Ed - it’s actually highly plausible men would invent the myth you describe or at least embellish it to the point of mythology - because as you describe the pain of life and fear of death can be so overwhelming that we have to have something to believe in , that there is an afterlife . Hope is a powerful and as you note often a necessary thing - all docs know that . And Lord knows , no pun intended , the Christians being fed to the lions certainly needed this to believe in….But where does one draw the line between revelation, myth, fact, etc? I think this epistomologic dilemma draws many agnostics to medicine - lacking ‘faith’ they need something trancendent noble and good to direct their lives. In the end faith is a gift . If it were manifest in an immediate present and clear corporal and temporal manner , it wouldn’t be “faith” , would it? Those not so blessed must look elsewhere for meaning in their lives , and for this agnostic , going into medicine surely saved my soul in a metaphorical sense. Medicine is so replete with transcendent moments - the birth of a child , the last breath of a parent , the resuscitation of a trauma victim, informing the family of their sons death from a bullet wound….surely there is a spiritual dimension to this life. Whether it endures after death though is surely a most comforting speculation. No matter -Peace be onto all of us in this life .
Very well written Ed, and I enjoyed reading it immensely; I can definitely relate to ultrasound technique used for vein access, because Nurses have had to resort to that 3 times; lupus has ruined my antecubital veins. Other than that I’m in pretty good shape for my age
Great perspective, Ed. So much compassion in your words for those who struggle with addiction. And hope in your words, too. Thank you for sharing!
Ed - it’s actually highly plausible men would invent the myth you describe or at least embellish it to the point of mythology - because as you describe the pain of life and fear of death can be so overwhelming that we have to have something to believe in , that there is an afterlife . Hope is a powerful and as you note often a necessary thing - all docs know that . And Lord knows , no pun intended , the Christians being fed to the lions certainly needed this to believe in….But where does one draw the line between revelation, myth, fact, etc? I think this epistomologic dilemma draws many agnostics to medicine - lacking ‘faith’ they need something trancendent noble and good to direct their lives. In the end faith is a gift . If it were manifest in an immediate present and clear corporal and temporal manner , it wouldn’t be “faith” , would it? Those not so blessed must look elsewhere for meaning in their lives , and for this agnostic , going into medicine surely saved my soul in a metaphorical sense. Medicine is so replete with transcendent moments - the birth of a child , the last breath of a parent , the resuscitation of a trauma victim, informing the family of their sons death from a bullet wound….surely there is a spiritual dimension to this life. Whether it endures after death though is surely a most comforting speculation. No matter -Peace be onto all of us in this life .
Excellent. Happy Easter Ed!
Very well written Ed, and I enjoyed reading it immensely; I can definitely relate to ultrasound technique used for vein access, because Nurses have had to resort to that 3 times; lupus has ruined my antecubital veins. Other than that I’m in pretty good shape for my age