the glory and the horror

And so ends the first year of medical school. I’m fairly certain I passed this last test. Didn’t get the A, unless I’ve suddenly become the best guesser in the world, but I knew my stuff, I think.

Sigh. I don’t know that I can make it through 3 more years. I don’t know that I want to.

From NPR:

Small Group of Young Religious Israelis Call for Evacuation of Settlements

I think they finally articulated something that has not sat well with me for a while. If the old covenant promising the geographical territory of Israel/Palestine still applies to those who call themselves Jews, then all parts of it ought to – including the parts about the obedience, the punishment for disobedience, and all the relevant contingencies. And just because a group who has, and is, guilty of atrocities happens to call for something that is good doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it just because you’re giving in to them. Their (the Palestinians – terrorists and non) motives may be bad, selfish, or whatever, but that doesn’t make it right to stay if you’re appealing to the OT for the right to stay. The “right” as delineated in the OT is conditional on obedience, and that’s not considered enough.

I enjoy wasting time too much, I think.

Man, this is such a grind right now. Studying is one of the last things I feel like doing. Plus, this syllabus is dense, like mercury. Drop it in some water, and watch it sink.

If you ever have the chance, go to a southern wedding. Don’t ever pass up the opportunity to go to one. I think I want my wedding to be some mix of Chinese and Southern. I want the great Chinese food at the banquet, the cool plantation setting for the outdoor reception with the tents/canopies and good southern food. I think I’d still want the ceremony in a church though. I’d have to find a nice church. I think I’d go more old school – stone/brick, stained-glass. Not too cathedralish, but also not too contemporary.

Congratulations, Onnie and Charlie. It was a great wedding. I hope you enjoyed the CDs.

Louisiana sure is an interesting state.

Embryology is done! And I haven’t felt that good about a test since high school. Frightening.

I’m going to Onnie’s wedding. I’m very much looking forward to it. I’m sad that Kathleen will not be coming with me. I’m excited about hanging out with Tim and Karen, who are now very married, and hanging out with Onnie and others.

John Piper finally organized his sermon mp3s into a significantly better webpage. He’s using Oneplace.com. They didn’t post “Doing Missions When Dying is Gain” though.

Kathleen and I have finished both Prince Caspian and In the Presence of Mine Enemies. We’re on Out of the Silent Planet now.

What does it mean to be a doctor? Is it merely learning the doctor information and the doctor procedures? Is it learning to do differential diagnoses? What is health anyway? What is medicine as a profession? Are doctors a special class of individuals? What is medicine’s end?

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The Oath
By Hippocrates

Written 400 B.C.E
Translated by Francis Adams

I SWEAR by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation- to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!

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What does it mean to swear this oath? Or whatever will be comparable at the end of my medical education? What is “my Art?” What does it mean when it says “according to my ability and judgment?” How binding is this? Why am I saying it at the end? I’ll have already seen patients. I’ll have already poked and prodded, cut and sewn, screwed up and fixed it brilliantly. What does it mean to cure? Is that medicine’s final end? What does it mean to heal? Is THAT medicine’s final end? Are doctors the only healers? What is the role of the Church in assisting Christians to be doctors? How do you become a good doctor? Why do I want to be a doctor?

Less than 2 weeks left to go. Almost there.

So Onnie and Charlie’s wedding is this weekend. I’m very torn, and I still don’t know if I should go. Endocrinology is next Friday, and I’d be gone Saturday through Monday. Hmmmm. Grrrr. The Chamberlins have offered to work something out, so I may take them up on it.

I’ve noticed that in just reading and doing the embryology questions, I feel like I’ve learned a lot more in less time. This has been more efficient than most of my classes.

“You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,” said Aslan. “And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor in earth. Be content.”

-Prince Caspian by Clive Staple Lewis

But is there anything which Christians can find in heaven or earth so worthy to be the objects of their admiration and love, their earnest and longing desires, their hope and their rejoicing, and their fervent zeal, as those things that are heald forth to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

-Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

The GRE is stinking expensive.

Beignets are pretty good. Cheap, too. 3 for less than 2 bucks at Cafe du Monde. And I recognize the coffee tin from my younger days. I’m not sure about this exactly, but one of my grandparents used to drink that coffee. Or at least reuse the tin. Or at least have the tin. I remember seeing it.

Kathleen and I finished reading both Prince Caspian and In the Presence of Mine Enemies to each other this week. I highly recommend reading out loud to your significant other. It’s so much fun!

Rice student-athlete graduation rates

I get to take a road trip this weekend to Louisiana for Karen and Tim’s wedding. How exciting! I get to see Ashley, Onnie, Laurie, and Leslie as well. And Paul and hopefully, other STINTers. I’m definitely looking forward to it.

Oh yes. It’s officially May Day. Don’t go around trying to start proletariat uprisings now.

The weather has been very pleasant in Dallas as of late. It gets into the 80s during the day, but the sun isn’t too bright, and there’s a nice breeze. At night, it drops to the 70s or so, if it’s not thunderstorming, like it did last night. I left school at 2 am after studying, only to get rained on. But the lightning was spectacular. Nothing short of stunningly beautiful (much like Kathleen). She enjoys the rain more than I do, though. I just like the pretty lights and loud noises

Stinky Chase bank is starting to charge a monthly fee for my checking account, so I’m ditching them. Adios Chase. Now to find an alternative. I already have an account at WaMu so I may go there. Maybe BofA since there’s an ATM at school.