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Don Locke: Lookin Thru Bifocals

If you can stay “healthy as a horse”, don’t get “sick as a dog.” Twenty years ago the average patient stayed in the hospital for more than one week. Today the average length of a hospital stay is less than five days. 

In 1980 for childbirth, women stayed in the hospital almost 4 days. Now, it’s 2.6 days. In the same time frame, heart attack patients stayed from 12.6 days to just 5.5. 

Now it’s almost come down to sticking your head in a drive-by window and having brain surgery. Outpatient surgery has climbed from 16 percent in 1980 to 63 percent today. Why the change in fundamental hospital care? Or in country boy jargon, “what kind a deal is ‘ise? 

The deal of course is money. Health insurance companies pressure hospitals to discharge patients soon as possible to cut costs. 

Visit any large city; the tallest buildings you will see will likely be insurance buildings (American Hospital Association, and The National Care for Health Service). 

Folks throw the word “Hell” around lightly without a care or a thought. Here are some zingers: 

Funny as hell; cold as hell; lucky as hell. Country music singer Garth Brooks: “I just thank the Lord. He’s done a hell of a lot for me.” And saving the best till last: Sexy as hell. 

Let’s analyze: Funny as hell- ask the rich man in Luke 16:19-24.

Cold as hell- the same rich man in hell: “I am tormented in the flames”. 

Lucky as hell- “No escape, my luck has run out” (the rich man). 

He’s done a hell of a lot for me. The Bible tells us “all good and perfect gifts come from above.” This would include favors I suspect. And, sexy as hell. Luke 16:19 make no mention of pleasantries in hell… in the context of marriage of course. Sex in Heaven?  The Bible is not real clear on this. It does mention, regarding Heaven, “things we have not dreamed of” C.S. Lewis: “Perhaps for reproduction on earth, can become only heavenly pleasure.” Cold as hell? Surely this is a Paradox, or a Oxymoron. Take your pick.

Kindest regards…..

 
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