St. Luke's BODY AND SOUL Health Expo

Saturday was a wonderful day - inside and out. The Committee that had worked on the Expo went to great lengths to cover many, many bases and did so with a lot of class. There were many displays in the main hall, presentations in the Church, two therapy dogs roaming about for Emmy Lou to bond with.

Lunch was compact and healthy. Many kinds of health practitioners were there... yoga, massage, dental, Reiki, healing through art, chiropractic, recovery centers.

Turning to health is turning to wholeness.... and when we are whole we are truly holy!

A Cat-a-strophic stroke of discipline

For the record, readers, I have had a pretty good track record with animals. I can usually speak to them in calming tones, even hold them with words going through my mind and something is communicated.

I believe something is communicated anytime anyone touches an animal, or a person or a plant. There is some exchange of electricity; more precisely, chemicals within our bodies are released - strong chemicals. Most are related in some way with muscle function and yet others with emotion.

Our human noses - even the rather sensitive ones - pick up only a minute fraction of the gamut of odors that eminate from all things. True, there are wine sniffers and perfume sniffers, tea and coffee sniffers. Often the average nose can detect when milk has gone 'sour' and avert the necessity of tasting the milk as well.

'Domestic' animals, the Rovers and Kittys that are near and dear to us, still have their innate, primative, keen noses intact. They can smell anger, illness and fear.

I have a very good track record for getting to the bottom of behavioral difficulties where a dog is part of the household and, until recently, a decent one with cats. I had a couple of chats with the much beloved and missed Noodle and it seemed to help.

Pride is a bubble that should be burst. My kitty behavioral techniques did not suffice at a recent visit to a friends home. Without dealving deep enough into the cat's traumatic past I administered what would be 'normal' discipline to an unusual behavior pattern with swiftly escalating results. No, animal lovers, the cat was not harmed in the making of this incident - and I walked away with more than a few scratches.

Miss N made her feelings about the discipline perfectly clear. After some peroxide, a bandaid and time I used the correct techniques to desensitize her to my presence so that, by the time I left, her fur was down and she ventured out into the room without a swat or a hiss, allowing herself to be petted.

Being a 'plus size' woman I should know full well not to believe the label ONE SIZE FITS ALL. Whether we are attempting to help a human being or an animal, we need to have the right information in order for the experience to be healthy and positive. Intentions are great - but not always obvious to either animals or people. When you believe you see a need for healing you may - or may not - be the vehicle God chooses to be the delivery device. Always observe proper boundaries and appropriate settings. Always ask for permission and obey the answer you receive. When approached, Jesus always asked what the person wanted - and made no assumptions. Given His example, we may be the disciple that needs the discipline!

....and while the proofreaders were on vacation.....

These headlines were sent to me yesterday by my spiritual director... yes, Virginia, it is fine to laugh in AND out of the church....

As we can all use a good laugh at the mangling of the English language at our own hands, I pass these on to you with a wink and a smile.



New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
[weren't they fat enough?!]


Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
[no, really?]

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
[now that's taking things a bit far!]

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
[what a guy!]

Miners Refuse to Work after Death
[good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-sos!]

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
[see if that works any better than a fair trial!]

War Dims Hope for Peace
[I can see where it might have that effect!]

If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
[you think?!]

Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
[who would have thought!]

Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
[they may be on to something!]

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
[you mean there's something stronger than duct tape?!]

Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
[he probably IS the battery charge!]

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
[Taste like chicken?]

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
[Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]

Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
[Boy, are they tall!]


And the winner is....


Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
[Did I read that sign right?]

Back to the Laptop

Oh (says I, beating my breast) I have been negligent in my MOLC duties. While this is not QUITE 'back to the drawing board', it did take some inner coaxing. Of all things, what has driven me back to my new office chair in front of my trusty computer? Eighteen holes of golf today.

I had gotten into a rather gloomy rut of late. After the Health Expo at St. Luke's in Metuchen on Saturday (I'll be writing about it in an installment in the near future) Miss Emmy Lou, tail wagging and blissed having been fussed over by so many wonderful people at the Body and Soul event, and I stopped by my town's golf course and I set up a tee time for Sunday.

After a leisurely morning I headed for the course and - to my sheer amazement, pleasure and joy - was treated to a full round of golf, cart to boot. The front 9 was humbling and the two middle aged gents I played with were very gracious about it all. The back 9 I settled down, took in the scenery and concentrated on form. Presto! As if by magic, my score dropped down and my confidence rose.

Being out of doors does a body good. It did this body a world of good. I came home, returned long overdue phone calls, responded to e-mails and had a decent dinner. The prospects of having a productive Monday looks pretty darned good as well.

Bless the Lord, O my soul - and all that is in me, bless God's holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul - and forget not all God's wonderful benefits!

Psalms pretty good to me!