Day 130 | Monday, 27 July 2020

Day 130  |  Monday, 27 July 2020
From the Church Mouse

         With the summer flying by and the fall approaching way too quickly, the Rev. and I have been thinking a lot lately about fear and worry.

        I read a story not long ago about a military working dog named Doc.  He was a beautiful male Belgian Malinois who was a military hero.  He had served valiantly in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing for explosives, saving hundreds of lives.  One day he was blown off his feet by a mortar fire.  After that experience, Doc became fearful and hid under a bunk in the army tent.

        He was retired from duty and adopted by an army sergeant in North Carolina.  I can not pretend to understand the trauma of war, but I thought I could understand want Doc was going through.  Doc was diagnosed with PTSD.  I found out that military dogs can develop PTSD just like their human counterparts.  The worry that Doc felt is the same as the worry we can feel.  It can literally blow us off our feet.

        The amazing thing is that Doc’s diagnosis wasn’t the end of his useful life.  Through love and support, he regained his strength and confidence.  He did not go back to the front but went on to do amazing work with soldiers who suffer from the same disorder.

       It can be that way for us as well.  Since God can use us even if we are worriers, perhaps, if we trust Him, we will find out that trusting Him is a whole lot better than worrying.  Doc found his strength again and we can keep ours too, even if this fall and winter become a long, dark experience.

         A quote for you: “Trauma creates change you don’t choose.  Healing is about creating change you do choose.” – Michele Rosenthal

         Now for some Foodie Facts: The Blueberry Heart Boost

        “A cup of blueberries a day could keep the doctor away, says a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Among a small group of adults with metabolic syndrome – a condition characterized by having at least three heart disease risk factors such as high blod pressure, high blood sugar, and excess belly fat – eating the equivalent of 1 cup of the berries daily for six  months was associated with improved vascular function.  Specifically, the improvement was in the stiffness of heart arteries, a benefit that may be due to compounds in blueberries called anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory and other cardioprotective effects, says Aedin Cassidy, study author and a professor of nutrition at University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School.  Toss a handful of blueberries on oatmeal, yogurt, or salad for a tasty, heart-healthy lift.”
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 COVID update from Chautauqua County web site: as of 3PM July 26, there were 223 cases with 101 in battalion 3 (us) and 9 deaths.