Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Double Blessings on the World
Double Blessings on the World
Aug 31, 2026 7:24 PM

When my kids go to the pediatrician it is a mad house while we are waiting for the doctor e in. All three of my kids are doing the random dance. The oldest is behind the bench inspecting the lamp, the youngest is hopping from one book to another spread out on the floor and the boy is using the bean bag chair as a fort.

When the es in, they all start talking to her at once as if she had six ears and three brains all equally engaged in each of their conversations. I am not totally convinced that this isn’t the case. One by one she checks their eyes, their ears, their walks, asks questions, listens intently and pletely at home in the din of the kid-noise.

es the blessed moments when she checks their hearts. She puts the stethoscope into her ears, gently rests the chestpiece on their bodies and closes her eyes. The room goes silent. Everyone is entranced by the peace that fills the room, and I always wonder what is going on in that moment. Is she counting? What is she listening for?

Recently, we did an interview with Dr. Pam Casson, pediatrician, asking her about what being On Call in Culture meant for her. In it she explained these special moments in the office. I was at once touched but unsurprised at what she shared. In those moments, she was talking to God. Of course she was! It made so much sense. She said that she asks God for two things: to capture that child’s heart and to allow her to hear any abnormalities.

We have been talking about how when we do our work well we are blessing the world. But in these moments, Pam has discovered how to offer a double blessing to the world God has put her in. Not only is she treating or maintaining the health of her patients, but she is looking toward their spiritual health as well.

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Call for Universal Preschool Misguided
Michigan’s State Board of Education is now calling for expanded funding to pay for universal preschool for 3- and 4-year olds. One could hope that this news story slipped through a worm hole from a parallel universe in which Michigan has a budget surplus, where businesses are flocking to the state to take advantage of a business-friendly tax structure, and where government-funded preschool strongly correlates with future educational performance. But no, the es from our universe, where the state of...
Acton’s ‘The Call of the Entrepreneur’ premieres in Italian Diocese of La Spezia
The original Article Who’s Responding: “The Call of the Entrepreneur” in La Spezia was written by Francesco Bellotti for the Italian newspaper “Avvenire” (translation and editorial contributions from Michael Severance): Kishore Jayabalan responds to questions in the industrial city of La Spezia “The Christian entrepreneur is not the person who goes about wealth creation all week and then leaves a nice offering at church on Sunday. Rather, he is exemplified by the type of person who gives the best of...
Rev. Sirico: Catholics vs. Gov. Walker?
On CatholicVote.org, Kathryn Jean Lopez interviews Rev. Robert A. Sirico about various bishops’ statements concerning the budget battles and labor union protests in Wisconsin: Kathryn Jean Lopez: The archbishop of Milwaukee issued a letter a few days ago on the rights of workers, noting that “hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers.” Does that mean he is on the side of Democratic lawmakers who are hiding out on...
Voluntary Association and Union Politics
In light of the recent events in Wisconsin and the statement published by the state’s Catholic bishops, we’re republishing this 2005 article from the Acton Commentary archives: Voluntary Association and Union Politics By Charles W. Baird The 50th anniversary celebration of the AFL-CIO in Chicago has been marred by internecine strife. The Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have broken away from the Federation, reducing its membership by 25 percent. At least three other unions – UNITE-HERE (textile...
Unions and Catholic Social Teaching
The issue of labor unions has recently been a cause of much heated debate. Throughout the United States, there are many states facing budget shortfalls and are trying to rejuvenate struggling economies. State expenses are being slashed, and union benefits are just one of many expenditures on the cutting block for many states. Recent events in Wisconsin have caused many people to engage in the debate of union benefits, and many more are still left wondering where to stand on...
Does Ethanol Production Promote Sound Stewardship?
After taking a look yesterday at economic consequences of rising food prices along with the affects ethanol may have on the rising food prices, a moral perspective must also be taken into account. As I stated in my previous blog post, the World Bank says rising food prices have pushed 44 million more people into extreme poverty in developing countries since June of 2010, and are having an adverse effect on people around the globe. The increase in demand and...
Are Rising Food Prices a Result of the Ethanol Subsidy?
Economies across the globe are struggling, and rising food prices are not going to make life any easier. The Acton Institute raised concern for rising food prices, especially corn, in 2007, when Ray Nothstine wrote mentary on, and at the time, record prices for corn, resulting in revolts in Mexico due to rapidly rising prices for tortillas. mentary brought to light unintended consequences of ethanol and its subsidy, including rising food prices. And again, with food prices on the rise,...
Rev. Sirico: Church Changes How it Deals with Organized Labor
Rev. Robert A. Sirico is interviewed by Joan Frawley Desmond, a reporter for National Catholic Register, in today’s paper: Father Robert Sirico, president of the Acton Institute, a free-market think tank, suggested that the bishops’ response to the union protests marked a new era of episcopal leadership and a more nuanced understanding of economic realities in the United States. He noted that both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had sought to reorient an overly politicized approach to...
Kuyper on Secularism
From Abraham Kuyper’s opening address to the First Social Congress in Amsterdam, November 9, 1891, The Problem of Poverty: The first article of any social program that will bring salvation, therefore, must remain: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” This article is today being erased. Men refuse any longer to recognize God in statecraft. This is not because they do not find the poetry of religion charming, but because whoever says I believe in...
Acton Institute is Hiring New Talent
I am Acton’s Web Coordinator, which means I’m behind the scenes making sure everything works in regards to our web presence and munications. My first post to the Acton PowerBlog brings good news, which is to make everyone looking for a career or internship aware that Acton is hiring talented individuals to fill several positions. We have a very good internship program that runs primarily during the summer. Interns help out departments including programs, media, publications munications. You might be...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved