A POEM FOR NEW BEGINNINGS

A symphony of caring love,
  Breathes into the soul,
Its gentle cadence from within,
  Through lessons learned of old..
That lingers long  and asks the heart,
  Have you sent neighbours friends and kin,
Kindly words that they may need,
 Amid our earthly din..
Or must intended kindness wait,
   As trees wait for the rain,
So we must wait for future time,
   To make this needed gain..

PROTECTING YOUR VISION

   Lifestyle changes can play a role in reducing the risk of developing cataracts, diabetes, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, if you already have them..

*  PROPER EATING.  A healthful diet high in green leafy vegetables, fish, fruit and other food high in antioxidants protect from age-related eye diseases.

*  WATCHING YOUR WEIGHT.  Obesity has been linked to the progression of AMD and an increased  risk of cataracts, diabetic retinopathy  and glaucoma.

*  EXERCISE.  Regular physical activity will reduce your risk of developing AMD, lower eye pressure that is linked with glaucoma and reduce diabetic retinopathy's progression.  Exercise also fights night sweats.  Doing 50 minutes of aerobic exercise four days a week for six mornings reduced the incidence of menopause related night sweats, irritability and mood swings according to a Finnish trial of 176 women who were not serious exercisers.  Researchers compared the group that exercised with a control group that attended bimonthly health lectures.

*  CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE, BLOOD SUGAR AND CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.  Ask your doctor about a program that is best for you.

*  DO NOT SMOKE AND DRINK VERY LITTLE.  Smoking is associated with all four eye disorders.  Too much alcohol is known to increase the risk of cataracts.

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

     A century ago when telephone lines were not yet established everywhere, it was not unusual to have a salesman drive into your street or yard, tap at the door and ask the home owner if he could come in and display his wares.  The Watkins and Rawleigh salesmen were typical examples.  It was not unusual to have a neighbour tell others about a person known to have been healed when regular doctors were many miles away and roads closed during heavy snows during the winter months.  My own parents lost a four year old son from Scarlet Fever during the mid nineteen thirties.  Even the young mounted policeman (RCMP officer) died of Scarlet Fever during that epidemic.

    There were also men who travelled throughout the U.S., and held meetings during weekday evenings and people would be invited to come up to the stage hoping to be healed.  Edgar Cayce had been prescribed too strong a sedative to treat a migraine headache and could speak only in a whisper.  Today this article will take us to Kentucky to visit with Edgar  Cayce who taught Sunday School on weekends and worked at an art studio during the week.  The leader of the meeting quickly put Mr. Cayce into a trance at Hopkinsville, Kentucky accompanied by the local publisher of the Kentucky news paper.  Edgar began to speak in his normal voice but as soon as the leader of the meeting gave the signal to awake, Cayce's voice was reduced to a whisper.  He then decided to offer to cancel his engagement with his girl friend since he had no way of making a proper living but with the support of both families the door opened.  The leader of the next meeting said, "You are now asleep and will be able to tell us what we want to know.  Describe Edgar's condition and tell us what is wrong."  Cayce's throat cleared..  All the family were there and one of them rushed for paper and pencil as Cayce said "We can see the body."  In the normal physical state, Edgar said, "this body is unable to speak due to partial paralysis of the inferior muscles of the vocal cords, produced by nerve strain.  This is a normal psychological condition producing a physical effect and may be removed by increasing circulation in the affected parts by suggestion that increased the circulation to the affected area while in this unconscious condition.  That is the only thing that will do it..  The circulation through the body forces through it here and as the circulation  passes along it takes that away, puts new life to it, and makes the supply to the nerve force."  The leader was curious that Edgar should be addressing himself in the third person.and supply to the nerve force was given.  Edgar replied, "The circulation is beginning to increase.  It is increasing."  Cayce's father unbuttoned his son's shirt and showed his chest, then the throat slowly turned pink that deepened to rose, then to bright red.  "It's all right now, " Cayce said, still in trance.  "The condition is removed and the body will awaken."  Just a drop of blood came out but enough to soak through the thin cotton cloth, turning it crimson red.  "Hello," Cayce said in a clear voice , "Hey, I can talk," Cayce said with a smile as his father repeated "Good boy," with a joyous smile.  Edgar Cayce married his girl friend and they had two sons who helped carry on Cayce's work..  During the years ahead Cayce gave more than 14,000 readings and many were restored to health as they learned to eat nourishing foods, now often referred to as the Mediterranean diet and one of the main things is to avoid most sweets.          

CHOSEN TO GO

HELEN - CHILD NUMBER FOUR FOR OUR PARENTS  

She slipped safely to the Earth, in nineteen twenty one,

  In early childhood often spoke of better kingdoms come.

Three brothers were already there and listened to her talk,

  One a prince, next the mischief man, third son, “Lets wait and watch.”

    “Here comes the “tooth lady” was the chorus that Helen Krueger hears when she enters the dusty streets of any one of the villages in the outback of Ivory Coast, Africa.  I’ve spoken of my older sister Helen often and this will tell you about a typical day in her work as a dental missionary.  She rides into the village on her bicycle and those who need dental work begin to line up for help as the “tiny time criers” race around the village announcing the tooth lady is here.  Other days Helen may arrive on horseback since the French official has told her his horse needs exercise often and she is welcome to use his horse the days he does not need it.  The village chief assigns a location for her to begin her work.  Helen places a low stool for her patient to sit on which serves as an outdoor dental chair, usually beneath tall shady trees and invites her patient to be seated, regardless of race or religion. Sometimes the patient brings several friends to be a comfort and support for her since Helen brings no drugs to ease the pain of a tooth extraction.

    The last patient had a large molar that proved to be very difficult to remove.  “Try just once more,” he begged.  Finally the deep root emerged to the patient’s great relief.  The man rushed forward to express his gratitude as the blood spattered on both patient and client.   “Thank you Madam,” he cried, “May Allah grant many children to you.”  Helen never married. 

     During the still sunny evening hours Helen leads the villagers in choruses and song using her button guitar with choruses and short hymns they are quick to learn.  The chief assigns her an empty hut and her bed is a wood framework that unfolds a camping canvas mattress. The canvas has deteriorated in the hot weather and the first time she turns over it splits and so she spends the night trying to hold the split canvas together with one hand lest she fall on the floor where many varieties of insects roam around looking for a midnight snack.  The next morning the children follow her to the edge of the village and wave their farewell thanks for the excitement she has brought into their lives