PASSION FOR LIFE!

I’m not the greatest in the world for going to doctors! Not that I have anything against doctors – after all I worked for a long number of years alongside them in a hospice setting. Come to think of it, maybe that’s not the best setting for praising the skills of doctors! Relax, I jest! In fact it’s a magnificent setting in which to appreciate the skill and dedication of people who understand the value of helping people live with dignity. But that’s a subject for another occasion. Fortunately at present I’m not in need of the care of palliative specialists, and long may it remain that way!

But, as one advances in years, we’re told that one should visit one’s doctor regularly just to be re-assured that everything is in working order, and to be reminded again that you should be drinking lots of water and getting plenty of exercise and be eating and sleeping sensibly! As luck would have it, I ran into my doctor on St. Patrick’s Day, which reminded me that I hadn’t seen him in more than a year – so the following day I made an appointment to see him on Good Friday! Thank God I’m not superstitious! To cut a long story short, all went well, and I was assured that at least from the shoulders down everything was working OK.

But sitting in the waiting room the thought came into my mind – what would be the verdict if “the Parish” had to have a regular check-up? You know what? I couldn’t think of one test on which there might be a negative result! Granted, I was feeling a little euphoric, because earlier I had received the final tally for the Lenten collection, which surpassed even last year’s phenomenal response! Not that money’s the measure of anything, but in this case I knew it was but another example of the commitment to the welfare of those in need that is very much a keynote of St. Joseph’s.