Emergency Room

Around 11:45p.m., my husband and I were awakened by the ring of the phone. A friend, and fellow church member, had just died of a massive heart attack. Twenty-five minutes later, we walked into the Emergency Room of the local hospital.

The room was packed with the members of about three families. The wife, of the deceased, had been sedated. Her blood pressure shot up to a dangerous point, and she was incoherent. As the family grieved for their dad, they were fearful that they could lose their mom, too.

We were there to provide any comfort or help that was needed, but things were frenetic with the doctors coming out to question the family about where they were to send the body and others coming to give updated reports on their mother.

In the midst of all of this, there was a sudden exodus from the room. People were running outside, questioning what was going on. A nurse came through the ER with a police officer. He ran out with his hand on his gun. There was a fight in the parking lot and one of the men was swinging a knife. Within moments, police were everywhere. A nurse came to inform us that if we were not family members of a patient, we should go home. They were about to put the ER on lock-down.

At that moment, it struck me that Emergency Rooms are places where emotions are likely to run high. People are often fearful, confused, and tired. This altercation seemed bazaar to us, but I wondered if it was really unusual for the hospital staff. It seemed that emergencies came in various forms around the ER.

The family we visited was grieving, but they felt no sense of emergency for their father. They knew that he’d had a close walk with the Lord, and he was experiencing pure joy at that point. Perhaps, the only true emergency is when one doesn’t make preparation for his final trip. When the moment of death comes, it is too late to decide. If the destination isn’t considered before that time, there are no options left, and that’s an emergency!

The Face of Confusion

TV Debut

I was excited when I received the call to be interviewed for the TV show, Nashville Alive. They wanted to talk about my new book, Everyday Experiences with God. When I arrived at the studio they asked, “Where’s your book? We want to show it on air.”

I replied, “I have one in the car. Do I have time to get it?” When they said, “Yes, but hurry”, I ran out of the building with one thing in mind. In my haste, I failed to see a step. I hurtled forward on the aggregate pavement. I tore my hose and ripped up the leather on my heels. Other than a few minor scrapes and bruises, I was fine, but rattled. I retrieved my book from the car and hobbled back into the studio just in time for taping. I wasn’t even allowed a moment to check my hair after the tousling.

I knew the questions that were supposed to come. I had jotted down some notes, so that I might glance down at them, if needed. However, the director instructed me to remove my glasses. The bright studio lights had transitioned them into sunglasses. They wanted to see my eyes. That would have been great, but with my addled state of mind, I was really counting on having those notes handy. Now, I wouldn’t be able to see them. Even worse, there was no time for them to give me any instructions. The director started counting down with his fingers, and pointed for us to begin.

And that was the start of my auspicious television debut! So, tune in to channel 44 tomorrow morning, December 28 at 8:30. Together, we will see just how “interesting” an interview can be.

What is Your Next Step Going to Be?

You probably don’t recall your very first step as a toddler, but I bet your parents do. They could probably retell the story in detail. They were excited. It was an accomplishment, a sign of healthy development. And, a first step implies that there will be more.

Since that time, you have experienced many firsts, haven’t you? Again, that suggests that there will be a second step, third, and on. Most can get excited over the beginning of a new idea or challenge. But, what was once new and exciting eventually becomes routine. Nobody claps when you walk across a room anymore. It’s old hat. So what? Everybody walks; that’s no great triumph.

But, there’s always a “next” step to be taken if you’re willing. As we mature, we sometimes become complacent. It’s often referred to as our “comfort zone”. Why look toward a next step when I’m doing so well at this level? Why stress myself when I’m not sure of success with the “next” step. What if I fall flat on my face? After years of experience, I know that even if I am successful, the cheering won’t last. That success will become the expected. What was once a challenge is now just routine. Yes, I hear that sigh. You understand all too well. So, what’s the point?

The next step! That is the point. Each step is a mark of healthy development. It is stimulating. It takes you closer to a new farther-reaching target. Will you be a little uncomfortable as you stretch yourself and grow? Yes! But those growing pains will lead to new heights you may not have imagined. And, eventually, it will lead to yet another comfort zone. But, don’t stay there too long. With too much ease comes atrophy. Get up, and take the next step. I’m clapping for you; can you hear it?

It's Christmas...So?

It’s a cold December morning. I awakened early. The house is quiet and beautiful, with the tree lit, before dawn’s light. No need for breakfast this morn. We enjoyed a festive holiday meal with a group of friends last night, and I am still feeling the results of indulgence.

The evening was a sensory explosion. It wasn’t just the tastes of Christmas. When walking into the home, we enjoyed the sight, sound, and warmth of a crackling fire after coming in from the cold. We were welcomed by hugs, from old friends and new. The aroma of hazelnut coffee was enticing. We ate at beautifully arrayed tables; the conversation ebbed and flowed. Memories and laughter were shared.

Before we gathered for that late dinner, we all attended Brentwood Baptist to enjoy their choir’s annual program. The stage was set beautifully for the holiday magic to come. A magnificent orchestra introduced the singers, accompanied them, and followed them out at the end. Varying genres of music were included but all with the same message. They converged to draw the listener in. Dancers added to the visual aesthetic, and combined, it honored the King.

Though we did not sit down and read the Bible, or talk about the birth of Jesus, we still celebrated it. A group of loving friends worshiped together. We shared fond remembrances across the table. Every physical sense was alert to this special time of year. It was a glorious evening!

Now I sit, in the pre-dawn hush. It, too, is a celebration of Christmas. It’s quiet, but I’m not alone. I’m not praising the King with others. I’m sharing memories with Him.

What's Your Favorite Color?

Blog Series: Memory – Color, Sensory Involvement

Do you have a child who is struggling in school? Perhaps you’re a teacher who is frustrated because your students don’t retain material as well as you would like. Maybe you’re tired of wasting time searching for things in your home. If any of these apply, read on!

·       Color is a memory stimulant. Teachers have color-coded things in their classrooms for years. Generally this was for organizational purposes, but by using different colors, our visual minds make an association that creates memory. Marketers talk a lot about branding ones business. One of the first things they use as a marketing tool is color. Think about a few businesses, what color do you associate with them?  Target? McDonald’s? Planet Fitness? These businesses want you to remember them, so color is important.

·       Sensory Involvement can make a huge difference in memory. We are told that scent is possibly the strongest sense we have in promoting memory. Every spring, when the lawn is first mowed, I have a quick jolt of childhood memories of playing outside with my brother. It’s the smell of new-mown grass that does it.

When studying WWII, one way I incorporated sound, taste and smell, was to construct a cardboard facsimile of an upright radio to resemble one from the 1940's. Behind this prop was a taped selection of radio shows of the time, including music, big news broadcasts of the time, comedy shows, soaps, etc. We sat around the "radio" enjoying popcorn while listening. They had a cultural experience from another age, and the memory was stimulated by multiple senses. Remember, one sense is good, but the more senses involved in a learning process, the better. Memory retention is the goal.

I challenge you to think about ways in which you can utilize color and/or sensory involvement to help you, your child, or an aging parent with some memory issue. These are simple to apply, and the rewards can be amazing.

The Giving Jar

Christmas was approaching, and I was busy in the kitchen when my son called asking about a gift idea for his dad. After I gave him a couple of suggestions, I said, “So, I assume you two are out shopping.” He had been married for just a few months, so this was to be their first Christmas together. He responded by saying, “No we’re actually delivering gifts.” I couldn’t imagine who he’d need to deliver to, so in curiosity, I asked for more information. He responded by telling me that they were down in Nashville’s projects taking gifts for the parents to be able to give their children. My daughter-in-law was a child advocate who worked in the area with some frequency. She was invested in these children.

I guess I couldn’t turn my Mom button off, so I proceeded with, “Honey, you are newly married, and I love your generous spirit, but you aren’t going to get yourself into credit card debt, are you?” With an exasperated sigh he replied, “No, Mom, remember the jars?” I didn’t know what he was talking about, and I said so. He said, “Remember when I was little and you gave me the four baby food jars? You were about to give me my first allowance, but the jars were to teach me how to use money. When I received my allowance each week, I was to put 10% in the tithing jar, 5% into a savings jar, and 5% into a giving jar, and the fourth jar held the remaining 80% for me to use however I chose. You said that the giving jar was to be used when I saw that someone had a need. That way I’d be ready and able to give. Though we don’t use actual jars, we still abide by the system that you taught me as a preschooler. These gifts, for the projects, are from the “giving jar”.

I was humbled. I came just short of giving my son a lecture on the dangers of getting into debt, when he reminded me that I already spent years of instructing and guiding him. He’d learned his lessons from me. He remembered, and now he was applying them. It was time for me to trust his judgment.

I sometimes find it difficult to keep from giving my grown children “my two cents worth” of wisdom. It’s hard to turn that tendency off when they grow up and move out, but it’s a blessing when a parent sees that their lessons were well learned.

What's Important?

Relevance may be the most important memory stimulator we have in terms of motivation. If we don’t view something as relevant, why should we even try to remember it? In school, some students may be so grade-driven that this is all of the motivation needed, but for most of us, there must be something more sustainable.

My son’s high school Geometry teacher understood the importance of relevance. His first assignment was aimed at helping students see the reason for learning the material, aside from the immediate grade. His students had two weeks to find ten professions that utilized geometry. They were to ask people if knowledge of geometry ever came in handy in their profession. I remember my son coming home, in total shock, from the orthodontist. Yes, this doctor utilized geometry when considering spacing for teeth. Who knew?

Math was not my son’s strong-suit, but I believe his success in geometry was due, in part, to the fact that he realized the relevance that this subject had for many professionals. Since he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life, he understood that he might end up choosing something that used geometry. He wisely chose to memorize those theorems.

Another helpful way to insure memory is to write something down. It’s not particularly helpful to copy what someone else has written. The "memory chip” is activated when we take something that we’ve learned and write it down in our own words. Formulating our own thoughts, and attaching those to the instruction that we’ve had, creates meaning for us.

In my classroom, Friday’s were generally test days. I would always incorporate one discussion question. This was not an opportunity for them to regurgitate facts to me. It was a chance for them to take the material and create personal meaning from it. After studying about a country that was impoverished, I remember a student saying, "I never thought about my drinking water. Now, I can’t turn on the spigot without thanking God I don’t have to walk for miles in search of some that may or may not be fit for drinking.” Another said something like this: I have recited the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning of my school experience and seldom considered what I was saying. Now, I realize it symbolizes freedom that much of the world has no understanding of. I’m grateful I was born an American.

In evaluating their tests, I noted the ones who presented the most personal meaning from the study were the same ones who could accurately share the facts. Why? The writing, with the meaning, imprinted a lasting memory.

Relevance and creating meaning are tied closely together. Writing down how material relates and what it means personally, will enhance memory. Nightly journaling is a good way to improve memory while leaving a written record of things in case you require a memory boost.