The Miracles of Music and Medicine

I grew up in the Friday Night Lights of West Texas in the 60s and 70s, where sports – especially Midland Lee and Odessa Permian football – were king. A preemie who remained anemically skinny all through my school years, I also suffered from an uncorrected lazy eye, which resulted in no central vision in one eye and no functional depth perception. I could not catch a baseball or football to save my life. I truly was the proverbial kid who was picked last for every sports team. Luckily, at the age of seven I was already developing a talent for music. I started taking piano lessons in second grade and have been playing ever since.

Though I excelled academically in high school, I started at Rice University as a music major, though not on piano. I was fortunate to study with the principal clarinetist with the Houston Symphony. Thankfully, I came to several realizations my freshman year: 1) Though I was talented, I was not good enough on clarinet to make the big-league symphony orchestras and make a good living at it; 2) I found playing the same music over and over again a bit boring; and 3) I really wanted to go to medical school. I loved music (and continue to love it, just not playing the clarinet). But I did not want to make music my life’s work. Now, I have the best of both worlds – I have a wonderful career and I get to enjoy music on the side.

The other evening, I was sitting at my piano practicing an arrangement of “O Holy Night.” My daughter, a classically trained soprano, will be singing this at Christmastime and I have the great joy of being able to accompany her. As I was playing – glancing between the written music and my fingers on the keys, listening to the sound fill the room – I had the distinct realization of what a miracle music is. At its most fundamental, the concept that various tones and rhythms can be combined in a non-random fashion and be pleasing to the ear both for the performer and the listener is a mirror of creation. Add to that the genius of the development of various musical instruments and the complexity of composition and performance and you arrive at what can only be described as a spiritual experience where the music and the musician combine in a true act of worship. 

As a pianist, it never ceases to amaze me that I can look at a splotchy group of dots on a page and translate that into an elegant motion of arms, hands, and ten fingers to make music. And when I can make music with others, the amazement and joy is amplified even more.

In 2014, Curt Fenley and I had the pleasure of bringing together the choirs and musicians of New Beginnings Baptist Church, under the musical leadership of Gregg Garcia, and our First Baptist Church for a combined Christmas program. We were without a music director at the time. That Christmas celebration demonstrated another miracle of music – the ability to bring a diverse group of people together for common good and purpose. 

These two churches continue to make music and worship together at Christmas! Under the excellent leadership of First Baptist’s John Lassitter and New Beginnings’ Gregg Garcia, we are practicing for our eighth annual Christmas celebration, to be held on Sunday, December 5th at First Baptist at 6 PM. Our weekly practices together, which can really be described as jam sessions, transport us all away from the daily grind to a place of unity and worship. I hope everyone will plan to attend this impressive Christmas celebration! Canned goods will be gathered in support of CISC as well.

On a more somber note, we are now approaching a staggering 1 million excess deaths due to COVID-19. Nearly 100,000 of those deaths are since vaccines have been widely available. As a cancer physician, it is mind-blowing that COVID-19 is killing more people than cancer. I am heartsick when I hear people I know and love continue to refuse vaccination because of an unrelenting campaign of lies and misinformation, both about the seriousness of COVID and the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. This paper’s obituary page continues to be filled with tragic and preventable COVID deaths.

In the realm of cancer treatment, hardly a day goes by that patients aren’t clamoring for the latest experimental medicine, desperate to try anything they think will help, regardless of unproven effectiveness and potential harm. How ironic (and senseless) that we have a disease that is killing more people than cancer and people refuse to get a proven safe and effective vaccine. 

I am a rational, logical thinker. That does not mean my heart doesn’t ache when so many are dying for a lie or out of misplaced fear. I tell my reluctant terminal cancer patients who are afraid to take pain medication, once I have counseled them on appropriate use, that there is no virtue and no extra stars in their crown for hurting when they don’t have to. I feel the same way about unnecessary COVID illness and death – there is no virtue there. 

Martin Luther wrote, “My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.” And so, I sit at my piano, calming my spirit and soothing my weary soul. As we enter the holiday season, I urge everyone to appreciate the miracle of music, yes, but also the miracle of modern medicine. Both have the power to heal. Let us thank God for both.

Changing our Focus after the Election

 The 2020 election is over. We’ve made our choice for the top of the ticket and any number of other down ballot races. It may be we still don’t know the outcome of the presidential election when this column is printed. Regardless – hear me now! – life must goes on. 

By life, I mean in areas like work, family, worship, and commerce, of course, but also volunteerism and philanthropy. All of these are people-driven, relationship-driven activities, or in the case of our service to others, neighbor-driven. We are learning that we can be COVID-careful and still be caring. We cannot let fear paralyze us into ignoring the needs of those around us. 

Unfortunately, the recent end-of-the-world rhetoric from both sides of the aisle leading up to this election has been way over-the-top scary. One of the last Gallup polls prior to the election showed that nearly two-thirds of voters are afraid of what will happen if their candidate loses. At the same time, both parties are underwater when it comes to favorability. If the Gallup poll is correct, most of us have been not merely concerned, but downright it’s-going-to-be-the-end-of-the-world-if-we-lose afraid; yet, we don’t trust either party to be the solution. 

It is time to take our gaze off the White House and look around our neighborhoods and at ourselves. We must be the solution we want to see in Angelina County. How about supporting the wonderful businesses and non-profits that serve and minister in our community? Don’t just give money (but do that, please). Volunteer! 

There is no question that our ability to volunteer in person has been hampered during the pandemic. Even so, more than 200 First Baptist Church members, organized by Minister of Missions Walker McWilliams, worked throughout the community last Sunday – socially distanced and masked – in their fourth annual Love Lufkin day.

Folks, hunger hasn’t abated. In fact, during the pandemic food insecurity has gotten much worse according to those on the hunger front lines like Captains Cavon and Jenifer Phillips with the Salvation Army. Prior to COVID-19, they fed on average 100 people a day. Since the pandemic began, they are feeding 350-400 people a day, and at one point it was up to 600 a day. In addition, they have seen an exponential increase in rental assistance requests. These two saints do phenomenal work and would love to have your volunteer help and financial support. You can donate online at https://www.salvationarmytexas.org/lufkin/ or sign up to ring a bell during their Red Kettle Campaign at www.registertoring.com. 

Another local saint that can use all the help she can get is Yulonda Richard at the Christian Information and Service Center (CISC). Prior to the pandemic, CISC was seeing an average of 17,000 people per month. Since March, her mostly elderly volunteer base has had to stay home for their own safety. CISC is only able to be open three days a week now. They are still helping around 7,400 people a month and making deliveries as far away as Zavalla to those who have no other way to get food. And they continue their back-pack buddy program which provides weekend rations for school children all over the district. Yulonda told me, “It takes a village to raise a child but it truly takes the love and kindness of Angelina County to help our neighbors in their hour of need.” Thank her by mailing a check to CISC at 501 S. Angelina St, Lufkin, Texas, 75904.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, let’s not forget the wonderful legacy of the late Rev. Bettie Kennedy and the Community Food Drive, so ably run each year by Bruce Love. In years past, they have distributed 2,000 Thanksgiving meal boxes to families in need. Even with COVID-19 affecting volunteer participation opportunities and logistics, Bruce still plans to distribute 1,000 Thanksgiving meal boxes this year. Send Bruce a Thanksgiving-sized check to Community Food Drive, 1508 S. First St, Lufkin, Texas, 75901.

I still remember as a child reading Corrie ten Boom’s biography, The Hiding Place. Her family’s story of sacrificing their safety (and for some, their lives) to hide Jews during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands was profoundly inspiring. At great risk and despite constant fear, they practiced love. 

Still afraid of what the election results may bring? Let’s stop wringing our own hands and start holding the hands of those around us. The peace that comes with helping others can heal any troubled soul. That is a choice we can all vote for!

Giving Thanks!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but why wait! I want to send a big thank you to Debbie Jackson, my hardworking co-chair for local enrollment for the American Cancer Society’s CPS-3 study, and to all of the CPS-3 Champions who helped get 423 people enrolled in this amazing cancer prevention study. Our enrollment sites – Memorial Health System of East Texas, Power of Pink!, Lufkin Industries, First Assembly, and the C. L. Simon Recreation Center in Nacogdoches – were fantastic.

Thank you to Becca Chance (along with her powerhouse committee), whose leadership and grace under pressure – and under thunder and lightning! – resulted in another successful Cattle Barons Gala. Thank you to Yana Ogletree and Lindsey Mott with Memorial Health System of East Texas, who hosted an amazing 21^st annual Power of Pink! luncheon. Since 1990, breast cancer deaths in the U.S. have decreased by 27%. Much of that is due to education about mammograms and the importance of screening and early detection.

Today is Election Day. I’m thankful for the right to vote! The most important issue on the ballot today is a constitutional amendment on funding the state's water plan. Voter turnout is expected to be light — below 10 percent of all registered voters — because we just don’t get too excited when actual people aren’t on the ballot. But you need to go vote for Proposition 6. The proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to withdraw $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to begin funding the state’s 50-year water plan. The benefits from a long range planning and economic prosperity standpoint far outweigh and possible downside. And frankly, I think it is poetically appropriate to use a rainy day fund for water planning anyway. Be thankful you can vote, and vote YES on Prop 6.

Thursday is Salute to Healthcare, the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce’s awards banquet to recognize and thank outstanding leaders throughout the healthcare sector for making Lufkin and Angelina County a better place to live and work. As a physician, I have considered it my highest honor to serve as Chairman of the Chamber board this year. The healthcare sector is now one-fifth of our local economy and drives more jobs and more shopping, retail, and dining dollars than any other industry. Our community can show their support for the healthcare sector not only by coming to the banquet Thursday night, but also by “voting with your feet” when you choose where to go for healthcare. The reimbursement changes that are being implemented at a national level could easily kill what we have here locally if you don’t make the conscious decision to stay here for your healthcare needs. Like anything else, if you don’t use it, you lose it. I applaud the Chamber for starting this event several years ago and for thanking our physicians, nurses, and so many others who help care for us.

Finally, as a cancer doctor, I deal daily with the highs and lows of cancer – celebration and victory for many, but bad news and eventual death for others. I’m thankful I can “be there” for my patients, walking alongside them, no matter which path they are on. You can, too. Comfort is one of my favorite words. Its Latin roots paint a picture of coming along side with strength. Each of us needs to be a source of strength during the holiday season for those around us who are hurting, needy, and hungry. Join in helping others with Community Food Drive, Angel Tree, or other efforts with your church or in the community. And be thankful!