I’ve been blessed again and again and again. NOW, with the perspective of emergency brain surgery on Friday, the 13th of November, I have been awakened anew to the blessings of LIFE and the reality of the TENUOUSNESS OF LIFE!

Dr. Alan Lozier, Neurosurgeon at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, declared to me after the emergency surgery the night of Friday, the 13th, “John, this has been YOUR LUCKIEST FRIDAY the 13th in your whole life!” Truly it was! Praise the Lord!

I came home last Saturday, the 21st and have been recuperating well. From Friday, the 13th into Saturday, the 21st, I received exceptional health care services at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison. I personally experienced the ways in which they truly fulfill their “mission statement, “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.” I am excited about the quality of the health care community at St. Mary’s. Every caregiver with whom I had contact expressed a genuine CARE for me as a person. I am sure that I was not an exception. So, now with this experience, I am the more enthusiastic about the fact that St. Mary’s with Dean are building a new hospital in my home area of Janesville.

My whole experience has put into ALL CAPS for me the reality of the fact that LIFE IS TENUOUS! I have been coasting along assuming that I would do this or that and go here or there. I confess I have NOT experienced a delay or detour in MY plans for a long, long time. When Friday, the 13th HIT, I was scared, frightened, worried, insecure with the reaction of “GOD HELP ME!”

I was TRULY BLESSED & HELPED! My wife, Marilyn and my daughter, Beth were at St. Mary’s Hospital with me as we consulted with Neurosurgeon Lozier about arrangements for emergency brain surgery ASAP… that took place already at 6 pm. When I went to Dean Urgent Care, I had ALL THE RIGHT IDENTIFICATION with papers, numbers and even a Dean “My Chart” online. There was an AUTOMATIC “GO” for me with not one single question as to whether I could afford to be treated. The Urgent Care Doctor on duty ordered a CAT SCAN for me immediately! (Those cost about $1,2000 each!) With an urgent diagnosis from Dr. Lozier, I was rushed by ambulance – yes, lights & siren – to St. Mary’s Hospital. The Emergency Room was waiting for me and moved with reassuring urgency!

In retrospect, I am very, very THANKFUL that I had all the RIGHT IDs which facilitated my emergency medical care. NOW, however, I am feeling intensely the responsibilities of “Christian ethics” as I understand them. Yes, I have taken the “label”/ID of “Christian” since my childhood. So… I am under the burden of advocating that every single person has the “unalienable right” (yes, that’s the term Thomas Jefferson used in our Declaration of Independence) for health care. I know that is a very radical ethical stance. I know that Jefferson did not put “health care” into our Declaration of Independence, but how can one pursue happiness if one does NOT have reasonable health care? And then, what about “life” without reasonable health care or even “liberty” without reasonable health care? Let me re-state, I am well aware that my understanding of the Christian ethic is “radical.” Let’s discuss it – I welcome your comments and I shall be reading them.

I need to confess. The Apostle James discusses in his letter the sin of which I am guilty. He says, “You should know better than to say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to the city. We will do business there for a year and make a lot of money!’ What do you know about tomorrow?” WOW! I am guilty! As noted above, I’ve been coasting along making plans to do this and that and to go here and there with idea that I would JUST DO IT! And, yes, I have done it! This particular lesson included the fact that Marilyn and I were NOT able to share the celebration of the 35th anniverary of our Janesville Sons of Norway Nordland Lodge last Saturday (11/21). We are Charter Members so it was a VERY significant event we had been planning for... now we know, "The Lord Willing."

Then came Friday, the 13th. What I had planned to do did NOT happen! I was absent from where I had planned to be! I had a “lost week” with hospitalization from Friday, the 13th into Saturday, the 21st. I gradually LET GO so as to LET GOD without feeling angry, upset, and guilty.

NOW, I have been reflecting on and praying about the rest of James’ directive, “You should say, ‘If the Lord lets us live, we will do these things.’” This is causing me to evaluate more thoughtfully what I plan to do and where I plan to go with a real sense that it depends on God’s will.

And then comes the ZINGER from James, “If you don’t do what you know is right, you have sinned.” That’s my new headache! I am wrestling with what this really means for me as a person who has chosen to take the “label”/ID, “Christian.” HOPE you will comment and share with me your ideas and perspective.

I confess directly to you now: This is very intensely bothering me I terms of the issue of health care reform in our US. That Christian ethic I talked about earlier is HAUNTING ME.

NOW, "THE LORD WILLING" - I get to discuss this whole experience and issue with the persons who have chosen the “label”/ID “Christian” who gather at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Janesville next Sunday, November 29 with both 8 and 10:30 am Services. Yes, I confess, months ago I said, “I will go to St. John’s Lutheran Church on Sunday, November 29 as Guest Pastor. NO, I did not say, “The Lord willing.” NOW – right now – I am praying and saying, “I will participate in the 8 and 10:30 am Services at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Janesville next Sunday, November 29, THE LORD WILLING! HOPEFUL!

I PRAY your THANKSGIVING is meaningful, enjoyable and blessed my reader friends! Here we go…

John (This is too personal to use, Mr. E.)

John Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor of political science at UW-Waukesha and an advocate for democracy/civics education in Wisconsin high schools. John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.