…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. … And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 8 -9
What is my only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
~Heidelberg Catechism
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
~Mary Oliver
To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man’s life.
~ T.S. Eliot
A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
To live is so startling, it leaves little room for other occupations.
~Emily Dickinson
I believe in God as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
~ C. S. Lewis
Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.
~ Augustine
Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields…Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness.
~ Mary Oliver
The seed is in the ground. Now may we rest in hope while darkness does its work.
~ Wendell Berry
Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine the true poetry of life.~ Sir William Osler
But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.
~George Eliot’s final sentence in Middlemarch
If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.
~ E.B. White
Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, clear, in the ancient faith: what we need is here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye clear. What we need is here.~~ “The Wild Geese” Wendell Berry
Let it come, as it will, and don’t be afraid. God does not leave us comfortless, so let evening come.
~ Jane Kenyon from “Let Evening Come”
You can only come to the morning through the shadows.~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Look for what you notice but no one else sees. ~Rick Rubin
If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for. ~ Thomas Merton
This life therefore is not righteousness,
but growth in righteousness,
not health but healing,
not being but becoming,
not rest but exercise.
We are not yet
what we shall be,
but we are growing toward it.
The process is not finished
but it is going on.
This is not the end
but it is the road.
~Martin Luther
Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.
~ Mary Oliver
It is not your love that sustains the marriage —
but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
She has done what she could…
~Mark 14:8
What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good on this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?~ J. R. R. Tolkien from The Hobbit
Barnstorming 
Dr. Emily,
In a recent Comment here I wrote that you are the last of a dying breed. I do believe that there are other physicians out there who feel about their profession as you do but, unfortunately, they are not part of my recent experience. In my lifetime I have known only two physicians whose care has reflected the attitude and genuine love that you have described here. I do not blame doctors in practice today. In choosing the “healing” profession, and after completing grueling years of medical studies, internship and residency, most new doctors undoubtedly had the highest hopes and ideals. I blame the system in which they must now work for altering those original ideals. Time constraints, government regulations,
and interference by pharmaceutical and other vested interests have had an adverse affect on the professional lives of medical caregivers today. They almost preclude their having the luxury of feeling as you have described here.
As a Catholic Christian, I grew up understanding the rather narrow meaning of the word “vocation” as something special — something reserved for those ordained for ministry and those in vowed religious orders. I now know that the word has a much more inclusive meaning, that is: a calling
to the service of God that includes not only the medical profession but all professions and pursuits, lay and ecclesiastical, that serve the needs of humanity. For Christians, that means continuing the mission of Christ by serving the needs of all humanity. Without doubt, beautiful woman-doctor, you fill that fiat perfectly.
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Oh, that Mary Oliver passage … which I knew, but hadn’t thought of in a long time. Perfect. The sky here isn’t pink and clear, but rather cloudy, angry, choked with snow and wind. But all I need to remember is: the not knowing IS my part. Which, thankfully, I know I can play well. xoxo
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Thankyou Emily for your dedication to love and care for the souls and bodies of others.
________________________________
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I am very blessed as I have been cared for by several wonderful Doctors over the years .So much in fact I thought all of them were as gracious and dedicated as I could ever want . Maybe this is not the norm but for me it has been … I thought all those who chose to be in that proffession must have been “called” by God to serve his people and care . As it should be … and I do know that Emily has the gift of sharing and for that I am so glad to be able to enjoy her thoughts and writings … as when she decided to hang up her Doctor hat I hope she continues on as a writer ….thanks Emily that was a lovely message to read today as it is my birthday . I turned 60 today … and it doesn’t even hurt , no bandaids needed yet …. Peggy in eastern Wash . :>)
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Happy Birthday to you, Peggy! You are only 18 months ahead of me and I hope I can keep doctoring and writing for awhile more. Thank you for being such a faithful reader.
Emily
On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 1:47 PM, Barnstorming
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Thank you, Dr. Emily, for bravely and compassionately being who you are. As Mother Teresa said: “The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if we don’t put the drop in, the ocean would be one drop less.”
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God gives us each a special gift. (of course, I think it is a gift when we recognize our gift He wants us to use.) You have at least two Emily. A healer and a writer. Very special indeed. I’m sure you have many more. And Happy Birthday Peggy!
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