Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.                                                       Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

Delayed gratification, or deferred gratification, describes the process that the subject undergoes when the subject resists the temptation of an immediate reward in preference for a later reward. Generally, delayed gratification is associated with resisting a smaller but more immediate reward in order to receive a larger or more enduring reward later                                                                                                                                             Wikipedia

Delayed gratification, as described above, is known to be a character quality associated with success, career accomplishment, and living a disciplined life. It allows us to do the current hard things in order to reap rewards not yet available. All of us have experienced the tensions involved with delayed gratification. We have experienced things like diets for weight loss, or the sacrifices made to work our way through college, or saving up for that special needed or wanted item, like a car.

There was a classic study done nearly 50 years ago (much simplified in this brief explanation) involving 4 and 5 year- olds who had a marshmallow placed in front of them with the instruction that if they could hold off and not eat the marshmallow, they would get 2 marshmallows when the experimenter came back into the room. Some of the children were able to wait for the reward of 2 marshmallows, and some were not. Follow-up studies years later indicated that the children who had been able to delay gratification seemed to fare better later in life in such areas as higher SAT scores, and more social and economic success.

This made me think about our current sacrifices for the COVID pandemic. If we can envision the future rewards of a defeated virus, and a return to all the things that we cherish, it might be easier to sacrifice present pleasures for future reward. Doing the hard things now will help ensure that future. Here’s hoping that most people will hold out for the future rewards by making present sacrifices.

Or, we can just eat the marshmallow…

Prayer: Lord, give us strength to envision a future that we cannot presently see, Amen.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.                                                                                                                                                   Hebrews 6:18 (The Message)

I was talking with a client the other day about COVID-19, and its role in exacerbating her anxiety. I assured her that other clients- many others- are experiencing huge increases in anxiety because of the pervasive COVID pandemic. She felt some small level of relief that she was not alone in this phenomenon, as I normalized the pain of this shared experience. I also talked with her about her need for perspective in a time when anxiety often precludes rational perspective. I discussed the need to look at what life might look like in 6 months. It is reasonable to expect that a fairly large number of people will have had the opportunity to receive a vaccination for the virus. In other words, help truly is on the way. Unfortunately, anxiety often robs us of rational planning and perspective. Anxiety colors everything with a negativity that is unexplainable.

I showed her a visual example. I put my hand directly in front of my eyes so that all I could see was my hand. As I slowly moved my hand away from my eyes, I could see things around it. I had gained perspective. COVID anxiety sometimes robs us of that perspective.

We are inundated with bad news about the growing number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Yet, we must be able to get perspective on this. Certainly, we must continue to practice prudent measures- masks, distance and hygiene. Yet, in 6 months, the landscape will look different. Widespread vaccinations will be mitigating the hazards of COVID-19, and this awful virus will recede into history as a bad chapter. It will still be part of our history, but it will not dictate our daily activities.

So, perspective is critical. Yes, we need to be patient as we await the help that is on the way. But be certain, help is on the way.

Prayer: Father, we trust in your provision, and the perspective of hope. You have given us the tools to help protect us. Thank you for your hand of provision through those whom you have gifted, Amen

Chapter 5

 Captain Braden had been afloat for almost four days when an English merchant ship came upon his tiny craft. Braden was quite ill when he was spotted by the Elizabeth, a ship owned by the British East India Company on her way back from a journey to Italy. The Elizabeth was laden with wine and olive oil, but more fortunate for Captain Braden was the fact that the Elizabeth also carried a passenger who was returning from a scholarly mission to Padua where he had been studying with Italian scientists, (heretofore usually called natural philosophers) about anatomy and the properties of human blood. William Harvey had always had an interest in medicine, and he was excited about the latest discoveries, which were leading him to radical (and unpopular) ideas about anatomy. As the Elizabeth came upon Braden’s boat, the crew saw that he was an English Captain. Braden was too weak to call out for help, but he managed to wave to the approaching Elizabeth. The crew of the Elizabeth was not used to seeing such a sight as a small boat floating on the calm waters off the coast of Spain.

 Word quickly spread through the Elizabeth that a small boat with one survivor had been spotted. Rumors of this man being the lone survivor of a shipwreck quickly spread through the ship. As Captain Braden was helped aboard the Elizabeth he was very weak. He was taken to the quarters below deck and William Harvey was asked to examine him. Captain Braden was able to relate to William Harvey that he had not been part of a shipwreck, but that he was Captain of the HMS Intrepid, and that he had been deposed in a mutiny.

As Harvey continued his examination of Captain Braden he noticed some faint splotches of purple on his thighs. He also noted that Braden had some swelling in his neck and armpits. Harvey had some suspicions about these symptoms, but he was more concerned over the fact that Braden was weak, pale and dehydrated. “He will need rest,” said Harvey. “He cannot be subjected to interrogation about his current state of affairs.” Harvey felt that his patient would be able to relate his tale of woe in good time, but a stream of inquisitors would be of great harm at this time. Besides, he was not so sure that people should be exposed to this man with an unknown illness. All the while, he pondered the symptoms he saw in the curious survivor.

 On the Intrepid, Dr. Shepherd and I began to examine the men who had started to show symptoms of illness. As we approached the suffering sailors my heart sank. The plague had indeed been visited upon the Intrepid. I began to believe that this ship truly was cursed, and that God had somehow singled us out for destruction of the fiercest type. Any of the men on the ship would much rather die in battle than die the horrible death of the invisible plague. Yet, these men would have no chance for battle. They would die gasping for breath, their skin having turned almost black, and their bodies covered with terrible purple buboes. Worse still, the rest of the crew would panic, and general disorder would rule this renegade vessel until the entire ship became a ghost ship.

As my mind raced far ahead to this terrible scenario, Mr. Shepherd turned to me and asked how I would treat these men. I had seen people bled as treatment for the plague, but I had never seen much success from it. Perhaps it hurried death for them, so, in an odd way, it helped them to cheat the awful Black Death. I had also seen mercury compounds used, but also to little avail. Supportive measures which helped to comfort the patient seemed to have, at best, a palliative effect. “I have several ideas, Dr. Shepherd, but no answers,” I replied honestly. Shepherd then began to tell me of the way he had treated Captain Braden. Not treated, really, but how he had ministered to him. Shepherd said that Captain Braden was a religious man, and that, as he believed he was near death, he asked to have someone administer communion to him. No one else being present, Shepherd had taken it upon himself to give “communion” to Captain Braden. Shepherd reported that he had just fed the Captain some of the stale, moldy bread, and that he used the same bread as “communion elements,” along with a cup of rum. While these were no ordinary communion elements that I had ever heard of, it had given comfort to a dying man. If communion were of any value or not, I do not know, but there is value in making death more peaceful. “Are you suggesting that we give a religious service, Mr. Shepherd?” I asked whimsically. “No,” said Shepherd. “I scarcely think that religion is very well known on this ship. But I do suggest that we use the bread to feed to the sick crew. Who knows but that some healing may have come to Captain Braden from it? Besides, we have no real treatment other than the supportive measures you had suggested.”

 Shepherd was correct about the sorry state we were in. “Well, Dr. Shepherd,” I said, “let us give them your bread.” Shepherd went to fetch the remaining bread left in his pouch. It was covered with mold – most unpleasant to look at. As Shepherd removed the last part of the loaf from his pouch, he broke it and said some sort of prayer. He then went to each man who was sick, and fed him a bit of the bread. He also gave them a bit of rum, duplicating the methods he used with Captain Braden. The men were weak and desperate, and they did not question this odd medical care. They ate and then seemed to slip off into a coma. “Their fate, and ours, now seems to be in the hands of your God,” I said to Shepherd. “That is all we can ever hope for,” replied Shepherd.

Captain North was feeling uncomfortable with the latest turn of events. He knew that plague was on his ship, and if word got out among the rest of the crew, he might not be able to retain control. He wanted to make for the nearest port, and he needed to do that while his crew remained healthy. He decided to sail immediately toward Plymouth. He figured that with good weather, he could reach port in less than two weeks, perhaps ten days.

 On the Elizabeth, Captain Braden was slowly recovering. The commander of the Elizabeth, Edwin Carr, asked to speak to Captain Braden to inquire about his story. Mutinies on English warships were unsettling for merchant seamen. They depended on English rule of the seas, and anything that eroded this mastery posed a threat. Was this Braden a fraud? Or was he such a poor leader that he was dumped by his crew? What leads sailors to do such a thing? Discipline on a ship is imperative, and Carr wanted to know exactly what had happened. Captain Braden relayed his story. He explained his illness, his care by Dr. Greene and the stranger Joseph Shepherd, and the encounter with the pirates off La Coruna’s coast in Spain. He was not at all sure of the details of that attack, but he knew that the Intrepid had repulsed them.

 Carr was most interested in the thing Braden knew least about – the existence of pirates near where he would be sailing in the coming week. William Harvey was interested in Braden for another reason. He believed that Captain Braden had the bubonic plague, yet he appeared to be gaining strength, not dying. Harvey asked Braden about his treatment. “I know very little about how I was treated,” said Braden, “only that I was treated with great kindness. I remember eating some stale bread, moldy bread. Moldy bread and rum. That is all I remember before being set adrift by Mr. North – the scoundrel!” “So was there plague on your ship?” asked Harvey. “Plague!” said Braden. “You think I have the plague?” Braden knew that the plague had ravaged London in 1606, the last major outbreak in England. He knew nothing of the plague on his ship. “I don’t know, Captain,” said Harvey, “but I see some signs in your body of the disease. Strangely, though, you seem to be recovering, and I was interested in what type of treatment you received.” Harvey went to Captain Edwin Carr to inform him of his observations. He cautioned Carr to isolate Captain Braden until he could see the progress of his disease. No need to expose the rest of the crew to disease just because they had been good Samaritans.

 Joseph Shepherd and I were concerned about our patients. We believed that other sailors may be stricken, and we anxiously awaited the response of the men we had “treated” with such odd methods. Within two days we had our response. The men we had treated were rousing out of their lethargy. Fevers were down, swelling was down, and they asked for something to eat. They too were recovering! I asked Mr. Shepherd about the treatment. “Tell me, my good Dr. Shepherd, how did you learn of this treatment? It is nothing short of a miracle! Indeed, moldy bread and rum. Sailors eat that often at sea. Imagine that healing people of a dread disease.” Shepherd responded by saying, “Dr. Greene, don’t you recall stories in the Bible about Jesus using his own spittle to restore sight to the blind? Sometimes the most common of elements can be used in uncommon ways. God can use anything for his purpose, even a talking ass to Balaam, lamps to Gideon…”

“Enough, enough!” I said to Shepherd, smiling. “I suppose you could give me many examples from the Bible. You obviously know much more of that book than I.” “I did not mean to belittle you,” said Shepherd. “I simply meant to say that God heals; we simply provide our hands to Him.” “Perhaps God can tell us how we can save ourselves in the coming days,” I countered, a bit irritated with the talk of God. Honestly, Mr. Shepherd spoke like he knew God personally. This was more than a little disconcerting to me, and it would be of no help at all with a tyrant like Mr. North. North would only keep us alive as long as he believed that we could keep his crew healthy. Long enough to reach Plymouth – that was all he needed.

As I was talking to Mr. Shepherd, Seaman Kelley came limping into our quarters. He looked remarkably well considering his injuries in the past week. Often, sailors with such injuries survive the initial injury only to succumb to killing infections within a few days. “Mr. Kelley,” I hailed him, “you look well.” “Well?” he said. “My leg hurts like hell’s fire!” “Mr. Kelley,” I chided, “you are then fortunate to feel hell’s fire while still alive. Many sailors with your injury face life with one leg, then find hell itself after infection kills them. Perhaps,” I added, “you could thank the good Dr. Shepherd for your life and your limb!” “I beg your pardon, Dr. Greene,” he said. “You and Shepherd done your jobs with me, didn’t you?” “Yes, Mr. Kelley, we did our jobs.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.                                                                                                                                                                                       Luke 1:38

In yesterday’s blog, I talked about the unique use of the word “grace” (charitoo) used only twice in the Bible. Once it was used as the word to describe the grace given to Mary when she assented to accepting the role of “God carrier” from the angel who declared her to be the vessel to carry Jesus into the world. The other instance is when Paul told the Ephesian believers that they had that same grace to carry the message of healing to a broken world. So, I think we have established that this seems to be a unique calling that we have, akin to Mary’s role as giving birth to the Savior.

It also struck me that Mary had a say in this. This was not some edict that God enforced on Mary. While she had been set apart for this important mission, she did have a decision to make. She did not need to sign up for this assignment that was fraught with pain, anxiety and uncertainty. She could have said “No”.

But Mary did not say no. Because of that, we have a wonderful plan, an unsurpassed story that we celebrate every year. Mary agreed to be the human host of the “Lamb of God”.

So too do we have a say in our part of the plan of being “God carriers”. We can agree to it and bear the costs attendant with it, as well as the rewards of it. Mary’s agreement was the start of God’s plan of redeeming his lost sheep. Our agreement keeps that legacy going forward.

Prayer: Every day we have the opportunity to say “Yes” to your plan. Give us continued grace to do so, Amen.

And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”                                                          Luke 1:28

…to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6

I do so love the Christmas season! The story of Christmas is so rich and so deep that it cannot really be understood unless one understands the nature of God- as the one who loves us and wants to give his very best to us. That is why he sent his son, Jesus into the world.

We start with a miracle. The miracle of incarnation. Literally, we understand incarnation as  –“a central Christian doctrine that God became flesh, that God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. … (Oxford Dictionary)

That, of course, is a miracle of the highest order, and it is central to Christian belief. The announcement of the angel to young Mary, a virgin, is found in Luke chapter 1, staring at verse 26. He went on to tell her that she was highly favored, and that she would be giving birth to the Savior, son of the Most-High God. She was literally to be a “God-carrier”.

In the next few blogs, I want to discuss her role as God-carrier. More importantly, I want to discuss our role as “God-carriers”. You see, the very same word that the angel used to describe Mary to tell her of her mission to carry Jesus into a broken world, is used by Paul in Ephesians as he speaks to young believers in that city. That Greek word for grace, (pronounced “charitoo”), is used only one other time in the Bible, and it is used to describe those who accept the mission of spreading grace to a broken world in Ephesians 1:6. So, we have the same role as being carriers of grace to a broken world.

 I will be talking more about this in coming days. Stay tuned.

Prayer: Father, you have chosen us for a mission that we are unable to do without your incredible gift to us, Amen.

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.                                                     Franklin Roosevelt

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.                                  Philippians 2:3-4

As I write this, we are approaching December 7^th.  Franklin Roosevelt predicted that this day would live in infamy. Almost 80 year later, it still does. It has become one of those days that we hold in collective memory as a nation. It was a rallying cry for a nation in mourning and anger. President Roosevelt was able to mobilize the collective emotions of a reeling nation into action.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis does not have a specific date nor even a specific culprit to mobilize against. It is an invisible virus that has attacked our nation, and the entire world. Still, we need to mobilize against it. We need selfless decisions and sacrifice in order to defeat the invisible enemy. So far, we have come up short in this regard. Mask wearing has become a matter of “personal preference” to the point that such preference has potentially endangered other people.

Yes, we as Americans cherish our liberty, but liberty is not license. When sacrifice for the sake of others becomes a bit uncomfortable, we have a decision to make. Yes, we do have the freedom to make personal decisions about wearing masks, gathering with those outside our “safe circle”, and how we social distance. Yes, these are sacrificial decisions. However, aren’t those decisions worth the cost?  

We have faced many times in our history where we have been called upon to make sacrifices for the common good. Are we up to it in this instance?

I pray that we are.

Prayer: Lord, you have called us to take into account the needs of others, and not just our own needs and desires. Help us to follow the loving path, Amen.

Chapter 4
Captain Braden seemed to be resting comfortably as I approached his bed
in the infirmary. His neck seemed to be less swollen, and the purple patches on
his body seemed to be smaller and less colorful. He looked even older than his
years, and he was now near his sixties. Until this voyage he had kept his age
well. Now his stubbled gray beard just made him look even more feeble. I spoke
to the Captain, and he stirred somewhat upon hearing my voice.
“Captain Braden,” I called, “can I get you some water?”
“Dr. Greene,” he said, “what medicine did you give to me?”
“I gave you no medicine,” I replied. Captain Braden looked at me
quizzically.
“Well, it must have been a dream,” he said. “I was floating on a large,
beautiful ship, heading west toward a spectacular sunset. I could feel no more
pain. In fact, I seemed to be as healthy as a child. I felt a tremendous sensation
of warmth as we neared the horizon, but the sun did not set. The sun kept getting
brighter and larger, becoming more brilliant. I was about to give the order to
keep heading toward the sun to see what would happen when I heard someone
give the order to turn about away from the sun. I tried to countermand the order,
but I was unable to speak. I must have fallen asleep at that point, but I was filled
with a feeling of warmth and peace like I have never felt. I did not awaken until
I heard your voice.”
I believed that the Captain had simply been in a fever-induced delirium,
and I was glad to hear that he seemed to be calm and peaceful. Death by plague
is an awful thing, and I felt that God must have given him this dream to calm
him before such a horrible death. I then noticed that Captain Braden seemed
cooler to the touch, and that his eyes appeared to be clearer. His breathing, while
somewhat shallow, was steady and not really labored. In fact, I felt that he did
not look like a man dying of the plague.
“Get some rest now captain,” I advised. “You will have a ship to
command in a few days.”
Captain Braden replied, “Thank you for saving me, Dr. Greene.
Whatever medicine you gave me saved me.”
I smiled at the Captain and walked away. He was convinced that I had
saved his life. Indeed, his life may have been saved, but not by my efforts.
I went to report the news of the Captain’s turn for the better to Mr. North.
North met me as I hastened on deck to tell him about the Captain.


“Dr. Greene,” he began, “can you tell me what happened to Mr. Kelley?
The men tell me that some very strange things happened while they were with
you and Shepherd.”
“Yes, I think that would be true to say,” I replied. “I cannot explain all
that happened during that surgery, but Mr. Kelley has benefited from the new
techniques I saw demonstrated by Joseph Shepherd.”
North flashed a look of anger as he asked, “Why does the ship’s surgeon
allow some stranger to assist in the surgery of a seaman on my ship?”
There was no mistaking his emphasis on the words “my ship.” The
Intrepid now apparently belonged to Mr. North.
“Mr. North” I said, rising to his anger, “may I remind you that surgery
on this ship is under my command. I have no need to answer to you about how
medical procedures are carried out on this ship!”
My bluster seemed to have taken North by surprise. He was not used to
having someone under his command talk to him in such a manner. Indeed, I
would not have done so had I not really believed that people like North must not
be given the idea that they can dominate others by such intimidation. Mr. North
had no business in medical affairs, and he needed to be so reminded. I believed
at the same time that he would find a way to destroy me if he could. I was now
entering dangerous ground. Further, I began to see that he would not welcome
the news of the recovery of Captain Braden. North was convinced that the
Intrepid was his ship, and the crew, after a victory, his also. God save us from
those who would rather command than lead.
I left the top deck and went below to my quarters somewhat shaken from
my encounter with Mr. North. As I was lost in my thoughts, Joseph Shepherd
approached me.
“Dr. Greene” he said softly, “may I speak to you about Captain Braden?”
“Why, yes indeed,” I said, “in fact, I meant to ask you about him. He
appears to be improving. Can that be true?”
Shepherd looked at me and nodded.
“Yes,” he replied, “not only can it be true, I believe it is true. Captain
Braden is recovering. And he has the plague; I am convinced of it,” he continued.
I had to sit down as I began to think about this latest turn of events. I had
heard of people recovering from the plague, but I had never seen it before. I was
again seeing a medical cure that I had not experienced before. Why was this
happening? How was this happening?
“Mr. Shepherd,” I said, “you have been a part of some amazing things
aboard this ship in the past day. How do you explain it?”
Shepherd paused briefly and then replied, “There are many things that
we do not know about healing and the human body. I have seen many things
which have puzzled me over the years, and I have come to understand that I will
never know the answers. I have also come to see that the body can heal itself if
given the chance. As physicians, we are only able to help the body to heal itself.”

Shepherd paused again and said, “I myself have been a witness to the fact that
the body heals itself. I had all the symptoms of the plague, and I was near death
at one time. I recovered, perhaps only by the grace of God, but I recovered.”
“Is that why you were cast aside from your last ship?” I asked.
“Well, I do not know that, Dr. Greene,” he said. “Perhaps,” he mused.
“Those memories are still a little hazy.”
“I did not mean to pry,” I apologized, “it just might explain some
things.”
No one else on board the Intrepid knew of the diagnosis of Captain
Braden’s plague except Shepherd and myself. Should he recover and be able to
assume command of the Intrepid again, this whole amazing voyage could be
concluded favorably. But I had not fully understood the depth of Mr. North’s
frenzy to command the Intrepid.
Mr. North bounded into my quarters and demanded to discuss the
medical condition of Captain Braden.
“I am told,” North said, “that Captain Braden is dying of the plague. Is
that true?”
“No,” I replied, “Captain Braden is not dying of the plague.”
“Don’t lie to me, Dr. Greene,” North said, “I have been told that there
were purple marks on him. He has the plague, and I will not have my whole ship
die for one man, even if he is a Captain!
“He is not dying,” interrupted Shepherd.
“Throw him in irons!” said North. “I will have no more of this stranger’s
interference. All of our problems began with his appearance on this ship.”
I stepped forward to defend Mr. Shepherd, but I was met by Mr. Kent
and Mr. Dooley, who restrained me and gagged me. While Kent was a man of
somewhat low intelligence, and low moral character as well, Dooley was a bit
brighter, but strange in his thinking and actions. Dooley was one who the other
sailors avoided. He believed himself to be special, gifted, and above the other
sailors. Many of the sailors had told me that Dooley would talk to himself,
grimace angrily for no reason, and threaten to kill anyone who looked directly at
his face. Fortunately, most of the crew happily avoided looking into the
contorted grimace of Mr. Dooley.
Shepherd was also attacked and thrown to the ground. He was
immediately shackled and led away. This entire sordid event was planned by
North and several crewmen who had now become thugs and brigands. The ship
was being overcome with a very ugly mutiny led by Mr. North and a few of his
closest commanders, and it appeared that no one could stem the tide. Mr. North
was now “Captain” North, and I feared that Captain Braden would be killed in
the process of the mutiny – all in the name of saving the ship.
North was now working quickly. He ordered Mr. Kent and Mr. Pratt to
take Captain Braden and set him adrift in a small boat with enough provisions
for three days. He reasoned that the Captain would be dead in that period of time,

but North would not be directly responsible for his death. The plague would do
its ugly work out of the sight of the Intrepid’s crew, and Mr. North could be the
savior of the crew if the plague did not spread to the rest of the ship.
Pratt and Kent picked up Captain Braden who, though weak, was
becoming more alert. North had ordered them to lift him into the same small
boat that had been the rescue vessel of Joseph Shepherd. When Captain Braden
realized that he was to be set adrift, he saw it as the act of mutiny it was. North
had cautioned Pratt and Kent to do their deed quickly and quietly so as to not
frighten the rest of the crew. He had explained that such a rumor would cause a
riot. The sooner Braden was adrift, the better. There would be no debating or
arguing over the order; it would simply be accomplished, his reason being the
very safety of his men.
The rest of the Intrepid’s crew was starting to realize that Mr. North was
now in total command of the ship. Pratt and Kent had managed to load poor
Captain Braden into the small craft that had served to save Joseph Shepherd.
That same little boat would now be the last command of Captain Braden.
Mr. North gathered the crew of the Intrepid and informed them of the
events of the past day. He proceeded to remind them of their glorious victory
over the pirate vessel, and he told them of the mutinous behavior of the ship’s
surgeon and the newly arrived “Jonah,” Joseph Shepherd. He told the crew of
the strange behavior of Dr. Greene, who had allowed the stranger, Joseph
Shepherd, to assist in the surgery of Seaman Kelley. North added that but for the
intervention of himself, Seaman Kelley might not be alive today. Finally, he
sadly told the tale of poor Captain Braden, who had indeed come down with the
plague. He added that, because of the quick response of their new Captain, and
the unselfishness of Captain Braden, who had given his last order to have himself
set adrift to protect the crew of the Intrepid, the ship was now safe and on its
way back to England.
The crew let out a thunderous cheer for “Captain” North. Mr. Shepherd
and I were now companions in the brig, bound and gagged, and awaiting transfer
to England where we would undoubtedly be hanged as mutineers. While I was
pondering the unfairness of my plight, Shepherd appeared to be calm. I started
to feel ashamed of my own self-pity when I began to consider what Shepherd
had gone through in the space of the past several days. He had been set adrift
himself, suffering from exposure and various wounds. He had been instrumental
in ministering to Captain Braden and Seaman Kelley, and found himself labeled
as a “Jonah,” awaiting his death in England. He had done no wrong on this ship,
yet he was awaiting a criminal’s death. Shepherd had said that he believed in
God, but no God I could think of would allow such suffering for having only
done good.
The next few days were very uncomfortable. We were allowed to have
the gags removed only to eat. Two seamen were assigned to feed us and to
accompany us to toilet. We were strictly forbidden to talk. When we did speak

we were cuffed in the mouth with the back of a rough seaman’s hand. We were
told that the next infraction would end in a flogging.
The brig was damp and dark, and we lost track of time. I was cramping
due to the rough confinement of the shackles, and I found myself hearing and
seeing things which were both frightening and beautiful. I was near complete
breakdown within the first three days of this confinement. If Shepherd were
experiencing the same things as I, one could not tell it. He appeared to be lost in
thought much of the time, but his eyes were not as frantic and full of fear as mine
must have been. His calm demeanor amazed me.
It must have been about the fourth day of confinement that Mr. Kent
came to see us. “Greene,” he barked roughly, “I am going to take that gag out of
your mouth and I am going to take your shackles off. If you say one word that I
don’t like, or Captain North don’t like, I’ll have you flogged.”
I nodded that I understood and he began to loosen the shackles and he
removed the gag.
“Why are you setting me free?” I asked.
“You ain’t free. You’re still a prisoner who started a mutiny. I’m taking
you to see Captain North, and you better keep that tongue of yours respectful to
him!”
My heart raced as I was taken to see North. He held my life in his evil
hands, and he could easily find a reason to have me set adrift or hanged, just as
he had treated Captain Braden. He had no reason that I could see to keep me
alive, especially since he knew that I knew the truth.
“Dr. Greene,” North began, “sit down over here.” He beckoned for me
to sit next to him. “Dr. Greene, you were treating Captain Braden for the plague
– I know that. You lied to me when you said he was not dying of the plague,
didn’t you?”
“No, Mr. North, I…”
“Captain North,” he interrupted. “I am Captain of His Majesty’s Ship
Intrepid.”
“No, Mr. North,” I said, “I was not lying to you. Yes, Captain Braden
had the plague, but he was not dying. He was starting to recover when you had
him set adrift.”
“How do you know that?” he asked sharply. “He looked very sick to me
– like I’ve seen men before, ready to die of the plague.”
I was now again getting angry at the insolence of this pompous windbag.
I began to get flushed, and I tried to calm the rage that had been building the past
few days.
“Mr. North, I can tell, too, when a man is about to die. I have seen more
dying men than you have, and Captain Braden was going to live until you set
him out to die!”

North did not respond as I thought he might. I figured that he might have
me flogged for my own insolence, but he softened as I finished my accusation
of him.
“Dr. Greene,” he said, “I have two men who are sick, and I think that
they have the plague. That is why I called you up here. I need you to examine
them and see if it is the plague.”
I sank in my chair. Mr. Shepherd and I had feared that this might happen,
hoping against hope that Captain Braden’s case was isolated.
“Yes,” I responded, “of course I will examine them. But I will only do
so if you also free Mr. Shepherd.”
I could hardly believe that I had said such a thing. I was duty-bound to
treat those seamen whether or not Mr. Shepherd were freed, yet I somehow made
that a bargaining point to North. Perhaps when in the presence of evil, I
responded in kind. Perhaps I was still not thinking clearly after my days of
confinement.
North looked at me and said calmly, “Can he be of help to you?”
“Yes,” I said, “he is a physician of the first order. I have already learned
from him.”
“Then he will be allowed to assist you,” North said. “But if you begin to
say anything that could incite a mutiny, I’ll throw you overboard myself.”
North said this almost matter-of-factly, with little discernible anger. He
seemed to be shaken by the idea of plague on his ship, and all he wanted was
medical help. He seemed to acknowledge the risk of having Shepherd and me
about on the ship and in contact with the crew, but he also made it clear that he
would have us killed if he felt it necessary.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”                                  Luke 11:11-13

Tomorrow is December 6^th.  That may not mean much to you unless it is your birthday or anniversary, or some other specific occasion. For those of us from a certain generation and certain religious/cultural background however, it is kind of a big day.  You see, December 6^th is the feast of St. Nicholas- St. Nicholas Day.

Of course, “Old St. Nick” is the precursor of Santa Claus. This venerable tradition was very much a part of my childhood in a western suburb of Cincinnati, which was heavily German-Catholic. We would put shoes out for St. Nicholas to visit and he would put a little present into the shoe. That was the tradition, but as I recall, St. Nicholas found a way to get a little present to us on the porch whether or not we put out a shoe.

I have encouraged my kids to celebrate this tradition with their own children, and they have faithfully done this. The point of this is not presents, just like the traditions of Christmas are not about gifts. It is a reminder that those who love others us want to find opportunities to give gifts to them. Just like our heavenly father wants to give us good gifts.

So, if you want to make this Christmas season a little special just a little early, have St. Nicholas visit your family, or maybe some other family with a little porch gift.

It is a beautiful tradition.

Prayer: Thank you for the plan of giving good gifts to your children, Amen

Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.                                                                                                                      John 6:35 (The Message)

When Jesus taught, he used analogies that people could relate to. We can relate to food, right? Especially as we enter into the dark days of winter, out bodies crave carbohydrates. Those carbs are “comfort foods” and they come by that name honestly. They give us comfort. Carbs make us feel good.

Carbohydrates are precursors to serotonin, that neurochemical we crave in order to feel an upgraded mood. As we perceive less light, the brain gets the signal to find more serotonin. An easy way to do that, to get more serotonin with diminishing light available (here in the northern hemisphere), is to get it with food. Therefore, we bring on the carbs!

Bread, sugar, alcohol, etc. are those things that give our brain that satisfied feeling of comfort. They are dished out in increasing amounts as we enter the darker winter time. So, it is no surprise that we get a glut of those foods around this time of year.

Especially as we deal with all the stress of this year, we may indulge more in that rush of carbs. Obviously, restraint should be in order, but we may fail a bit, and I think we can understand that, maybe more this year than ever.

A couple of thoughts come to mind. One, if you are going to eat more carbs, try to balance with more exercise. You can never exercise yourself to weight loss, but you can mitigate those self-indulgent forays of the season just a bit with more exercise. Besides, the exercise itself is a serotonin engine, so get after the exercise!

Next, remember that the season is about the Bread of Life that Jesus discussed in the passage above. He is the real comfort we seek through all the other pathways that are temporary. A relationship with the true Bread of Life is completely satisfying.

Prayer: Father, help us to remember that Jesus is the bread of life that satisfies, Amen.

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
    a puzzle that no one can figure out.
But I, God, search the heart
    and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human.
    I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
    not as they pretend to be.”                                                                                                                                                        Jeremiah 17:9-10 (The Message)

I know early on as a young counselor, when I had many fewer “tools” than I now posses, that I needed to learn a lot. You really do finally learn some things after 45 years of practice. There is an old saying which can be applied in so many situations. “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”.

To people young in a profession, like new counselors, we learn certain tools and techniques, and we want to apply them. Perhaps unconsciously, we anticipate things that perhaps look like a good opportunity to try out those new tools, so we may start to see things through the lens of a particular diagnosis.  

I have found over the years that there have been certain trends of “hot” diagnoses. For example, as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual periodically changes to stay current, diagnoses change or are added. I started my career when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM for short) was the DSM- II. We are now on DSM-5. The change from Roman numerals to cardinal numbers, does NOT reflect that in my early years we still counted in Roman numerals! They changed the numbering system for several reasons.  

Early in my career, the Vietnam war had just concluded, and we began to diagnose a large number of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnoses. PTSD was added in DSM-III in 1980 when there was a surge in Vietnam era veterans seeking help for the trauma they experienced.

As the years went by, other diagnoses became popular. Attention Deficit Disorder became very popular in the early 1980’s and ADHD later came along and gained much traction in the popular culture.

Later still, we saw the dramatic rise of Bipolar Disorder, formerly known as Manic-Depressive Psychosis. The DSM in those days indicated that the prevalence in the population of Bipolar Disorder was around 1.5% of the population. Yet we saw an inordinate number of diagnoses of Bipolar Disorder, and the popular culture seemed to adopt this diagnosis for every mood swing that happened in the life of people around them.

These days, there seems to be a great deal of attention paid to Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Yes, it is a thing, however, the prevalence of the disorder is well under 2% of the population.  Indeed, we all have some narcissistic traits, because we are flawed humans whose first thought is self. However, we need to be careful when tossing out diagnostic determinations when someone exhibits selfish behavior.

The popularity of these diagnoses come and go. We just need to be careful to not get caught up in a wave of popular explanations for flawed human behavior.

 After all, every one of us fits into DSM-5 diagnosis somewhere.

Prayer: Lord, we are flawed and broken, yet you love us right where we are. We are thankful for that! Amen