Consider the Evidence

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Mud Madness

“Mud season” is the period every Spring in Vermont when the dirt roads melt, turning temporarily to soup.  It came early this year, then disappeared again under fresh snow.  We await the Second Coming . . . any day now . . .

These are from right in front of our house.  (Double-click to enlarge.)

Some Sentiments Have Broad Application

Nuclear reactors come to mind.  

Also chronic, politically embroiled diseases.

Conclusion After Reading Too Much of the News

On My Way? (First Publication)

I haven’t been posting much writing on Heaven in My Foot for some time (boo hoo), but I have a good excuse (yay!)—always a great comfort in this life of desires and demands.  I’ve been writing for print.  And guess what?  My first publication came in the mail last week and should now be available at more complete newsstands.  Titled “Wine for Those Who Faint,” the piece was about 6 years in the making and appears in the current issue of Image (issue 68).  It’s a personal narrative of intertwined illness and faith framed by reading Leviticus, the book of the Hebrew Bible which lays out ritual law for the priests of ancient Israel, including the instructions for animal sacrifice.  The narrative of my illness covers up to about 9 years ago. 

Image is a journal of literature, art, and faith—“Beauty will save the world” is their refrain.  I’ve been reading it for a couple of years and have learned from experience to expect something that astonishes me in every issue.  I favor the poetry, creative nonfiction, and publisher-and-editor Gregory Wolfe’s regular essays.  Before reading Image I thought contemporary religious poetry was limited to pietistic doggerel; I’ve been happily corrected.  Image also produces a biweekly free newsletter on the arts and faith and does a bunch of other wonderful things that you can learn about on their website.

As I love it so, I will send a free copy of Image (issue 68 with my essay) to the first two inquirers who want to become acquainted with this great journal.  Just send me an e-mail and we’ll take it from there.  It can also be purchased at some bookstores (if they carry Image), and on the Image website here.

I have two other essays that will be published, so I hear, in books this year.  Taken all together, these developments give me the unfamiliar feeling of being on my way.  Where to remains unknown.

Taxes

I'll be spotty on posting until I get them done.

Contemplation

Among the zillion things I miss from my healthier days is the rhythm of alternating activity and stillness, social engagement and solitude, work and rest.  I don’t long for stillness and quiet like I used to; I’ve had an awful lot of both in the last two decades.  But I miss that longing, if you can imagine what I mean, and the satisfying of it.  Paradoxically, I can be rather busy in my nonfunctionality: busy in my head, busy trying to do things, busy responding to the demands of my body.  None of it is the free action that I want, but it is a certain kind of preoccupation.  Sometimes I still manage, despite my hunger for more, to allow less.  And I'm always amazed by how happy it makes me. It’s good to just look out the window at trees and sky, to dream, to listen to music and to silence, and to rest my mind—which certainly gets weary.

People Assume

People often assume that winter must be hard on me.  They’re wrong.  I love it.  Thermometer-watching is very entertaining.  It’s cozy by the wood stove.  Cold nights under my thick down comforter are much better for sleep.  And winter makes beautiful, often-changing visions outside my windows.  Besides, everyone spends a lot of time inside in the winter, so the contrast between me and Them is softened just a bit.  There’s nothing winter brings that’s as hard on me as serious summer heat.  

Here’s a lovely list at Green Words Growing of good things about winter.

The Umph to Act: Getting Press Coverage for XMRV and ME/CFS

The ME/CFS activist community is working nobly on Many Fronts.  One of the numerous big needs is getting more and better press coverage, both for XMRV and ME/CFS.  I think part of that effort should be seeking the interest of individual journalists.  Larry and I are focusing on Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now! because we know and love the show and because Amy gives substantial coverage to stories, particularly on social-justice issues.  With conventional news outlets, one often needs to have some THING you’re doing to get the interest of the journalists.  With Democracy Now!, I think our story itself has a real chance of being compelling.

Last Fall, Larry wrote a letter to Democracy Now! about XMRV and ME/CFS, and I followed up with this cartoon plus a page of contact resources.  I plan to keep updating Democracy Now! as things unfold.  Persistence is key.  I hope other people will also write to Democracy Now! and will identify other journalists whose beat fits our story.  Anybody care to join me, either pursuing Democracy Now! or another journalist/outlet?

Click image to enlarge.