JD, The cloistered Carmelite nuns in Des Plaines, IL pray continuously for my family. They are having a Novena in their monastery in early March. I will ask them to include Moira in those prayers.
An update: the nun I spoke to was compassionate as you would expect, but more so because her own cousin has ALS and is currently in hospice. She then recommended Priest and Beggar by Kevin Wells about Father Aloysius Schwartz, himself a victim of ALS. The good sisters are praying for Moira as am I.
Imagine, if you will, that a human being is invested with the power not only to answer prayers but also to grant relief to those who ask for it. Imagine, also, that that all powerful, and supposedly all-loving, human being rarely granted the relief so many persons begged for. What would we think of such a person? Would we worship him or her?
I’ve never gotten over the refusal or failure of supplicants to wonder why they should ask God to free them or their loved ones from pain and suffering he might have exempted them from in the first place.
I am not an atheist. With Kant and many other thinkers who have followed his lead, I cannot see how we can definitively decide that existence-of-God question in either direction. But I do find it far more morally acceptable to credit the notion of an impersonal God—the so-called creator of the universe and the God of many proponents of intelligent design—than a personal God who would only occasionally respond to the heartfelt prayers of so many suffering and frail human beings.
There is no higher privilege or honor than to pray for a loved one and friend. You and Moira have mine now - tho I don't know your cousin of course, you two are my brethren in our Lord. May God Bless and Keep you and Moira along with all your family and loved ones. Thank you for sharing such an intimate and personal item.
I have lost two family members and a very good friend to Lou Gehrig's disease. All beautiful people, and like your cousin, non deserving.
I read about a doctor years ago, who tested hundreds of good folk who passed from ALS, Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease. His research showed that 75% had Lymes disease, as the symptoms are very similar. My cousin and friend both tested negative to Lymes, before succumbing to ALS.
May be worth a shot, and though Lymes is a terrible disease, there are doctors that have successfully treated patients.
JD, The cloistered Carmelite nuns in Des Plaines, IL pray continuously for my family. They are having a Novena in their monastery in early March. I will ask them to include Moira in those prayers.
Thank you. That is very kind of you.
An update: the nun I spoke to was compassionate as you would expect, but more so because her own cousin has ALS and is currently in hospice. She then recommended Priest and Beggar by Kevin Wells about Father Aloysius Schwartz, himself a victim of ALS. The good sisters are praying for Moira as am I.
Beautiful piece. I'll see if I can get her on my grand nieces' prayer list. Can't do better than that!
Thank you, Ken.
Thank you very much for this, and for the recommendation. Frightening how many are afflicted by this awful disease.
Imagine, if you will, that a human being is invested with the power not only to answer prayers but also to grant relief to those who ask for it. Imagine, also, that that all powerful, and supposedly all-loving, human being rarely granted the relief so many persons begged for. What would we think of such a person? Would we worship him or her?
I’ve never gotten over the refusal or failure of supplicants to wonder why they should ask God to free them or their loved ones from pain and suffering he might have exempted them from in the first place.
I am not an atheist. With Kant and many other thinkers who have followed his lead, I cannot see how we can definitively decide that existence-of-God question in either direction. But I do find it far more morally acceptable to credit the notion of an impersonal God—the so-called creator of the universe and the God of many proponents of intelligent design—than a personal God who would only occasionally respond to the heartfelt prayers of so many suffering and frail human beings.
I very much enjoy your essays.
There is no higher privilege or honor than to pray for a loved one and friend. You and Moira have mine now - tho I don't know your cousin of course, you two are my brethren in our Lord. May God Bless and Keep you and Moira along with all your family and loved ones. Thank you for sharing such an intimate and personal item.
I have lost two family members and a very good friend to Lou Gehrig's disease. All beautiful people, and like your cousin, non deserving.
I read about a doctor years ago, who tested hundreds of good folk who passed from ALS, Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease. His research showed that 75% had Lymes disease, as the symptoms are very similar. My cousin and friend both tested negative to Lymes, before succumbing to ALS.
May be worth a shot, and though Lymes is a terrible disease, there are doctors that have successfully treated patients.
Best wishes and prayers my friend.