8 p.m. ….

“…. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

This journey is affecting and growing EVERYONE who is intimately aware of its circumstances.  I see it, read it, hear it and feel it.  Forgive the personal reference in today’s update, but my own “empathy” and “compassion” quotients are being elevated to stratospheric levels.  Let me explain a brief example.

I walked into a Starbucks today and noticed a large group of people with “Downs Syndrome” enjoying coffee and each other’s company.  The Holy Spirit “awakened” my emotions as I was thinking about the journey that many of those people are on …. those who are perceived to be weaker in this world …. the sick, the lame, the young, the aged, etc.  It’s not that I didn’t care or think about those people up to this point in my life.  I did.  In fact, as a police officer in a “past life” my focus and priority was to protect those in greatest need.  But what happened today was at a deeper, more profound level.  I had an acute sense of spiritual awareness that moved me beyond personal observation to “deep human interaction” even though we never exchanged a word between us.  They weren’t even aware of my feelings or thoughts but I related to them and loved them from afar.

Irene has always been very sensitive in this area.  She’s always had deep empathy and compassion for others.  She’s demonstrated this sensitivity with her acts of kindness and quick smile to all of those around her, especially those with obvious need.  In fact, in this area, she’s my role model and my hero.

Sue Martinez picked Irene up from dialysis and took her by Starbucks on the way home.  Irene actually went inside …. her first official “outing” since being home.  Irene rested this afternoon and tried her best to ignore the chronic nausea.  However, we do have a “skip” in our spirits today because of the affirming UCSF visit yesterday. Thanks for your

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8 p.m. ….

Hopefully you were able to view part of the total lunar eclipse which occurred very early this morning …. fortunately, I was able to get a photograph from our deck ….

ECLIPSE is a very intriguing word ….

Eclipse defined as a noun:  the disappearance of the whole or part of the sun when the moon comes between it and the earth or of the moon when the earth’s shadow falls across it.  Since the earth is bigger than the moon, the process of the earth’s shadow taking a bigger and bigger “bite” out of the moon, totally eclipsing it before the shadow recedes.

Eclipse defined as a VERB: “…. be greater in significance than ….”

The verb definition is fascinating.  In every way, God ECLIPSES our human understanding.  Check out these examples:

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9

A man’s (or woman’s) steps are directed by the Lord.  How can anyone understand his (or her) own way?
Proverbs 20:24

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  Tell me if you understand.  Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know.  Who stretched a measuring line across it?  On what were its footings set or who laid its cornerstone ….?
Job 38:4-6

For me, it’s very comforting to acknowledge that God’s ways ECLIPSE ours.

Lunar Eclipse @ the TransAmerica building in San Francisco early this morning

We had a very encouraging day at UCSF which included an unscheduled visit with Dr. Lloyd Damon, the attending physician who has been overseeing Irene’s stem cell transplant process.  Here is what we learned:

RBC (Red Blood Cells) at 3.76 with a target of 4-5.2, even with the blood transfusion yesterday.  UCSF is conducting a test which will determine if Irene’s body is producing a substance which counteracts the red blood cell production.  We won’t know the results for two weeks.
Bilirubin level is 3.0 with a target range of .3-1.2, but lower than the last test
Creatinine (liver function) level is 4.0 with a target range of .6-1.2, but lower than the last test
Platelets are at 59; still

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