tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post7717945955226369110..comments2024-01-04T09:23:45.843-05:00Comments on Watching the Lights Go Out: PrivilegeDavid Hilfiker http://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-32492158735270605652013-07-31T00:25:41.406-04:002013-07-31T00:25:41.406-04:00I have wondered, reading through your blog, if th...I have wondered, reading through your blog, if the one thing that is more valuable than money or being socially entitled will cause you more problems than anything else. You are a doctor. Doctors have always been the diagnosers, the ones who tell us what to do to get better. We listen to doctors. They have a lot of education and experience. I have wondered if that will be the most difficult for you, the feeling of not being in control, not the one people listen to. I remember in the 80s, a doctor would walk into the nurse's station and a nurse would stand up and chart in the corner standing so a doctor could sit down (remember those days?). By the mid 90s, a Doctor would walk in and say, "where is a chair for me to sit?" And a nurse would say, without looking up, I think you can find one down the hall in 214." I used to take care of a gentleman that had been a pharmacist, and he could read the ingredients on any drink bottle and knew what they were. he had a hard time with people not willing to listen to him. Just a thought, as things change, I guess none of us know how we will respond. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02560132598266108913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-77676100232412441142013-07-30T23:08:55.469-04:002013-07-30T23:08:55.469-04:00The other half of this, of course, is that we are ...The other half of this, of course, is that we are always invited downward, even if we don't have Alzheimer's. For me the most important has been face-to-face relationships with those who don't have my privilege.David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-26696006862657181652013-07-30T23:00:25.818-04:002013-07-30T23:00:25.818-04:00Yes, to the extent that I cannot let go of my expe...Yes, to the extent that I cannot let go of my expectations, of what I feel I deserve, of who I am ... to that extent I will be very unhappy.David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-11449046708909800962013-07-30T22:58:19.372-04:002013-07-30T22:58:19.372-04:00*Chuckles quietly* Thanks to mental illness I'...*Chuckles quietly* Thanks to mental illness I've been homeless between 3 to 5 times (I've lost track of decades due to lack of treatment, Sir) but there is one bright light at the end of this tunnel- and its something YOU need to be aware of for your own mental health.<br />If you're on the bottom, and you've never gotten up very high and you fall its no big deal because you weren't that high to start with.<br />In your case you were well within the top 1%- and the social fall from such a great height to the bottom will possibly make you very despondent and depressed and give you a feeling of helplessness. So for your own mental health and well being I suggest you memorize the hardest verse in the bible.<br />1st Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 18- "In all things give thanks, for this is the will of the Lord your God"<br />I am convinced this is the hardest verse in the bible to live by- when its wet, you're homeless and uncertain what to do next and then you think about those Christians who sang while being executed you cannot help but wonder "Are you people insane?"<br />Go in peace, go with my blessing David- that and $5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at a restaurant...;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-11622342560983790582013-07-30T19:58:01.420-04:002013-07-30T19:58:01.420-04:00Dr. Hilfiker, You have expressed such a special pe...Dr. Hilfiker, You have expressed such a special perspective on exclusion and privilege and you articulate it in a way that is so, so real and truthful and yes, very sad for all of us as a people. Thank you for sharing your journey with us and the unique insights that are helping us all to appreciate what we have, who we are and, with your help, who we might become. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10618602823276251201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-17840232679905276052013-07-30T16:38:59.987-04:002013-07-30T16:38:59.987-04:00You inspire me to be authentic at every stage of l...You inspire me to be authentic at every stage of life. Thank you for your generosity in sharing these experiences and the lessons learned. Blessings to you and yours.itsalwayssomethinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04692756966672836679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-37739090129053293872013-07-30T15:28:25.267-04:002013-07-30T15:28:25.267-04:00Dr. Hilfiker, I cannot thank you enough for this b...Dr. Hilfiker, I cannot thank you enough for this blog and for this post. I am exactly your age and am now dealing with a 92 year old mom who is sliding away with dementia. I have deep-seated fears about my own future based upon what I am experiencing on this journey with her. Thank you for pointing out that there is joy and happiness to be found even in the midst of this long, slow good-bye. Your bravery, your articulate writing style and your openness have meant so much to me. This post is yet another example of your willingness to 'go there' on all kinds of important topics. I am grateful for your presence here. (I am a retired pastor and spiritual director as well as a blog and essay writer. I have chronicled some of my experience with my mom at www.deeperstory.com/familydianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11991172981000479793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-71238456593535656502013-07-30T15:03:37.869-04:002013-07-30T15:03:37.869-04:00This is a beautifully written post, thank you!This is a beautifully written post, thank you!TCsCatBLOGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035386578055306345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-25691664067106848082013-07-30T06:49:29.535-04:002013-07-30T06:49:29.535-04:00Thank you for this post.
As I read it, the word t...Thank you for this post.<br /><br />As I read it, the word that came to me was 'kenosis', a call that some of us receive. Your life seems to be emptied of some of what it was made of. You express it beautifully.<br /><br />Blessings and prayers.claire bangasserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12380558962103134334noreply@blogger.com