FLIPPED BY PHILIPPIANS

FLIPPED BY PHILIPPIANS

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

1Peter [MKJV] 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word preached as gospel to you.

  In the good old days affordable cuts of beef were usually quite tough. Commonly boiled until tender, seldom done today in this USA. In 1679 Denis Papin invented the pressure cooker, it taking many years to become a kitchen tool producing delicious tender beef recipes. My family purchased one soon after WWII. Not long after then I began buying into the pressure cooker of passive aggressive anger. And as with the kitchen tool, if the pressure is not released safely it will do damage. I well remember Grandmother McGee, having learned to cook on a wood/coal burning range, first experience.

  After cubing the beef and adding our homegrown garden vegetables, she struck a wooden match and lit the gas flame. Fascinated by all things old and new, I sat in the corner watching and listening. I well remember the explosive boom resulting in walls and ceiling dripping with Grandmother’s recipe. I don’t remember what supper consisted of the evening, but do, recall it didn’t consist of scrapings.

  After increasingly buying into passive anger, finally in the seventies the head of internal steam took its toll, resulting in a 10 day stay in a hospital due to ear to rear hyperacidity plus a numbered list of gastrointestinal issues. I couldn’t even drink ice water without a nasty reaction.

  Dr. Coco was one of the best in the area. I was fortunate to be assigned to this absolutely-no-nonsense-specialist. His diagnosis was spot on along with pharmaceutical and dietary regimen that immediately began to heal my body.

  On the 9^th morning Dr. Coco told me he was sending a counselor to see me. I became quietly angry and politely refused . . . to no avail other than resulting in another gastro event.

  While I was continuing to read Competent To Counsel, by Jay E. Adams, a book I had been studying prior to hospitalization I smelled the aroma of pipe smoke. (Smoking in hospitals was permitted in the good old days.) Laying the book aside I saw an amused looking man leaning against the door frame wearing brown tweed coat with leather on the elbows, his face behind a cloud of smoke. Though I have lifelong problem remembering names, Dr. Desmond McNellis is not forgotten.

  The session lasted only a few minutes. He asked me about family, financial status, job satisfaction et al. I answered without comment from him. Just as suddenly as he arrived he turned puffing a cloud (Prince Albert Cherry) and began to walk away. I called “Wait, don’t you have anything to say?!”

  He faced about, pointed at my book lying on the side table, and said “You already know what to do.” and left never to be seen again.

  Back at work my resident mentors took me to Philippians 4:4-9, centering on verse 8. After a few days of brief break time discussions they recommended I carry verse 8 with me along with then ever present Maalox, reread and ponder often. In the good old days you hand copied. I did so and faithfully followed the wisdom of my Philippians 4:9 elders.

  The spiritual and emotional fine results were immediately realized, enjoyed, and rejoiced in. The bodily result of upending Dr. Coco’s prognosis “You will never eat normal again.” took longer, about 2 years total. Now I dine like a garbage can sans menu limitations other that 3-4 items I don’t like. A few days ago daughter Renee’ and I, while out and about, dined at PepperJax. She consumed a vegetarian sub. I ate a delicious cheese steak sub fully loaded including Jalapenos.

  Both helpful doctors and my mentoring elders no longer live, but the All-wise Word goes on eternally available to bring body, soul, and spirit optimum health to one and all.

EBB