The Internet Murders - continues www.silvaredigonda.ca

Sandra was eating her jello. She couldn’t believe they gave her jello when she was starving. The coffee, however, was amazing. When the nurse cheerfully walked in Sandra asked her about the coffee. "This coffee is great. What is it?” “Instant,” the nurse replied, while humming a tune. “It can’t be. I hate instant.” It was the end of the working day and Philip was driving to St Clair and Dufferin. Traffic was heavy, but it was sunny out and that made it a nice drive. There were still Italian families in the area, though not as many as before. Many had moved out to Woodbridge and other communities north of the City. The Italians took a great deal of pride in their heritage and their successes, after coming here from humble beginnings. There were many now who were quite wealthy. Tomasso had grown up in the area and never left it. He lived at home with his mother and said that all Italians did that until they got married. Philip knew that was not quite true. He knew many who were single and had their own homes, but he wasn’t going to tell Tomasso that.”

Tid bit Info from Psychology Today regarding relationships

I saved the June 22, edition because I thought it would be interesting for you. Here goes pp 18 -19, tid bits. Many tend to have a same-race preference in dating. Couples often have the same body type. Researchers who collected images of spouses both as newlyweds and after 25 years of marriage found that partners generally became more similar in looks over time, which also predicted greater relationship quality. I have provided couple therapy for people prior to marriage, newly married, and couples with 30 plus years of marriage. I find that people call or email me to get free sessions or consultations. I do not provide that. I charge 140 a fifty minute session which will increase to 150. in January. I have kept my fees down due to the pandemic and need to catch up. I see people individually, as a couple or as a family. Couple therapy can be done with individuals, because skills can be developed to learn how to make changes in a relationship. However, if one is in an abusive relationship and changes within the relationship is not possible, then one has to consider what changes need to be made for one’s self to move away from that abuse. That can take a lot of work. If you decide to leave your partner make sure you do so safely. Get a support system which is normally discouraged from the abusive partner. Keep your passport, money and a degree of clothing at an alternative safe place if you decide to leave. Remember that the police is there to protect you. If your abusive partner is a police man or woman don’t let that stop you. That extends to powerful positions your partner may hold. I charge individuals, couples and families the same fee. I do not charge separately for eg. 140. for each person. I understand that some therapists are being trained to do so. Though I understand that, my ideology is I am spending the same time so why charge more? Some people need therapy once a week, some in crises need more and there are some I see bi-weekly or monthly. This is always up to the individual or couple. I do see people of the same family individually if everyone is in agreement. This works well systemically. However, if there is no agreement, I respect the wishes. Have a good day. In Toronto it is very hot. What do you think? I still have another topic from Psychology today to talk about and merits its own spot. That will continue next week - "Chasing Chaos". 

Death (Theology notes) continues

Theology of death and dying - individual death - Lane (Vermont) - Western secular culture. Life Expectancy has increased - change in which death occurs - medical postpones. Hospitals keep people alive. Hospice - it is ok to die. Death is moved from family to institutions. From wakes to funeral homes. A lot of commendation around death (sales pitch). Care of dying out of the community. We still are not sure what to do with it. Sophia present in the creation, Holy Spirit and in the Church. Therefore what is she and how is she related? Why is it feminine and what is the significant. These are about past, present and future. He distinguishes prophesy from the apocalyptic. According to Nolan, how do we understand? Drama of our Christian existence past - past prophesy - for a specific context about the future parousia is reference second coming of Christ. Into institution: eg. Black Foot - Street person, 20 years earlier, Church filled - now private rather than community. We have a notion of massive death - WW2, Russians under Stalin, Holocaust, nuclear bomb, Hiroshima. I am going to add Ukraine (not from notes). There is a morbid fascination as apposed to denial of death. Movies are low on Christology eg. Christ of Montreal - hits someone. Common: 1. Death is received as separation of death and soul. Incarnation - bind body and spirit and mind - death is the whole person. He could be our limited - end of time wherever - united with the soul. 2. Death and dying has five stages. 3. Natural - can happen any time. It is going to happen to all - natural/unnatural. 4. Body is diminishing as spirit develops. (Roger Trois Fortaines, S.S. I Do Not Die. Lane - Proper response to death is hope. There is no need to resent youth because they are going to get old. Finality - time to think about death. A human person is towards death. We don’t have a choice to be here. Try holding your breath. There are physical things keeping us alive, saying it is going to be ok because we don’t know. Is there life after death? Doesn’t tell us much about life after death. Death is a decision. Death is expected - caregiving. Death that is unexpected is tragic. Part of human life is looking for fulfillment. Activity of dying, finality of death is expectant. Death is the last of personal history. New relation with the Creator. (What I have in my notes is “keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out”. I am not sure if that is a quote from the prof or whoever, but I think it is a good one, so I placed it here.) A book regarding different religions about deaths is The Meaning of Death by John Boker (no, I didn’t read it). Next portion of theology is Hell and Purgatory. Let’s take a breath and go onto another topic.

Eschatology (theology notes continues)

In Mystical Tradition - May dancing In the Old Testament there are no writings concerning the thereafter. In the Normadic stage the dead were often left behind such as in a cave. Early notion of gathering - newly deceased to the tomb. There is no elaborate theology of death in Israel. It wasn’t something better or less. Book of Amos - Thought body lived in some form but diminished. It was devastating not to have a male heir in Israelite patriarchal society. Sheovl - dead existed in a shadowy sphere; one thing it would do is to embrace life more. No communication with God. Shoevl - gradually becomes hell or heaven. It became a sense of negativity. There are some isolated translations in the Old Testament - Isesha go to heaven. That’s a translation. The dead do not sense resurrection. Psalm 49- salvation for Sheovl. The dormation of Mary - She does not die. Falls asleep and wakes up. Messiah - son of man - inclusive child of humanity. In Daniel, interrupted as St Michael - Patron Saint of the Jews. In that text it symbolizes Jesus coming in salvation. Son of man. People who wrote about Jesus were doing it under threat of death. Latest written in John’s gospel. The main eschatology message of Jesus is reign of God - Kingdom of God. Mark - 1.15 - repent and eyyus - it’s near. 122x Kingdom of God - in scripture. 99 of them are from Symoptics. Reign of God is eschatology and central to Jesus teaching. Bound up with conversion. There is something decisive about the reign of God. Gospel of Mathew - passion in the apocalyptic - the anticipation of the coming of the Lord. Veil ripped in two. Jesus rising from the dead is eschatolozied. God will go to any lengths to save people who want to be saved. Daniel - reference to resurrection. Many will rise to glory, some to eternal punishment. Oscar Romeo - Martyred “If they kill me, I will rise again.” Prolepsis is defined as anticipation. So resurrection of the individual is the anticipation of all. Corn.—If Christ has not been rised from the dead then it has been in vain. Ultimate act of evil people, kill goodness and yet there is still hope for us. Eschatology becomes more popular when close to dramatic change. Hellenism is ancient belief in demons which rose. In Hellenism, Sophia is as interesting. Sophia is wisdom. Sophia is present with God while creating the world. There is a real resurgence - Sophiology - radical Orthodox to pick up world’s vision and God’s vision. Slovic at turn of last century. Slovia - writes anti Christ under siege - 1917 Russia. We still are not sure what to do with it. Sophia is present in the creation, holy spirit and in the Church. Therefore, what is she and how is she related? Why is it feminine and what is the significance of that? These are about past, present and future. He distinguishes prophesy from the apocalyptic. According to Nolan how do we understand this? Drama of our Christian existence past - past prophecy - for a specific context about the future, parousia is reference to second coming of Christ. Will continue theology with Death. Theology of death and dying.

Regarding Canadian veterans approaching 100 years of age.

Dear Silva Redigonda, The Commander Royal Canadian Air Force has invited the RCAF Association to help find veterans approaching their 100th birthday. The goal is to acknowledge their service, and help celebrate achievement of such a significant milestone. If you can help, please reach out to neighbours, friends and family everywhere and find our veterans, and send their details to the Executive Director RCAF Association, Dean Black, at director@airforce.ca or write to RCAF Association PO Box 2460 Stn D Ottawa Ontario K1P 5W6. The information will be passed to the Commander RCAF for special mention as we approach the RCAF's 100th birthday 1 April 2024.

Holy Terror made in heaven

Optimizing Care in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

I attended this webinar 21 May 22 for 1.5 hrs. I can’t really claim the hours because I am not a physician but I attended because as a psychotherapist people come to me with physical complications as well, so it doesn’t hurt to accept an invitation if it helps any of my clients. The speaker was Dr Anita Afzali MD. MPH etc…….She has quite a few interesting initials. She talked about this in detail but I will give you the tid bit version. Crohn’s Disease is a progressive disease. The longer you have it, the more the chance of needing surgery. If you have one surgery, chances again increase for another. She stated, “we need to do a better job.” Up to 80% of patients will have a progressive disease. Colitis is less understood. Dr Afzali suggested never acting on a single elevation. Supplemental vitamins can elevate. Octave Clinical Program U.C. 65 years of age is the risk factor for the drug, 1/3 above age 65. With Upadacitinib there is improvement the next day. For moderate to severe Crohn Disease - Patient - treatment option - choose one biologic medication and be on it for 10 years. One patient (six months ago) had six inches of her stomach removed. Continued biologic after one month off. Tailor and individualize - these are the options. Looking at everything - this is the best treatment choice. High risk - have to do something biological. Low risk - have more time. Week 12 - response to medication. Need more data for combining. That is all the notes I have for now. I have lots to catch up with once again. I don’t know who invited me to attend, but thank you. Any errors written here are my own and not Dr Afzali.