Metamorphosis: A Surgeon's Faith And The Oath

By Jack Weitzel

Paused momentarily in our garden to ponder a monarch butterfly, I began thinking about the word metamorphosis. Now at seventy years, it seemed my whole life had been a metamorphosis. It means change in form. The more I thought about it, the more I realized the wonderful design and the grandeur of which leaves one speechless. That butterfly was created by the Great Designer, our God. Can you see the metamorphosis in your own life? My occupation just didn't happen by chance. My faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior was providential ordained, not chance. The greatest metamorphosis in our lives will come at its end, and if one is not a believer in Christ, the mystery will play itself out in eternity. It is my prayer and purpose to labor in the fields ripe for harvest and take you with me when I cross that Jordan River. No one else may be praying for you but having been where you are, we will together journey the metamorphosis of God's world. "Ye must be born again" (John 3:3)!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781635751000

Book preview

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Metamorphosis

A Surgeon’s Faith and the Oath

Jack Weitzel,

M.D., FACS, MABS, M.C.Ed.

with

Lin Weitzel

&

Chaplain Richard Fisher

Founder of You Last Forever Ministries

ISBN 978-1-63575-099-7 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64114-551-0 (Hard Cover)

ISBN 978-1-63575-100-0 (Digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Jack Weitzel

Chapter 26 Copyright © 2017 Richard Fisher

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to Melinda my dear wife of 38 years.

My helpmate, the girl of my dreams, my Proverbs 31 wife

The only girl I truly loved.

"The Handy Dandy Book of Surgery:

The World through the Eyes of Melinda."

In the midst of my arduous general surgical residency, Lin miraculously came back into my life. The tender years of heartbreak 15 years prior were still ever fresh in my mind. Two weeks later we were married. I was not about to lose her again. I had a family with Lin and Amie and three more years of residency, the toughest part, ahead. Lin kept a journal during that time and these were her writings during that exciting, though very difficult, time in our lives.

A thank you note to my husband and my partner in life.

The Memory Box Words and pictures

Cards and feelings

Tucked away

In your memory box

Spare me

Such a sad fate L ‘81

What is love? Is it first or last?

Does it keep us warm?

Shall it pay the bills?

Will it make us famous?

But without it,

Who gives a darn! ‘81

Pen to Pad. Will my words fall?

Upon closed minds and hearts?

To see only words and not the soul.

A silent prayer goes with each line,

That not only the words but my

Soul will touch each who reads it. ‘80

Reality Towering above all he perceives

Except his inner self

The man so great in mind and stature

Yet so humble

Dismissing his own greatness

He clings to his inner image

Though he is in reality

All that he has dreamed to be. L9/80

Dreams You had great dreams

And I was naïve.

Rather than to dream with you

I chose to leave

So you could have your dream.

My dreams were small

And every day

The picket fence

Someone home at five

A fool was I

It’s not the dream

That counts, it’s the dreamer

But you came back

For me and dreams of old

They belong to us

Our past and future

They were always there

For us to dream. L 9/80

Moments The nite is slipping by

Morning comes as an intruder.

Our time is so precious.

Oh, to make each moment last an eon

Could not quench my desires

Day is here to steal my love away

To curse the beauty of the sunrise,

But for fifteen years there was no sun to rise

You are my sun and moon and stars

I bless the moments even though few

They are moments longed for

For so many years L 9/80

Reflection. I am a reflection of his love,

He beckons and I appear

He sleeps and I disappear.

I only exist in his eyes and heart. L ’81.

Now and Then. The past mingled with the present

Adds beauty to our relationship

Giving us inner strength.

Loving with the excitement of our teens

But with the appreciation of our thirties

Beautifully blending the times

Making the present perfect. L ‘80.

The Battle. Shall the battle be a silent one?

One of looks and thoughts,

Actions, will that be the key

To unlock all that’s there.

Words, soothing and warm

Or demanding, pleading.

Should it be spontaneous or planned?

The outcome so important

It brings tears to my eyes.

The spirit cries out

To the emptiness.

Hear the whisper of our love

Is it coming from my mind or heart?

Or could it be his heart whispering to mine? L

The Railroad Track The smooth cool steel beneath her feet

The sun is low in the sky,

His arm around her to steady her

As they walk along the track.

The moment is good.

She is plain and her dress is from the Salvation Army

As is his sweater

And his unshaven face old beyond his years,

But at that moment, with the sun low and glowing,

She is a princess and he a prince

And they walk off into the sunset

On a street of silver ribbon. L ‘81

God Fearing Patriot An old man ragged but spry

Riding on his bike.

No three wheeler for him,

His traveling companion

A grand ole dog.

Along the busy road they set a good pace

His sights set on the roads future.

The faithful dog looking unconcerned

As he sits upon his seemingly unsafe perch

And as they drove away

The last thing you saw of him

Was the American Flag waving in the morning breeze

And the back of his bike a sign

That read ‘If you love Jesus, Honk.’ L’81

Our Life Living in smooth mellow harmony

The chatter of our children The turning of the textbook pages

The clatter of dishes

Piano music drifting through the air

Friends laughing and sharing

Quiet moments of sharing love

So sweet that tears come to my eyes

Contemplation of our future is so sweet.

Prayers rise that the years be many. L ‘81

The Handy Dandy Book of Surgery

I am the ‘The Handy Dandy Book of Surgery."

Take me off the shelf each nite

Pour over me with such intent.

Gain from me an inner strength

And new insight

Each time you comb my pages

Something new will appear,

The last time you looked you missed it.

Such a mystery to go over the same book

Only to find that in different circumstance

It can be new and exciting.

Take from my pages what you need

Then put me back on the shelf for another day

But rush home and pull me from my place

Search my pages at your will

I’ll always remain an open book

If you just take me from my shelf L ‘81

I Love You See me, understand me

Not from my eyes

I can’t walk in your life.

But let me affect yours

See new perspectives to your life.

I am another dimension

Without this life is monotone

As if in a white room

No shadows to soften the white

To cream and quiet greys

Just intense white all around

It will blind you.

See me, understand me

Let me be in your other dimension

Let the window open

Let outside light in your white room

To cause beautiful changes

All will not be the same

The shading will take place

The color will change to softer

The same will seem new.

See me, understand me

The man with his hand in the fire

You come to his aid

Relieve his suffering

You don’t sit and cry out in pain with him.

See me, understand me

Let me in to give aid.

Relieve your suffering

Be your diversion

So your white room doesn’t blind you

You must take care for yourself.

You must be well and at peace

To minister health and peace

See me, understand me

I Love You. L’81

The Poet Do you think me mad with all these words? Words, emotions just pouring from me.

In the quiet of the night the music plays. The mind, on and on it goes, a never ending thought. What is it with this brain of mine, am I possessed…? It is not me who wants to speak, the spirit of a long dead poet has taken my will.

At night I feel the urge to leave our bed of love and transcribe all the feelings of each moment. Sometimes it comes so fast from the source my hand cannot keep up.

What am I to do with all of this! Has all of this been locked up inside of me? Perhaps in time I will get my fill and run out of feelings and words.

Ideas, ideas are constant Oh, please help me, I am as an alcoholic once I start I cannot stop. I even go without sleep for this passion of the Poet. Waste sleep on this? No one knows or wants to know, I am cursed by the Poet.

Mind stop! Whoever you are let me be, it is almost morning. I want my release from this wicked union. It drains me. When shall you be satisfied?

I cannot do this great work that you seem to be pushing for. Its not within my grasp. Leave I beg of you. Let me have my will, go to the grave where you belong, for with my life you will not work out your frustrated needs! You had your chance in your life. You cannot expect me to succeed for you now. I am weak willed and have not the determination required, My body is tired, Please leave me now!

I have finished a book for my love and I am satisfied, but you expect a novel of me. Is that what you want, find it elsewhere I have things of this world to take care of How can you torture me this way? With tantalizing dreams of grandeur that are never to be mine or yours. What gain will come to you even if I could, through you create a work that would titillate the world’s spirit and soothe the lonely and bitter cold nights, you would never have the fame or credit! Who would believe you, the long dead poet could bridge the gap of life and death to transcribe the work you so longed for in your life. I entreat you, leave me in peace. I am only a mortal and you are…the Poet. L’7

With Love and Prayers Please soften the soul

Replace the discontent with peace,

Let love consume

Let love guide

The rewards are great

The once felt, once was, will flow back

As does the tide at God’s hand

So will love with God’s help. L’81

Thank you for quiet nites and happy days

For smiles and laughter

That echoes throughout the years

For easy living that’s so rare

It’s a real joy being yours. L ‘81

Sweet Smiles of Love A caring touch

The smile of Love

That touches the heart,

Enters the soul

And becomes a part

Of each and every day

That make the day sunny

Or grey if that smiles

Not there, that sweet smile of love L ‘81

Dear Jack There is no way that I can express how proud I am of you. The achievements are so great and yet you have remained a fine person.

Your heart is in the right place when it comes to medicine it’s in the care and love of your patients and not in the glory of the M.D. I thank God for you and the way you are. With this small token to have you remember always that the Lord is always with you and that is why you have come through all of your hard times to be the great person you are and the best surgeon ever. And thank you for all the love you have given me and Amie. You are a true blessing in this life

With all my love, L

Ivory Maiden of Indian Rocks At sunset

The lover comes

Dressed in mauve and lavender.

Lavishing rare gifts at the maiden’s feet.

He seduces her with each caress

Soothing her body

Hot from the day’s sun

Each kiss washes over her

Leaving her skin glistening

In the now moonlit night

The moon as candle light

Enhancing the lovemaking

The lover now dressed in elegant white

The ivory maiden dressed in sparkling shells,

They love throughout the nite

At the shore each nite you can hear their sighs of

Love as the lover embraces

The Ivory Maiden L 5 ‘81

My thoughts of you

Sweet tasting to my soul

Gently touching my mind

That stirs my body

Expressions so inadequate

For so perfect a love

Thank you for touching me, L ‘81

The Game of Chess First he explained it to me

Then he showed me how

He helped me win once

And now he watches my mind

And I his.

To think a game of Chess could be

The sexiest game for two

That mind of his has enticed me,

Those eyes, I want him so

But first let’s play Chess

And tease me some more. L ‘80

My Friend My time is near

My time to do my own thing.

I’ve anticipated, planned and dreamed

About my finest hour

I pray I’ll not fail

And waste my dreams

Time to create and grow.

Don’t let me waste it

Help me make my dream

A reality to enjoy

For all the years

It’s been my friend

A companion in the night.

Let me be worthy

Of my dear friend

Help make the tedious

Bearable from day to day

Of never ending sameness

My friend of past and present

And soon to be my challenge

To make me or break me

To disappoint me

Or make me shine

I’ll try to do you proud

My dear friend. L 2-81

July 3, 1982 3rd Anniversary Three years so beautiful

The first two more apart than together

But always together in spirit.

The third living a quote normal life

And it wasn’t normal at all

You make living special

Day in day out

I thank you for making me so happy

Living loving with you is a gift

I’ll treasure all my days

Being so blessed is something

That I’ll never take for granted

Those feelings will still be the same

On our 50th Anniversary, my love. L

Daddy It took a long time but finally

It happened we had our little

Baby-You are a Daddy!!

Taylor is so lucky to have you

You love her so and it shows

In your eyes and in your smiles

There is a change in you but it’s a great change you were

Perfect before but since Taylor

You seem complete, the final

Touch on a beautiful painting. Our sharing in our children’s lives

As they grow we will grow all

The more close as a family.

And we will be so close as

Husband and wife, I must

Thank you for our beautiful life Love, L

Happy Father’s Day 6-15-86

Dear Daddy of Taylor and Amie and husband of mine.

If you’ll notice the last time the

Pen met the Paper was not long

After the birth of sweet Jacklin Taylor

Being parents takes some-time

That make the days go by so fast,

It doesn’t seem possible we held her

For the 1st time just 3 ½ yrs. ago.

We want to honor you for being so special that

God Planned For you to be Taylor’s and Amie’s father-

To place your special input

You and their lives to make them

Know the Lord and trust in Him as Lord of their life.

To think He knew all the time

What a special father you would be and

How you would be and how you’d be their example

Of how you love the Lord and He is in your life.

We just praise God for You and

Thank you for putting

The Lord the head of your life

Which makes you the

Best Daddy God Could Design.

We love you Lin, Amie and Taylor.

PS Hope you’ve enjoyed your shoes!

Preface

Recently, thinking of death and beyond, I’ve felt that there are stages of life in man just as there are stages in nature. Particularly thinking of the metamorphosis of the caterpillar and butterfly. At the pupa stage of development, there is a chrysalis, a stopping off place hidden from the eye where a metamorphosis is occurring. There is a time in the breakdown of the larvae that within the chrysalis, it is dying. A point is reached in the very middle of the process where the miracle of life is unfolding, even that of insects.

In the human, the fetus, being so vulnerable in today’s world, is in its chrysalis in the womb where the miracle is taking place. Something we can’t see or understand. God’s Creativeness is seen throughout all of life; consistency is in His plan. All animals and man seem to come from the same basic mold—two eyes, a sense of hearing and smell, a digestive system, a circulatory system,