Smokeless is not Safe

To a confirmed people watcher an airport provides an endless variety of fellow humans in all manner of dress and duress. With two whole hours to kill before my next flight and not in a particular reading frame of mind, I decided to go “character gathering” by simply observing the people around me. My eyes soon lighted on a handsome, blond young man (everybody looks young these days) who looked about late twenties, devouring the pages of a war thriller as ravenously as the pack of overpriced Combos. Hardly raising his head he demolished the snack and washed it down with an even pricier brand of spring water.

Expecting him to now morph into the pages, my curiosity peaked as he reached into his pocket removed a flat tin about the size of a cough lozenge container, and began flicking and turning the tin with a rhythm and thoroughness obviously born of considerable practice. I thought, Snuff? Then immediately, naw. Too young, too handsome, too obviously smart. Wrong. He twisted the lid from the tin, dipped a pincer full, made the deadly pouch between teeth and lower lip, and clamped his mouth shut. His only movement before boarding time was to spit brown, tobacco juice in his empty Fiji Spring water bottle.

Once the whole aesthetics receded to the background I started thinking about tobacco ads or more specifically ads on quitting smoking. What do they all have in common? Smoke. So without a doubt, one could easily infer once there is no smoke there is equally no danger or significantly less in choosing other forms of tobacco consumption. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is not a research paper so a quick click to Webmd.com provided all the information needed. 

Here are a few of the highlights.

“Smokeless tobacco products include chewing tobacco, snus, and snuff. Although these products are less harmful than smoking cigarettes, they are just as addictive as cigarettes and do have serious health risks.

White, leathery patches (leukoplakia) that form on the inside of the cheek or on the gum. These patches can turn into cancer of the mouth (oral cancer), involving the lip, tongue, or cheek.

Dental problems, such as abrasion of teeth, gum recessions, and periodontal bone loss.

An increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Nicotine from smokeless tobacco can lead to nicotine dependence. This can make quitting smokeless tobacco just as hard as quitting cigarettes.”

He who dies slowly, or differently – still dies. Smokeless is not safe.

Just Sharing

For some reason last week took off at an amazing pace leaving us vainly struggling to keep up. But what a week it’s been! First we are preparing to go to Florida this weekend to celebrate the Christening of our grandson and my husband was also preparing for a week of convention at Trinity Pentecostal Church of God, 1109 Burke Ave in the Bronx. Friday the 11^th was youth rally in Bridgeport, our church, so of course we had to be there. Saturday night the 12^th we were in New Jersey at their ingathering rally, and today of course, in convention. One of the today’s highlights was spending time with our cousin Aunt Yvonne whom we have not seen in years. She is so much like Mom — which means she kills the fatted calf at the drop of a hat.

All of this only makes us grateful for the connections we have, both spiritual and familial. It also highlights how mush as humans we depend on the care and loving support of those around us. Not just in bad times but on an everyday basis. Which reminds me of a book given to me last week called, “We Carry Each Other” by Eric and Sharon Langshur. It talks about all the simple things we all can do to help others get through the tough times in life.

This week don’t wait for a book, or a special teaching or even tough times, to show love and appreciation or lend your strength to someone. Smile, laugh, listen to someone share a funny story. It does not sound like much but you may be the only person in days or even longer to give some lonely person a sense of significance. Get down to a child’s level to give them a hug and watch their eyes light up.

And if you need detailed strategies how to care and share at a deeper level there is help at www.carepages.com.

A part of #Leading #Effectively in your sphere of influence is learning how to be the most to the lost and the least. Have a safe and productive week!

Hospice: A Caring Decision?

If you have ever been in the position as the sole or primary decision maker in the matter of healthcare for a loved one, you are no doubt aware of the tangled emotions that can ensue. While it’s easy to get clinical and say if a person is 99 years old and has conditions a, b, and c then the family should just “let go” the realities are anything but simple. There may be the matter of promises made to care for the relative or parent at home. The caregiver may be ailing but feel a sense of responsibility or truly believe no one else can provide the care that is needed. Finances may be another determinant i.e. the social security check is a part of the overall household budget and placing the person in an institution would create a considerable gap. Last, there may be no money at all: neither to hire additional help to provide the caregiver with needed respite nor to pay for placement in a nursing home or similar facility.

When a number of these factors converge and end of life issues also come into play, hospice may be the best solution. Unfortunately, for all the literature and the attempts at explanation, hospice remains a fearful mystery to those who would most benefit from the service. Even some doctors are apt to think hospice is equivalent to sending a patient home to die. Consequently, there are physicians who will under no circumstance agree to a hospice consult for their patient. I do not now or have I ever worked for hospice. But Vitas, one of the nation’s largest providers, gives a pretty clear explanation of what their services entail.

In one of their newer publications Vitas asks: If you or your loved one were facing a life-limiting illness, would you know what options are available to you and your family? It then goes on to describe hospice as a treatment modality offering aggressive treatment of physical and emotional pain associated with end of life care. This is also known as palliative care i.e. to provide comfort measures instead of the treatment extremes necessary in some cases, when a cure is being pursued. Perhaps most surprising is the statistics citing that as much as 75% of all Americans, given the choice, would prefer to die at home in familiar surroundings. Hospice allows that option when a cure is no longer possible.

When should one consider hospice? As much as months before death is imminent — people have been known to be on hospice for as much as a year before end of life. The care team may include doctors, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplain, bereavement specialist and volunteers. Most importantly, Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance policies provide for hospice care, at no extra cost to the patient or family. Doctors make home visits and nurses are often provided around the clock for crisis care. Finally, hospice care is not complicated and is usually tailored to the patient and family’s need. Who qualifies for service? Anyone of any age with any life limiting illness, can receive hospice care. In addition, care does not end with the death of the patient as bereavement support for the family may continue for more than a year.

These days I am talking a lot about #not #giving #up which is not the same as not needing help. The trick is learning the facts, using available resources, and realizing whatever your challenge, you are #not #alone.

Caring Connections

I had a call yesterday from the wife of a retired pastor in Canada. As we talked she mentioned a small outreach she started that she calls a card ministry. This lady sends greeting cards with encouraging notes to pastors who may be struggling or just in need of a reminder someone cares about them — personally. Why?

In the words of my friend, “Many pastors out there are hurting and need someone to reach out to them.” I know that. In fact, I have known for years. And that is the whole premise of my book #Leading #Effectively When Everything Says Quit. 

Given the state of our world and the pressures under which many pastors serve, it’s surprising hardly anything is being said about caring for the shepherds. Could it be we, the church, are ashamed to talk about our imperfections? The Bible talks about weakness and as a result, we all know the way to become strong in the Lord.

Think for a moment what would have happened if Jesus had spent his days rallying around the people who already believed and were focused on him as Messiah? Just in case we missed it Jesus told those who questioned his habit of hanging out with the down and outers that those who are well do not need a doctor. In other words, though nothing attracts like success, the leaders and pastors and people in your circle who are at the top of their game are not necessarily the ones most in need of your time and energies. Turn instead to the one struggling to get a leg up or to come out from under.

But to get back to my friend. She talked about the calls she has received since her card ministry started. Words like, “just in time,” “thanks for caring” and “I needed that” are quite common. I guess you know the next gift these pastors receive will be a card inside the book Leading Effectively. The message cannot be repeated too often. When we are broken to the point where quitting seems to be the only haven, we are simply at the place where God can more easily shape us into vessels for his greater honor and glory.

Is there someone you know who needs this message?