Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)
In reading the book of Romans, I see that the writer, Paul, encourages us to “honor one another.” One of the things that is so remarkable about the Bible is that it is a book which gives excellent instructions for how we should treat one another. While it is a guide to understanding God and his creation, and his relationship to that creation, it also is very practical advice for how to truly survive in a world that is not always easy to navigate.
In this passage, Paul is reminding believers that they are to honor one another. That is, we are to show respect for one another by listening carefully to what they say. We are to show that respect by giving eye contact, warmth, and affirmations where we can. We are to give others the benefit of the doubt and not be quick to judge them. We are to let them know that they are valued by us and by God. We are to recognize that they have gifts and strengths that are to be celebrated.
Those are ways that we can “Honor one another above ourselves.” Paul did not say to lower our own esteem, but rather, when we honor others, it lifts us up as well.
So, it appears that the Bible is a pretty good manual for counseling as well!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the inspiration given in the Bible which helps our relationships, as well as giving honor to you, Amen.
The trip to London was pleasant, if uneventful compared to our recent adventures. Harvey and Shepherd were cementing a friendship based upon intellect and mutual respect. Harvey, the renowned physician to the court of King James, was drawn to Joseph Shepherd, a physician, philosopher, scientist, theologian, and world traveler. As they discussed the concept of the circulation of the blood in the human body, Shepherd seemed to speak with the authority of a scholar. Harvey began to write as they spoke. I have seldom seen such animated conversation. My medical training seemed insignificant compared to their lofty discussions. I satisfied myself listening to their discourse. Kensington, bored by the conversations, alternately slept or read through reports he had collected from voyages of East India Company ships. He was particularly interested in the tobacco crops growing in Virginia, and he was planning to find other areas in the world where this miracle crop might grow.
We arrived in London on the evening of the 5th of September, 1620. We disembarked from our carriage at Lord Kensington’s estate in West London. We were greeted by a group of servants who quickly scooped our bags from the carriage. We were led into the entry room, where we found Lady Kensington and Edwin Carr laughing over a bottle of Madeira.
“Andrew!” greeted Anne Kensington. “I see you have brought guests.”
“Yes,” he replied, “I see that you have kept yours with you.”
“Edwin Carr is not a guest here,” said Anne. “He lives here.” She giggled a drunken little giggle. Andrew had seen this many times before.
“I shall have the servants prepare a feast,” said Anne.
“Spare them the trouble,” said Lord Kensington. “We will do well with brandy and some eel pie.”
“Just the brandy will be fine with me,” I retorted. “I am ready to go to bed and get some real sleep for a change.”
Shepherd, Harvey, and I sipped some brandy, talked with Edwin Carr about his voyage, which had been strangely intertwined with ours, and retired for a restful night’s sleep.
I suspected that Lord and Lady Kensington’s night was not as peaceful as ours. Raised voices could be heard throughout the spacious house as the Kensingtons fought over her latest new friend who would share the house. Edwin Carr was not the first man to have spent time under Lord Kensington’s roof, and this was not especially a secret in London social circles. Lord Kensington’s anger at his wife seemed less about her lover than about the increasingly brazen manner in which she flaunted such affairs. Whereas in the past she had been somewhat more discreet about such liaisons, she now seemed almost excited to bring such affairs to his attention. For his part, Lord Kensington seemed resigned to her behavior, but embarrassed by her disregard for whatever was left of his public image. Indeed, Lord Kensington had never been lacking for female companionship either, but Anne’s insistence upon equal consideration for outside lovers rankled him to no end.
Harvey and Shepherd were anxious to get back to Harvey’s office and laboratory. I was simply anxious to get on to a new adventure – something to distract me from my growing sense that my life was increasingly without direction or meaning. I had to admit that seeing Harvey and Shepherd’s animated medical discussions both shamed me and sparked a renewed interest in my need for continued education in these advanced ideas.
Shepherd, ever the gentleman, invited me to accompany them to Harvey’s laboratory the next day. I accepted the invitation. We embarked the next morning by carriage to London Square. I was struck by the busy streets, the sounds of street vendors hawking their wares, and the smells that emanated from the alleys. The stench of human waste, the entrails of animals that had been discarded by butchers, and the rotting fish dumped by vendors after the day’s sales were completed came together in my nostrils. Indeed, having spent the last few months at sea aboard the Intrepid had almost inured me to such smells, but I was struck nonetheless.
The colors of the cloth for sale by some merchants caught my eye, and the sound of languages foreign to me all turned my head in this fascinating city. Perhaps the excitement of London could renew my spirit.
Shepherd too was drinking in this mixture of sounds, smells, and color, but he seemed troubled by the street urchins who pounced on us for money at each step. They knew the territory, and they knew that we were visitors – perhaps by our continual gawking at each new sound. These children were dressed in rags, mostly. They seemed to have renewed energy each time they saw a new mark. Shepherd was drawn to them, and he quickly dispensed what few coins he had to the first children who approached him.
“Best not to do that,” cautioned Harvey. “They will never leave you alone. Worse, you’ll be marked as one with money, and you will be dragged into the nearest alley as soon as you’re not alert.”
“I will take that chance,” said Shepherd. “These children must live a terrible life.”
“It is the life of this city,” said Harvey. “They survive somehow.”
We spent several hours touring Harvey’s office and laboratory. There were the usual specimens, skeletons, chemical solutions, books, and other academic papers. However, I was fascinated by the odd-looking tube of metal and glass sitting prominently near the window. I asked Harvey about it, and he seemed proud to discuss it.
“That is my magnification scope,” he said. “With it, I can see minute parts of cells in the body. For example, I can see that in the blood there seem to be bodies of various shapes and sizes. I am looking forward to having Professor Janssen build me a better scope when I see him in Holland next year.”
Harvey offered to let me look through the end of the scope. I looked at a drop of water, and I could see small bodies wiggling in the drop. The water itself seemed to teem with life, unseen by anyone else. I felt the awe of discovery wash over me as I pondered a new world that I had never before conceived of. I believed that I was in the presence of something sacred, yet somehow very mundane. It was, after all, a simple drop of water, yet it seemed to be the very microcosm of a new world of discovery and hope.
That evening, Kensington took us to the Boar’s Head Tavern, where we drank some fine ale and ate a hearty stew. The food, while heavy and filling, was not the main attraction of the pub. The people who were in the place were a lively mixture of merchants, sailors, and even the occasional member of Parliament. Women who were looking for business seemed to know exactly which men to approach. There was no shortage of takers for what they were selling. Smoke filled the air, as that new fad seemed to be becoming widespread. At first, I choked on the smells in the air. Gradually, I became accustomed to it, and, eventually, enticed by it. Kensington pointed to this room and explained to us his desire to capitalize on the habit.
“These people are paying a lot of money for tobacco, and I see more and more converts to it,” he said. “I believe that we can dedicate a fleet of ships to its import from America. I would like you and Dr. Shepherd to help me in that venture.”
Shepherd answered Kensington quickly. “I see many better uses for shipping than to import tobacco,” he said. “There are some interesting food products which I believe will improve the health of the people of England. Tobacco is not one of them.”
Kensington replied, “Dr. Shepherd, I am not in the health business, I am in the business of making money.”
“Yes, that is true,” replied Shepherd, “but I am in the business of making people healthy. Therefore, you will need to find someone else for this venture.”
“So be it,” said Kensington. “If you do not wish to make money, you have no need of me, it seems. Making money is what I do best.”
“Is it what you live for?” asked Shepherd.
“I suppose it is,” said Kensington. It seemed that Kensington had never considered that there was any other reason to live, so he was puzzled by Shepherd’s question. I felt a bit awkward at this exchange. Lord Kensington was, after all, our host, and we were all faring quite nicely from his ability to make money. I was hoping that Kensington did not believe that Shepherd spoke for me also in his thinking. I was in need of a living, and if Lord Kensington saw fit to employ me in his business, I would not turn him down.
“I believe it is time to go home, gentlemen,” said Kensington. “Would you like to spend another night at my home?”
Harvey responded that he would be happy to have Shepherd and me stay with him in his quarters for the next few days until we had better plans. Shepherd agreed to stay with Harvey, but I felt that perhaps the time had come for me to be thinking about a future with Kensington’s offer.
“I would be most honored to take your offer,” I said to Kensington. Kensington seemed pleased. I believed that he wanted someone else to come home with him rather than to face Anne alone. I could be a good distraction for him.
As we got up to go, we heard a great commotion from the next room. Shouts and cursing filled the air, followed by the crash of a table and breaking glass. A scream pierced above all the din. At that moment, a bloody man came running out to the innkeeper.
“There’s a man been stabbed in the belly in there,” he said. At that, he fled the pub. He was followed quickly by several other men. Shepherd and I went to the next room to see if we could help the victim.
We came upon a scene of chaos. A man lay on the ground in a growing pool of blood. Blood was pouring from his stomach area, and he was moaning and writhing in pain. We approached him, and he looked at us wide-eyed and frightened. I quickly grabbed a cloth from a nearby table and held it to his stomach. He was not a very stout fellow, so I tied the cloth around him to try to staunch the blood flow. We had to put several layers of cloth on the wound as each layer became soaked with blood. It became clear that he would quickly bleed to death if we could not control his bleeding.
“Bring him to my office,” said Harvey. “I will try to save him by suturing the wound.”
We bound the cloths around the man as tightly as we dared, and there seemed to be some success in slowing the flow of blood. However, without treatment, I felt that he would be dead within the hour, if not sooner. We carried him in a large cloth, and began to take him out of the pub. Just then, Lord Kensington cried out, “Good God, that is Jacob Carr!”
Carr looked up at him and smiled weakly.
“I am at your service,” he said.
The trip to Harvey’s office took almost twenty minutes, and Carr was starting to lose consciousness. We carried him up to Harvey’s office and placed him on a table. Harvey seemed confident, even in this, by my estimation, hopeless situation.
“We need to tie him down to the table,” said Harvey.
We quickly secured some straps and began to tie him down. By now, Carr offered little resistance, being only barely conscious.
“We must open the wound further, find the vessels which are severed, and tie them off. I pray that there is not too much internal damage,” said Harvey. As we took off layers of bandages, we saw that he was still bleeding, but with much less force. “Indeed,” said Harvey, “his blood volume is so depleted that there is evidently little pressure left.”
Harvey opened the wound so that he could reach inside to the bleeding vessels. We had threaded a needle with catgut, and Harvey proceeded to tie off the bleeding vessels. He closed the wound quickly to minimize the suffering of the awakening Carr.
“I believe that he will survive if he can avoid the fevers which often accompany such wounds,” said Harvey. Shepherd and I concurred that he could survive the wound, but perhaps not the complications that often presented in these situations.
“We must take him to a hospital,” I suggested. “The Franciscans care for the poor and the sick in a small hospital next to the monastery.”
We allowed Carr to rest for a while as we discussed our plans. Lord Kensington had gone to the constable to gather townspeople to pursue the assailants of Jacob Carr. We had no illusion that the assailants would be brought to justice. Indeed, Jacob Carr had so many connections with violent men, it would be hard to track them down.
Kensington returned as we were loading Carr on to the wagon.
“What are you doing with Jacob Carr?” he asked. Kensington seemed surprised that Carr had survived.
“We are taking him to the Franciscans so that they can provide medical care while he recovers,” I said.
Kensington said, “They may be too full with street people, beggars, and lunatics. However, I will see if I can arrange transport to the Franciscan mission,” Kensington said.
Carr was a frightful sight indeed. Matted blood covered his hairy chest and stomach. His trousers were soaked with blood. Bandages covered the ends of catgut sutures, which protruded from his closed wound. Carr was moaning now and asking for a drink. He looked like one of the casualties of the battlefield that I had seen in years past.
Kensington had secured a hearse from the mortuary for the trip to his manor. What irony that a hearse afforded the softest ride for a man in distress!
Shepherd was curious about the Franciscans and the work at the mission. Shepherd asked if I would show him the monastery, so I agreed to take him there. It had been some years since I had ventured to that part of London, or seen the monastery, so I too had some curiosity about the place.
We arrived at the monastery just before dawn. Some of the friars were beginning to make breakfast for those who were in their care. As we walked through the piles of clothing slumped on the floor, we came to realize that some of these “piles” were children, curled up in a little ball to stay warm. An early autumn chill added to the misery of the damp, dark surroundings. The friars were coaxing a fire back to life in the hearth, and a large kettle was taking its place on the rack above the fire. Some of the figures on the floor started to rouse, and it was only then that we saw eyes staring out from under the rags.
Many of the men had been there for some time. There were those who were sick and had come there to die. Some were just those who had no other shelter, and had begged the friars to provide for them. In all, it was a sad and miserable lot, and were it not for the Franciscans’ charity they would be under bridges, on the street, or dead already.
I noticed that Joseph Shepherd was very silent. He took in these sights without comment, but his sadness and displeasure were evident. He seemed indignant that these people were relegated to such a state.
After a long silence, Shepherd said, “Dr. Greene, I believe that I will stay here and offer my services for a while.”
“You cannot be serious!” I said. “Lord Kensington has offered us a position with the East India Company. That is an opportunity that we can hardly ignore.”
Shepherd looked at me as if I had not heard him.
“Dr. Greene,” he said, “this too is an opportunity.”
Chapter 20
People seemed to be naturally attracted to Joseph Shepherd. His compassion was evident in his exchanges with people who were hurting, diseased, or broken in some way. Yet he had the capacity, and the tendency, to be ferociously honest. With someone like Kensington or the notorious seaman North, Shepherd would not fail to point out the error of their ways, and he did not much care about the consequences of it. I was not sure if he were simply fearless, or perhaps a bit of a lunatic. His wisdom and insight of knowing how to read people were uncanny. I knew that I needed to be around him to learn more of such things. I was always a cynic, seeing the worst in people, or perhaps just expecting the worst. Nonetheless, people never let me down in my expectations – they always seemed to live down to them.
I left Shepherd to return to the Kensington manor, and I told him that I would return to see him the next day. Shepherd nodded, but he seemed to be disappointed that I had chosen to go with Lord Kensington. Shepherd remained with the friars and planned to minister to those children who were sick and dying. I admired his compassion, but I questioned his decision. The opportunity to have a position with the East India Company seemed too good to turn down.
The ride to the Kensington Manor was uneventful. Upon arrival, I was met by Edwin Carr. Evidently, Kensington had seemed to relish giving him the news that his brother had been stabbed at the pub. Edwin pointed out that Kensington was a man of small compassion, and an even smaller sense of civility. Carr was not surprised.
“I cannot tell you how often that fool gets in fights!” he said.
“His injuries are very serious,” I noted. I continued, “We left him at the Franciscan monastery, and the friars are attending to him.”
“Well,” said Carr, “I hope that being around the good men of God will do him some good.”
Anne Kensington appeared as Carr was speaking. She was wearing a wine-stained gown, and had evidently consumed a good bit more than she had managed to spill on herself. Kensington turned to me and said, “To think that I married her and gave her a title! And Edwin Carr, a man who I loved and promoted, is no better than her. There is simply no one I can trust anymore.” Kensington had a strange sense of resignation in his voice. He had started his sentence in anger, and he finished it in a trailing and sad voice. “Let us leave these two together and go back to London.”
With that, he picked up his hat, grabbed me by the arm, and led me out of the Manor. I did not mind the decision. I had no interest in seeing the sad tale unfolding in front of me. I also did not like the prospect of seeing a future business partner like Edwin Carr treating Kensington in this way. For that matter, I was a bit worried that I may be out of the business before I even got into it. I had not even been officially hired by the East India Company yet, and I already began to have doubts about the sour side of the business. Kensington was rapidly changing his mood once again. He seemed invigorated with new ideas, and he wanted to share them with me at a pub. We proceeded to make the trip back to London, only this time Kensington was talking constantly about new business ideas. He would find another captain to sail for him, and he would concentrate upon trade with the New World. Tobacco would be his main import, and he would introduce it to Africa on a scale never before seen. Tobacco for slaves would be the plan. He would send a fleet of ships to the New World and begin the tobacco business there in earnest. When sufficient crops were established, he would export the tobacco to England, where he would have no shortage of customers in the pubs and markets. He would make huge profits, to be used to purchase African slaves for export to America, making another fortune in that. Those slaves would be sent to America to work the tobacco fields under the direction of colonists who would be tied to the East India Company. He was actually planning a huge enterprise as we rode to London. There seemed to be an eerie calm about him as he spoke. While I was not the canniest business man, even I could see the potential profits to be made in this venture.
We arrived in London just in time for supper. By now, Kensington was feeling very good about himself. He had launched into a creative business venture in order to cleanse his mind of the pain he had experienced in his own home. Indeed, business seemed to be this man’s salvation.
“Let me buy you a fine dinner to celebrate our new business plan!” he exclaimed.
“What part do I have in the plan?” I asked. I had heard nothing about my involvement in the plan, and I did not have anything particularly helpful to offer it in any case.
“My dear Dr. Greene, you may be the only man I can trust anymore,” he said loudly. “You may have any part in it that you choose. You are an educated man, a doctor, surely there is a place in this for you!”
I did not know whether to be excited about this or apprehensive. It could just be the ramblings of a vengeful man. It could have just been his creative mind bubbling with ideas to entertain himself (and perhaps me too). Or, this could be the chance of a lifetime to get in on a moneymaking plan for the ages.
The next morning, after we had eaten (and drunk) of England’s finest fare, I decided to go to the friary hospital to check on my friend Shepherd. The day dawned with an absolute glow. The mid-September morning was clear and crisp. The Inn we had secured for the night was of the highest quality, and its new straw mattresses and down pillows offered us a good night’s sleep. I decided to take an early morning walk through London to visit the friary. Once again I was struck by the squalor of the streets and the smells of the alleys. Beggars, thieves, and prostitutes had been out late the night before, working the neighborhoods for their livelihood. The early morning stirrings were led by the fishmongers and vegetable sellers. Fish were usually sold by late morning to the wise shoppers who grabbed them fresh before the sun worked its havoc on them. The smell of fresh bread from the bakeries stirred my hunger, even though I had eaten quite enough just hours before. Nonetheless, the smell of fresh bread can do wonders on the senses. I bought several loaves of bread, and I purchased a dozen fresh cod to take to the friary. I knew that food there was always welcome, and I wanted to celebrate what could be a new business life for me.
As I entered the mission, Joseph Shepherd was busy tending to several children who were coughing loudly.
“Joseph,” I called, “I bring you breakfast!”
“Dr. Greene!” he called. “We will be happy to eat that breakfast.”
Indeed, as soon as I came closer, I was surrounded by children, who all could walk. The smell of fresh bread had excited them as well, and I was set upon by the hungry patients. Joseph patiently waited until the bread had been parceled out, and he brought the fish to the kitchen area where he deftly filleted the cod, laid them on some glowing coals, and served up a breakfast feast to the patients, residents, and friars. I was struck that these dozen cod and the loaves of bread were able to serve the gathering of people. Yet, everyone seemed satisfied after the meal was consumed.
Just two days before, Harvey had persuaded the Franciscans to take in Jacob Carr for further care. Harvey had escorted Carr back into the care of the larger community that the Franciscans had to offer. He further wanted to remove himself from Anne Kensington and Edwin Carr.
I began to ask Joseph about his plans. He had alluded to the idea of staying at the mission to serve the poor and the sick who regularly populated the place.
“Joseph,” I said, “you are a very talented physician, an educated man. Do you plan to stay here and tend to these few sick people, or will you take on a larger task, worthy of your talent?”
Joseph mused at this statement.
“Is there a higher calling than caring for these people?” he asked.
“Well, yes, I believe so,” I replied. “You can stay here and serve dozens, or you can take Dr. Harvey’s offer to meet the King of England. Perhaps the King will give you a mission to serve people in the entire country!”
We had received the invitation from Dr. Harvey, but we had not yet been able to secure a time to meet King James. I felt that the least I could do would be to see to it that Shepherd got the opportunity to meet the King. I decided to encourage such a meeting again, and I would ask my new associate, Andrew Kensington, to arrange for Dr. Harvey and Joseph Shepherd to meet with the King. Adventures this large were now starting to seem like possibilities again to me.
Chapter 21
William Bradford was busy making final arrangements to set sail on the Mayflower. He seemed to have a new resolve, and more confidence after having discussed his mission with Joseph Shepherd. He was aware that this mission was much larger than himself, and that all he could do was to prepare as best he knew how, and to pray as hard as he knew how. With that, he was ready.
Alvin Toll was encouraging Bradford to leave as soon as possible, because he was fearful that the people of Plymouth were getting restless with so many people of controversy still in his port. Toll was ever mindful of the mood of people, and the political implications of his every move. Having these religious zealots out of his port would certainly not hurt.
On September 16th, at 5:30 A.M., Bradford and the Mayflower pushed out of Plymouth and slipped into the ocean. It was at that exact moment that William Harvey was awakened out of a deep sleep, having experienced a dream of staggering proportions.
Harvey dreamt that a small sailing vessel was coursing through a labyrinth of tubes. The vessel went round and round in an endless journey, always arriving at the same place. It would pass through cliffs and canyons, valleys, narrow openings, sometimes quickly, and at other times slowed to a crawl, but always moving. Always the vessel returned to the same place after the journey, only to begin the trip once again. It was only when the liquid that the vessel sailed upon turned a bright red that Harvey woke with a start. He realized that the liquid was blood, and the vessel was flowing through the human body. The tubes were veins and arteries, and the landscape was the inner workings of the human organs.
Harvey had been up the night before, reading and checking through his latest papers, and talking about them late into the night with Joseph Shepherd. He realized that this revelation confirmed his beliefs about the circulation of the blood. He had reasoned that certain blood vessels had the job of carrying the blood away from the heart, which pumped the blood at the regular pace of its beat. Other vessels, which had tiny valves to direct the course of the flow only one way, carried the blood back to the heart for the return journey. His work with the magnification scope had revealed these little valves, but he could not understand the function until this moment. Harvey had conjectured over the years, as early as 1616, that his theory of the circulation of the blood in the body was a superior explanation of blood movement and function than the traditional theory by the ancient philosopher-physician Galen. Yet he had been somewhat circumspect about how he shared his beliefs, and the audiences who might receive the ideas. Now he was convinced that he had been given a definitive revelation about the theory.
Harvey immediately began to make notes on his dream, and to write out more of his beliefs on the circulation system. He couldn’t wait to share this information with Shepherd. Shepherd seemed to be much more willing than other men of learning to discuss this issue in such an open and creative manner. In fact, it was Shepherd who told Harvey to not restrain his thinking to the conventional medical thought of the day. Shepherd seemed to think that Harvey was on to something extraordinary, and he encouraged Harvey to be bold in his theories.
“Joseph,” Harvey called to a sleeping Shepherd. “I just had the most extraordinary dream!”
Shepherd turned over out of his sleep and said, “Is it about the circulation of the blood?”
“Well, yes,” Harvey stammered. “How could you possibly know that?”
“I simply made a guess,” Shepherd said. “You were up late last evening talking about it, and the fact that you woke me to share the dream just made sense. You have talked of little else for the past two days. Are you now convinced of your theory?”
“Yes, I am,” replied Harvey confidently.
“We are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made by our heavenly Father,” said Shepherd.
“This is indeed a great day,” said Harvey. “Today we shall be honored to meet King James.”
Shepherd was glad to be able to meet King James, but not especially excited. Shepherd wanted to ask the King if he knew of the extent of the plight of the poor and sick who populated the streets of London.
“Dr. Greene, I trust that you have prepared to meet with the King,” said Harvey.
“Well, yes, I suppose I have,” I ventured. Actually, I did not know what I would say to the King. There was so much to say, and yet so little. I could talk for hours of our adventure on the Intrepid, but I did not know if he would really care to hear our tale of woe. It certainly affected the kingdom very little, I should think. Perhaps the damage to an expensive ship of the battle line would bother him, and perhaps he would have thought little about it. I was more interested in extending whatever business career I might have by aligning with Andrew Kensington, and discussing the burgeoning trade with the New World. I had not discussed the plan with Shepherd, because I was certain that he would not endorse it. Too bad, because there was money to be made in it, I was sure.
Upon our arrival at the Court of King James, we were met by Robert Carr, one of the King’s gentlemen. Robert, cousin of Edwin and Jacob Carr, was one of the King’s favorites, and often spent the night as his gentleman chamberlain. Robert was cordial and welcoming to us.
“Perhaps your visit is well-timed,” he told Harvey upon greeting him. “The King seems to have taken ill for the past few days, and he looks quite pale and weak.”
“Then we shall be glad to tend to him,” said Harvey. “In fact, the King will be graced with three physicians, for Dr. Greene and Dr. Shepherd are my new traveling companions.”
I noted that Harvey too had now recognized the medical talent of my friend Shepherd. Indeed, I was coming to believe that Shepherd had access to more healing power than both Harvey and me.
Upon coming into the King’s chambers, I was struck by the beauty of the palace. Simple in many ways, the halls were lined with portraits of James and his Scottish ancestors. Signs of the burgeoning trade of the Kingdom included tapestries from India, silks from China, and books from Persia. The smells of cloves and cardamom wafted from the kitchen, where various pies were cooling.
We were greeted by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, who was attending to the King. The King was in his bed, weak from this unknown bout of illness that had caused him to quickly lose his strength and vigor.
“You may sit,” said the King.
We took seats around the walls of the spacious room. Light was streaming in from the windows on two sides of the room, brightening an otherwise gloomy setting. The Duke of Buckingham took the lead in asking Dr. Harvey to diagnose the King’s malady. Harvey went up to the King, asking permission to begin his examination. The King quickly assented, and Harvey began to feel the King’s head for fever, and to palpate under his arms and around his neck.
Dr. Harvey made notes as he continued the examination. He asked the King and Mr. Villiers about how long the symptoms had been persisting, and they indicated that there had been a gradual weakening. The King’s appetite had been diminishing over the past few weeks, along with his energy. During the absence of Dr. Harvey, the King had been attended by a physician, a Dr. Jones from the Royal Society, Villiers noted casually.
“What treatment did he begin with His Majesty?” Harvey asked.
“I believe that he treated my lord with some herbs, and he bled him several times when the King suffered from fever,” replied Villiers.
“Herbs?” asked Harvey.
Villiers, somewhat proud of his memory and attentiveness, replied, “Yes, milk thistle made into a tea.”
“Nothing else?” queried Harvey.
“No,” said Villiers.
Harvey looked over at Shepherd and me – a look that asked us for our input without directly asking us. I started to defer to Shepherd as had become my new, albeit somewhat disconcerting habit, but Shepherd prodded me to answer. In truth, I had become good at recognizing possible side effects from herbal medicines, and I suggested that milk thistle could cause some problems with the bowels, possibly diarrhea, which could, over a period of time, weaken the patient. Harvey asked the delicate question about the King’s bowel habits, and Villiers did not flinch. He responded affirmatively, that the King had experienced diarrhea recently, actually a “bloody flux,” he called it. Feeling more confident, I then suggested that Dr. Jones may have been concerned about the King’s liver. I knew that milk thistle was used often to treat liver problems. Harvey and Shepherd concurred, and suggested that the treatment may have been appropriate, but that the bleeding concerned them. Why would Dr. Jones bleed him? Villiers picked up on our conversation and stated that the King had a fever, and that Dr. Jones felt that bleeding would help. Indeed, the King felt some relief after the bleedings, but he also then felt weaker.
Shepherd then spoke up. “Dr. Harvey, may I suggest that we use some of your new equipment?”
“Yes, what did you have in mind?” Harvey asked.
“I think that your magnifying scope may be of some help,” he replied. I certainly had no idea what Shepherd was talking about, but I had learned from being around him that it was usually a good idea to follow his lead. Harvey too seemed to respond without question to Shepherd’s idea, so we simply asked how he would like to proceed.
Shepherd said, “This will involve all of us.”
Now I was really very curious, but I also had a sense of excitement. All of us were involved in the medical care of the King of England. Selfishly, I was looking for some of the reflected glory that might come with helping the King in a medical problem. Shepherd laid out his plan for us as we left the room. He began to explain that we would require a sample of blood from all of us – Shepherd, Harvey, me, as well as the King. He would then look at the blood in the scope that Hans Jannsen had built for Harvey. Shepherd believed that we would be able to see differences in our blood and that of the King. He reasoned that there was a problem in the blood of the King. Indeed, Dr. Jones had determined that the King had a liver problem. Shepherd believed that if the liver were the problem, the blood would be affected. Indeed, perhaps the blood itself was the problem, causing the liver problems.
Harvey and I looked at one another with expressions that stated our disbelief, shock, and even the allowance that Shepherd could be a genius. Villiers, now a bit suspicious, took on his role of regal protector. He was following us as we left the room, and overheard some discussion about blood samples.
“Gentlemen,” he began, “I believe that the King cannot stand another bloodletting. You physicians are just short of charlatans, I do declare!”
Shepherd interrupted, “My dear Duke of Buckingham, I appreciate your concern and protection of your King. You are to be commended for your diligence and care of His Highness. I am not suggesting another bloodletting. In fact, that is the very last thing that should be done. We will only require a small amount of blood from him. Actually, if you would like to participate, all of us will be submitting a small amount of our blood for the procedure I want to try. You may help by giving some of your blood as well.”
Villiers was taken aback by such a suggestion, but he did not discount the idea immediately.
Shepherd had once again showed his ability to engage people to a higher cause. He continued to amaze me, but I was not prepared for what was soon going to happen.
As he finished saying this, a local official appeared, bowed politely, and said, “My daughter has just now died. If you come and touch her, she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, his disciples following along. Matthew 9:18-19 (The Message)
Harry Harlow was a renowned psychologist in the early 20th century. He is best known for his research with young rhesus monkeys and their attachments with their mothers. Harlow separated the young monkeys from their actual mothers, and began a series of experiments.
He had found that the young monkeys, when confronted with novel changes in their environment, or facing a fear producing situation, would immediately run to surrogate mothers, which were inanimate “look-alikes” of monkeys, covered in cloth and wool. After the comfort gained from cuddling these surrogates, the young monkeys would once again venture to meet the changed environment in which they were placed. Harlow also found that the monkeys quickly were able to determine “their own surrogate mothers” from others that were made up slightly differently.
Then he determined to find out the priorities the monkeys would place on the surrogate mothers. In one variation of his famous experiments, he rigged up a “wire surrogate mother”, literally made of chicken wire and other materials, and he placed a bottle of milk with a nipple in the breast of the wire surrogate. He also placed in the vicinity, a surrogate that was made of wire, but covered in wool and cloth, and with no milk. He found that the baby rhesus monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth and wool surrogates over the “mothers” who had milk.
I began thinking of this old experiment as our COVID-19 experience, and its social distancing requirements, extends toward the one-year mark. The results of my personal experience are simply this.
I miss hugging my friends.
Prayer: Lord you have made us to connect with others in every way. We pray for a speedy resolution of this pandemic to once again be close to those whose presence we miss, Amen
Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
James 1:12 (The Message)
How do we deal with challenges?
I am recalling an old psychological experiment from many years ago that went something like this. A group of young men were convened on a basketball court for the purpose of a study on how we challenge ourselves. The participants did not know the nature of the study, and they were simply told to position themselves anywhere on the court and take shots at the basket. They would be evaluated on the results, but the young men were not certain of what those evaluations might be based on. They were given basketballs, and told to take shots at the basket. They were given a number of basketballs, and a set time during which to shoot.
The breakdown of the study ended up with three types of individual cohorts. The first group were those who stood under the basket and shot layups the whole time. They wanted to be sure that they had the best chance for scoring with the most consistency. Another group went beyond the three-point circle and heaved up shots (even though in those days, there was no “3 point circle”). A final group went to areas around the “key” and challenged themselves with shots that were makeable, but challenging.
The researchers summed up the groups in terms of their willingness to challenge themselves. The “layup group” were very conservative, non-risk takers. They went for the “sure thing”.
The “long-shot group” were those willing to risk, but were hedging their bets about being judged as not competent, feeling that their long-range shots would not be held against them if they missed.
The last group, the ones that gave themselves a good challenge that was not overly easy, nor ridiculously hard, were those that researchers found to be the most independent and confident in themselves.
I find this research interesting, and indicative of human nature in all its forms. Some of us are fearful and want to ensure success or affirmation with as little emotional risk as possible. Some of us are willing to challenge ourselves, even if it means that we might fail and be judged by others.
I’m not sure where I might fit, and it probably depends on the circumstances.
Where would this little experiment find you? Just a little food for thought!
Prayer: Lord, help us to challenge ourselves in order to grow, Amen
Suffering is not God’s desire for us, but it occurs in the process of life. Suffering is not given to teach us something, but through it we may learn. Suffering is not given to punish us, but sometimes it is the consequence of our sin or poor judgment. Suffering does not occur because our faith is weak, but through it our faith may be strengthened. God does not depend on human suffering to achieve his purposes, but sometimes through suffering his purposes are achieved. Suffering can either destroy us, or it can add meaning to our life.
(Original quote by Ray Firestone, as recounted in a sermon by Adam Hamilton)
The age-old question of “where is God in our suffering?” will likely never go away. We need to find reasons for events, and we need culprits for bad ones. We try to rely on reason to explain life, but reason leaves us empty sometimes. People of faith (and non-faith) sincerely question God’s role in suffering.
We know that it is not simple cause and effect. Our social economy says that bad people should suffer, good people should not. When that equation does not work, we are troubled and often angry. Then we might question how God could allow suffering.
I like the quote above because it does set forth some principles that are, I believe, true. When we are suffering, we look for some explanation. At some point, we just settle for truth.
Prayer: Lord, we trust in you even, maybe especially, when we do not understand our circumstances. Thank you for your provision and love for us, Amen.
My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. (Excerpted from II Corinthians 12:9-10 (The Message)
There was an on-going bit on Saturday Night Live years ago with a character named Stuart Smalley, played by Al Franken. In the bit, Stuart Smalley, a kind of pitiful character, would give himself affirmations like, I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like me!
This bit took a little swipe at pop psychology, which talks about trying to affirm oneself in the midst of a world that often does not easily give such assurances. While this can be a cheesy process, there is, somewhere in it, some truth about human nature. Many of my clients are not able to take an honest look at themselves, and make some realistic, somewhat objective assessments about how they are doing in the world. Often, I find that my clients tend to put undue blame on themselves, and are unable to have a good “calibration” of their strengths and weaknesses, their triumphs and failures.
At the end of the day, I find it helpful, indeed important, to make a little assessment of the day. Things like, “I met most of my goals today”; “I kept those promises to myself about daily disciplines”; “I was probably a bit harsh with that person today”’ “I could have been kinder to that person at the store” etc.
We cannot be totally objective since the process of self-examination is, by definition, subjective. Yet, we can learn, if we have the courage and honesty to do so, to develop a self-examination process that is more or less even-handed.
The point here is that we often are overly harsh with ourselves for fear that if we “let up” we may lose control. Let me say here, that perhaps we need to learn to give ourselves just a little measure of the grace that God gives us. It really helps our mental and emotional, not to mention, spiritual health.
Prayer: Thank you Father for the grace that you give to us that we sometimes fail to afford ourselves, Amen.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:8-9 (The Message)
One of the concepts that I frequently discuss with my clients is that of motivation. Motivation can be positive or negative. In aspiring to a goal or a “desired place”, we may have several motivators in place. We are complex beings, so simple answers are often insufficient to explain all the factors that move us. Yet it is good to try to determine, “what is my true motivator?”
I tend to think that positive motivators, that is, going toward a goal is a better and more satisfying motivator than a negative one. A negative motivator looks like, escaping from a painful or disagreeable situation.
Take a job change, for example. If we are in a bad job, one that drains us or causes undue anxiety, we probably want to get away from it. The motivation is escape. While in the short run another job may look like the answer, it may not solve the real problem. We may take the first job opening that comes up as an answer for the bad job. If that new job is not satisfying either, we have just traded problems, with no solution.
If, on the other hand, we are drawn to another job that is really part of our skills, experience and calling, that is a much better motivator. There is a much better likelihood of success and fulfillment.
This concept is true for many decisions that we make. Moving toward a high value is more energizing that trying to escape a bad situation. Running away is tiring. Moving toward a vision is energizing.
Prayer: Lord, help us to discern the things to move toward, and what we may be running from, Amen.
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3
Just a simple thought and a humble request today. Join me in praying for our front-line health care workers. The physical and emotional toll on them during this COVID-19 pandemic is incalculable. They experience chronic trauma, dealing with very sick and dying patients- patients for whom they toil to save, and grieve when they are lost.
I personally see the mental health effects on my clients, who already carry the burdens of anxiety, depression, PTSD, or a host of other mental health problems. Add to this the stress of quarantine, feelings of loss of control, uncertainty about loved ones, management of co-morbid physical conditions, marital stress, etc. and we see that the long-term consequences of this disease will not be known for some time to come.
Our health care workers carry even more stress than I can imagine. So, when you see a physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, aides, health-related staff of any kind, and hospital support workers, etc., THANK THEM sincerely, then pray for them.
Prayer: Father, you know the stress and pain our health professionals carry. Lift them up now, keep them safe, and have your Holy Spirit remind them that they are loved and appreciated, Amen.
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.
He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”
Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said.“You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)
So, Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way,for as I was walking along, I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about
Acts 17:16-23
I have always been fascinated with how Paul, the noted follower of Jesus and advocate for the Good News was able to engage people in order to talk with them about Jesus. The best example for me was when he went to Athens, the seat of various philosophies of the world. Paul did not simply go to the marketplace and tell people that they were heading in the wrong direction. He went to engage the Epicureans and Stoics who were the leading philosophical minds of the time. They had built numerous idols, not wishing to upset any of the possible gods they worshiped, and they even set up an idol to the “Unknown God”, just to be sure to cover their bases.
Paul listened respectfully to these philosophers, and then noted the idol to the “Unknown God”. He took this opportunity to explain that this unknown god was the God he worshiped. The one unknown to them, he would make known.
I think Paul was brilliant in how he engaged people. He did not talk down to them. He did not disrespect them. He engaged them to discuss truth. What an example in these days when we have divided into camps of “us and them”. Engaging people is a loving thing to do. Paul knew that all he needed to do was to speak the truth in love. The Holy Spirit of God does all the rest.
Prayer: Lord, give us the patience and wisdom to simply speak the truth in love, and let you do the rest, Amen.
As the Intrepid was being sailed into port, Shepherd and I were having a conversation with William Bradford and James Mullins. “Such a shame about the Intrepid, what really happened on that voyage?” asked Bradford. I began to try to explain to Bradford what had happened on board the Intrepid, but I realized that I had no explanation for the strange tale of the Intrepid. How does one begin to tell of treachery, disease, battle, deceit, natural disasters, and, in the end, destruction? “The ship lost its purpose”, said Shepherd. “The grab for power overcame the natural purpose of the ship. In the end, ambition, glory, and pride caused this disaster.”
“Could a good leader have prevented this?” asked Bradford. “Yes, a courageous leader could have kept the focus”, said Shepherd. “A leader who knows his mission can lead people past disaster into promise,” he said. “Like Moses?” asked Bradford. “Yes, like Moses” said Shepherd.
“I have been reading about Moses”, said Bradford. “He led his people through the perils of the desert, selfless in his desire to get them to the Promised Land.” “Yes, said Shepherd, “that is true, but his goal was not the Promised Land, his goal was to do the will of God.”
Bradford reflected on that statement for a while. He had been thinking a great deal about his own ability to lead his people to the Promised Land of America. He wondered how he could govern his people, and lead them on a ship across an ocean. He desperately wanted to be a good leader, and he needed to do more than simply get them safely to America. He must care about their souls as well as their bodies. He must help them to true freedom in every sense, not just religious freedom from King James’ tyranny.
Shepherd continued, “People need something to reach for, not just run away from.” “You will never succeed if you simply escape the tyranny of King James, you must build a land of freedom for your people”, said Shepherd.
“I know that I must lead in that way”, said Bradford, “and I want to establish a place where people are free to worship God without the King deciding the religion of the land.” “Yes”, said Shepherd, “and the people need to govern themselves. Government is good in that it allows people freedom to serve God and man”, said Shepherd. “In the book of Romans, Paul tells the Christians that government is established to preserve the peace so that people can worship and serve freely. People who govern themselves can only do so properly if they have a higher goal in mind. Look at the Intrepid. Pride and ambition are the sins which destroyed the ship. If people are dedicated to serve the Lord God, they will be able to govern themselves in peace, and God will prosper them.”
“We must have a document that proclaims these ideas”, said Bradford. “We must make a compact which lays out these ideals which will serve as our basis of governance and order in America”, he said. “May God bless you in that endeavor”, said Shepherd.
Dr. Mullins was near tears as he listened to this discussion. He had, for years, struggled with his own convictions about personal and religious freedom. The upcoming trip to America would be his vindication of beliefs, as well as a chance to have a new start in life. His life had been broken by the execution of his brother because of his outspoken religious beliefs. Mullins had sworn to live a life worthy of his brother’s legacy, and to pass on to his children the need to stand up for convictions. He was already teaching his 10-year-old son to stand true to his beliefs. The trip to America would be a challenge for his young family, but he relished the chance to give his family a better life than his parents had experienced. In fact, his decision to become a physician was part of his idea to care for others as his life mission.
I too was quite taken with the conversation between Shepherd and Bradford. These were fascinating ideas being discussed, and I was enjoying the session immensely. “Be sure to bring cannon and powder”, I said, “not everyone has such lofty ideals.” Shepherd laughed, “Dr. Greene must always insert the other side of the equation.” “Leave the guns for King James”, Mr. Bradford, “you concentrate on leading your people to your King, not just away from the king of England.”
Chapter 18
Lord Kensington and William Harvey set off for Portsmouth when word reached London that the Intrepid had arrived in port. The story had already taken on a life of its own, embellished by the reports of Alvin Toll. Toll had been spreading the news that he had saved Portsmouth from the rogue ship Intrepid. Toll’s story was that the shore batteries under his command had hit the Intrepid, split her mast, and forced the crew into surrender. The buzz from the story had been getting a good deal of attention in southern England, and even King James had heard a few variants of the story.
Kensington had left his wife behind in London where she and Edwin Carr were renewing their old friendship. Kensington seemed to care little that there was also some talk about the balls and gatherings they were attending together, and that Lady Kensington seemed to have reverted to her “pre-lady” days. Lord Kensington was putting his attention to the business to be done in Portsmouth. He also seemed to have an interest in the approaching departure of the Mayflower for America. Kensington believed that there might be a way to secure some trade connections with the trip. He would visit William Bradford to discuss such thoughts. Harvey was only interested in talking to Shepherd and me about the medical aspects of the Intrepid’s voyage.
Shepherd and I were about to say farewell to William Bradford and James Mullins as the Mayflower was ready to depart. Lord Kensington and William Harvey met us as we were heading out to the busy Mayflower. I was thrilled to meet Harvey who I had come to believe was a genius of growing proportion.
“Dr. Greene?” greeted Harvey as he jumped out of his carriage to meet us. I quickly introduced Harvey to Joseph Shepherd. I was amazed that they embraced on the spot in a spontaneous recognition of one another, though they had never met before that moment. Lord Kensington also seemed astounded at the sight, but he quickly recovered, and introduced himself to me. It somehow seemed that the two brilliant men in the group had gravitated to one another, leaving Kensington and me to recede into the shadows together. Our mundane conversation quickly led to expedient matters of the Mayflower’s departure, and Kensington’s desire to meet William Bradford. I told Kensington that I would arrange a brief meeting with Bradford if he so desired. Meanwhile, Shepherd and Harvey were already discussing new and fascinating medical ideas.
“Dr. Harvey, I know that you have had the benefit of studying with some of the masters on the Continent”, said Shepherd. “What is the most fascinating thing that you have discovered in your travels?” Harvey replied that his study of human cadavers had led him to speculate on the role of blood in the body. Harvey stated that he believed that blood circulated through the body, pumped by the heart, and conveyed by the veins throughout the entire body. While the exact process was not yet clear, Harvey could see the implications of radical changes in medical thought if this theory were true.
As usual, Shepherd had ideas of his own on the matter. As was also usual, Shepherd had both clinical and philosophical ideas on the blood. Shepherd began to explain to Harvey that the Bible indicated that the life of the body is in the blood, citing Leviticus 17:11. From this, Shepherd had, by intuition, agreed with Harvey that the life of the body is nourished in every organ by a fresh supply of circulating blood. Shepherd continued that he had seen healthy people become ill after having touched the blood of a sick person. Shepherd also said that he had seen people who were sick being bled by physicians as a treatment, and that he was appalled by the practice. Yet, many physicians persisted in the practice, despite limited results. Shepherd said that he was amazed that so many physicians would persist in a practice that did not yield good results. Harvey nodded in agreement. Harvey too was concerned that medical practice was carrying on treatments which could not be proven to be effective.
“Dr. Shepherd, I have heard that you are a man of faith, and that spiritual ideas seem to dominate your treatment methods, yet you defend scientific principles. How do you explain this paradox?” asked Harvey. “Well Dr. Harvey, I see no conflict between faith and science”, said Shepherd. “The same Creator who formed the earth put those very scientific principles in place. There is no conflict there. A man’s body can be healed in very predictable, scientifically explainable ways, yet the cure may be the forgiveness of his sins and the cleansing of his conscience”, continued Shepherd. That’s what Jesus said in the book of Luke, “Is it easier to say ‘get up and walk’, or ‘your sins are forgiven’. Both messages are healing.”
Harvey and Shepherd continued discussing such ideas as Lord Kensington and I were boarding the Mayflower. While their minds were contemplating higher ideals, Kensington and I were thinking more along the lines of business and treasure in the New World.
“Lord Kensington,” I asked, “what is your interest in the voyage of the Mayflower?” “My interest,” said Kensington “is to start more tobacco planting in the New World. I would like Mr. Bradford to consider raising tobacco once his colony is established. The money from tobacco may be the real salvation of his religious journey”, sniffed Kensington. “They are not bound for Virginia”, I stated. “I do not know if tobacco grows in all parts of the New World.”
Kensington seemed to have little interest in my comments about the climate in the New World. In fact, it appeared that he knew surprisingly little about America at all. I was stunned at this apparent ignorance. A man who made his wealth on commerce through trade and sailing ships around the world should be more attuned to such matters I thought to myself. Lord Kensington was more one-dimensional than I had imagined. His world was money.
Lord Kensington was looking for ways to grow tobacco outside of the control of Virginia. King James had restricted the importation, as well as the growing of tobacco. Kensington hoped that finding other places in the New World would allow for ways around the royal restrictions. Tobacco grown outside of Virginia, controlled by Kensington, and imported to England could bring great wealth. He knew also that men like Jacob Carr could help to arrange such deliveries. What Kensington needed was a connection in America. Perhaps William Bradford would see the value of marrying his mission with a way to finance it.
As we reached the Mayflower, there was a buzz of activity and excitement all around the port. William Bradford was buried in the flurry of details in preparation for departure. As we approached Bradford, he was cordial to me. As I tried to introduce Lord Kensington to him, Bradford was suddenly cool and distracted. Kensington pressed to discuss his idea of tobacco farming with Bradford. He quickly explained his idea to Bradford, and pointed out the economic benefits that tobacco could bring to the new settlement. Bradford heard Kensington out for a few minutes then interrupted, “My Lord Kensington, I thank you for your interest in our well-being, but I cannot commit to growing anything but food for my people. We are not interested in commerce, we are interested in freedom. We cannot be distracted from our mission. Now I really must be about my business.”
With that, Bradford was off to oversee the loading of salt fish, fresh water, and other provisions. Lord Kensington was angry, but he managed to hide it from those around him. He was very good at this. However, anyone who knew him, also knew that his anger, while hidden, would someday come to expression. Lord Kensington was always amazed at people who turned their back on making money. He simply could not understand them.
Harvey and Shepherd were still engrossed in their conversation, which now had wandered to such topics as poverty, nutrition, and the divine right of kings. Harvey was fascinated by Joseph Shepherd, and he invited Shepherd to return to London with him.
“I beg you to come with me”, said Harvey, “have you ever been to London?” Harvey queried. Shepherd replied that he had not been to London, but he had done a good bit of traveling around the world, and Shepherd agreed that London would be a fascinating destination. Shepherd also stated that he had no immediate plans, and that he would accompany Harvey to London.
“Good, then it’s agreed, we shall leave tomorrow”, said a smiling Harvey. “I shall introduce you to King James”, continued Harvey. Shepherd thanked Harvey, and then he approached me. “Dr. Greene”, began Shepherd, would you please accompany me to London? The good Dr. Harvey has invited me, but I will not go unless you come also.”
I thought about the offer, and I realized that I had made no provision whatsoever for my next plans. My medical practice had virtually disappeared after the death of my wife three years earlier. I had begun to drink more heavily than I cared to admit, I had left my practice, and I had entered into the service of the Royal Navy. I too was running from my past, much like many of the sailors on the Intrepid. I had supposed that I would go on to sail on the next voyage of one of the Royal Navy vessels, but I had not given much thought to that even though I had no real source of income secured. “Yes, I will come with you”, I said. I could not believe that those words had come from my mouth so quickly and comfortably. There just seemed to be something about Joseph Shepherd that drew me to where he was, and I agreed to follow him, having no plans, but having also, strangely, no fears.
“Lord Kensington”, said Harvey, “I fear that I have prevailed upon your good nature to invite these men back to London with us.” Kensington looked unfazed by the prospect. “As you wish, Dr. Harvey” said Kensington. “I would think that we could put these two men to work profitably for the East India Company.” I looked at Shepherd, amazed at my good fortune. Perhaps I would have plans after all, even if they were not of my own making. Perhaps those were the best plans to have.
Reflections of a Counselor 