Triads

A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box and the cartridge box.

Abolitionist Frederick Douglas

By Dr. Jim Ferguson

Years ago, I wrote about my affinity for the number three. No, I am not a numerologist, but I see the wisdom in this grouping. Take, for instance, choices. For me, two choices seem inadequate; whereas four or more seem confusing.

Becky and I have been married almost 48 years, and we know each other pretty well. Nonetheless, I once told her that if there is ever a rupture in the space-time continuum and we find ourselves on The Newlywed Game and she is asked, how many might Jim choose, say "three" for me!

I am philosophically and theologically trinitarian. After two millennia of reflection, we moderns comprehend the triune nature of God. However, it took the early church 300 years to grasp the concept that God has three manifestations of one entity. There is God, the Father and Creator, Jesus Christ, God's earthly manifestation and our savior, and there is God's Spirit which resides in each of us.

The logic of a Creative Force responsible for the Universe is far more logical than the suppositions of a spontaneous universe. And I perceive the Spirit's influences on my conscience. Jesus lived among us as a man making the Trinity tangible. Analogous to three-in-one is the notion that I have a physical brain, but I also possess an intangible mind of thought. And I have a physical three-dimensional body, as well as a non-anatomical spiritual essence or soul.

C. S. Lewis described his famous "trilemma." Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic or Lord. Since there is no support for the first two, like Lewis, I claim Jesus as my Lord.

Groups of three are all around us. There is a three-beat cadence in our state's name, as well as our northern neighbor, Kentucky, although the accented syllables are different. I've used this concept to teach countless young doctors the bedside art of diagnosing heart failure. If you're trained properly with a stethoscope, you can hear heartbeat sounds as Ken-tuck-y which reflect a weakened and failing heart muscle. However, if the cadence is Ten-nes-see, a thickened heart muscle which cannot fill properly is the cause of the failing heart. And the treatments are drastically different.

My point is not to teach clinical medicine. However, I do challenge the notion that you can teach doctors how to be doctors with diversity training or by remote interface. For many years I taught a course at Lincoln Memorial University for physician assistants working to achieve advanced doctoral training. I had students all over the country taking my Zoom course in clinical applications of medicine. These were experienced and motivated "physician extenders" who already had their Masters level PA degrees. But how can you teach someone the art of using a stethoscope or how to examine liver size by Zoom?

I am not a "nattering, nabob of negativity." I have worked with excellent nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Furthermore, an MD after your name does not guarantee bedside manner, rapport with family, competency or compassion. However, the rigors of the medical school selection process, the post-doctoral training and the experience of physicians are often superior to physician extenders. Common and straightforward medical problems are well within the scope of non physicians. The problem arises when things are not straightforward and additional experience and training is needed. Enough said from an old-school doc.

Years ago, I was roped into a class on ballroom dancing. It wasn't pretty, but I learned about the triple beat of cha-cha-cha and the foxtrot. I also learned about the three-beat waltz by practicing the ≠ Tennessee Waltz. And most importantly, I later managed to passably perform the Father-Daughter dance with my girls at their weddings without stepping on toes, dresses or embarrassing them.

Wisdom is the recognition of knowing how little you actually know. When I was accepted into medical school, I thought highly of myself, until I realized everyone there was pretty sharp. Then, after graduating I felt assured, until I was an intern and realized how little I knew. The same experience followed me into internal medicine residency and dogged me throughout my career. Perhaps that was a good thing because I never became complacent.

The problem is Joe Biden no longer knows how little he knows. Early in Alzheimer's disease patients realize that they are having problems. But during intermediate stages, patients no longer appreciate their problematic debility.

The frontal lobes of the brain sit above your eyebrows, behind your forehead. This area is where executive functions are centered which include "self-control, working memory, and mental flexibility."

The forehead in a human is prominent because of the large frontal lobes of the human brain. Cats are good at being cats, but they don't perform executive functions. And if you've ever petted a cat, you will notice they do not have prominent foreheads. I am not a neuroanatomist, but even a dog has more forehead and frontal lobe mass than a cat.

The executive functions associated with a prominent forebrain are attacked in Alzheimer's disease. Executive functions allow people to do things like "follow directions, focus, control emotions/urges and attain goals."

You would have to be as dishonest as Joe Biden to deny the obvious signs of his decline. His recent bizarre behavior with transexual activists and Eva Longoria at the White House, statements that Hunter Biden is the smartest man he knows, his plans to build a railroad across the Indian Ocean and his blessing, "God save the Queen," are just a few examples of his troubling and progressive debility. As a human being, I have pity for Joe. But as POTUS he is held to a higher standard. And I have come to disrespect him because of his dishonesty and malicious misuse of governmental power.

There are many Biblical examples of three. Perhaps my favorite is the 13th verse of the 13th chapter of Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. There he writes of three theological virtues: faith, hope and love.

I have faith in the American people and I hope that We the People will wise up, step up and speak up. The love of country must reestablish the three co-equal branches of our government so recently and overtly corrupted.

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