Songs of the Church

Wilber came over last night after church and after we ate dinner we sat down at my piano to sing some hymns. It's what all normal couples do, right? He had expressed interest in learning the tenor line to some songs we sing at church. He has a great ear, so only a few times going through these melodies and he had them down perfect. The last song we sang together was Tis Midnight, and on Olive's Brow. Playing the piano and listening to Wilber sing, I had tears running down my face. I finally felt like my two worlds were reconciled: me with Wilber, me with Jesus in the garden. Now, the three of us there together. What peace, God.

Un amour à taire

Wilber and I recently watched this French film, Un amour à taire (A Love To Hide), that was recommended to me by Netflix. It was, at once, beautiful and awful. It is set in Paris during World War II and tells the story of two men, their secret homosexual relationship and their assistance in helping a Jewish woman escape Nazi persecution. It also comments on the abuse, torture, experimentation and execution of homosexuals at the hands of the Gestapo. It was a powerful film that introduced me to an aspect of Nazi persecution that I was never taught about in school. Until this movie, I was ignorant about the treatment of gay men during the war. In history, we were taught about the yellow star that Jews were made to wear, but never about the pink triangle. Unbelievable.

The final scene in the movie is incredible and gives whole new meaning to the power of music. The director did a remarkable job with the score and the setting and the political commentary. If you have some time to lend to learning about historical civil injustices, rent this film.

Midtown Blast

I'm sure you've read or heard about the blast that occurred in midtown yesterday evening. It was truly unlike anything I've ever seen, save the pictures I saw on TV on 09/11. I was on my way to work yesterday and switched trains at Grand Central Station, evidently right before the explosion happened. When I got off the train, two stops later, people were lined in the middle of the street staring at the sky and I looked up and saw the smoke billowing. It was one of those feelings -- "Oh my God, what's happening?" I rushed to work at Bellevue because we are the closest Trauma Center in the area and I knew the wounded would be taken there.

When I arrived, the hospital was already in disaster-mode. Our ICU was being evacuated to make room for incoming victims, the emergency nurses were outside in haz-mat suits to decon the wounded, and everyone was rushing to prepare for whatever was about to roll in. Most of the victims brought to Bellevue were "treat & release" patients. Fortunately, we only had a couple that were critically injured.

The feeling around the hospital last night was very intense. People were more heightened, more emotional, in crisis mode. The surgeons especially were slammed overnight. We kept the news on all night long, listening for updates or alerts. I did not realize how large the blast was until the pictures started coming in online and one of my patients was describing the scene to me. It was awful. I hesitate to say it, but the whole feeling around the event reminded me of how 09/11 looked.

I go to bed this morning a little on edge, realizing that life is so short and no moment is taken for granted. You just never know.

Tahoka, TX

I got to spend four wonderful days last week with the Hays family in Tahoka, Texas. It was really good for my soul to be back in Texas, even if only for a little while. As soon as I landed at DFW, I breathed an audible sigh of relief as I looked out the window onto the Texas sky. There's no place like Texas.

Spending time with Joe, Laura, Sophia, Ira, Katie, Lance, Jack, Lydia, Jackie, Ryan, Isaac, Joey, Joe Francis and Glo was awesome. Really awesome! I laughed a lot, ate home-cooked meals, drank sweet iced tea, sat on the backporch swing, soaked in the hot tub, played the Wii, and enjoyed so much the company of old and new friends. I felt completely relaxed and completely at home, and I owe that to the hospitality and genuineness of everyone there.

My brother Josh and I were talking about my trip before I left, and how it's places like Tahoka that we would prefer to visit on vacation rather than the beach or the mountains or someplace exotic. It's the truth. Let me feast my eyes on the cotton fields, drive the open road, take in the vast night sky, stop at the John Deere dealership, and spend quality time with people I love, and I'll be a happy man.

Five years and counting

Last week marked my five year anniversary of living in New York. Different people will offer their opinions on what anniversary makes you a New Yorker: 2 years, 5 years, 7 years. I'm going with 5 years.

Here are some things I've learned after five years here in the city:

1) God goes before you and with you everywhere. The community I have in New York is unlike most I've encountered before.

2) The Lord works in powerful ways. Ask me five years ago if I would've thought I would be where I am today? No way.

3) Relationships are the key to survival here. The people I work with, go to school with, go to church with, eat with, and share life with are what makes living here wonderful.

4) 34th Street, the subway during rush hour, and Times Square are best to be avoided if at all possible.

5) Absence makes the heart grow fonder and stronger. I miss my family more than I can put into words. But my relationship with them is deeper and more precious than before.

6) The outer boroughs are the place to be. Brooklyn and Queens, you over a sanctuary for which I am so grateful.

7) The last five years would have been so much more difficult without Casey. We celebrate holidays and Tuesdays, laugh a lot, cry sometimes, and generally have a good time just being around each other.

8) Living here is cool. I still get excited when I see the Statue of Liberty at sunset or see the Chrysler building all lit up at night. What a great town.

Thanks to the BK, Central Park, the Daily News, the G train, bodegas, fresh mouths, shopping cart escalators, the Mets, immigrant populations, and so much more for keeping life interesting. Five years together and counting...