It is not an intelligent idea to ignore pain. If you have pain, or had pain in the past – physically, mentally, emotionally, maritally, financially, or any other ‘-ally,’ - there is a reason. Be smart and deal with it. Readers, ARE YOU LISTENING TO WHAT YOU ARE READING? Please take all this to heart. Pain is part of God’s Warning System that something is beginning to malfunction and will most likely worsen if it is ignored. Don’t make the mistake of being too busy to think about it. Too proud to try to make changes. Too scared of what you might be told if you go to a professional. And if you have already been given a diagnosis and have been told what needs to be done to prevent worsening future problems – don’t ignore the advice. Make the changes needed. In whatever area that is hurting. Because it is very unlikely that the problem will just magically go away. To the contrary, pain ignored is simply an invitation from you to an existing problem, “Go ahead, take over an even bigger part of my life and make yourself at home! In fact, you can live here as long as you want, I won’t do a thing about it.” And if you have only just begun to glimpse faint flashes of a warning light that something is wrong in your life, don’t be foolish and wait for the real pain to hit. Be smart. Get ahead of it. Investigate and try to get a jump on whatever has begun to say, “I’m almost completely thru your door, and when I do, you better believe that I’m gonna make my presence known, and I’m here to stay for a while.” Painful issues of any kind usually require making some adjustments, a different approach to living. Some examples; Your hurting marriage won’t likely heal with simply the passing of time. A physical problem most usually doesn’t just disappear on its own with no attention from you. Your empty bank account probably won’t recover unless you adjust your spending habits. And if it is depression or an anger issue that is nagging at you, it has roots that rarely disintegrate alone. I’ll write it again. If you have pain, or had pain in the past – physically, mentally, emotionally, maritally, financially, or any other ‘-ally,’ - there is a reason. And it is not a smart idea to ignore that pain. Interestingly, the expansion of that word, ‘ignore’ is the word ‘ignorance.’ And either meaning of that word ignorance, whether used as ‘innocently unknowing’, or as ‘willfully and stupidly turning your back’ means you probably stand to get hurt in the long run, either way.

The Sandra H. Friedman Liverman Memorial Scholarship was recently endowed with the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation by Liverman’s husband, Dr. Steven Liverman of Wesson. The scholarship will benefit a student on the Wesson campus wishing to pursue an education in nursing or medicine. Sandra Liverman grew up in a “medical family” in which her father was a general practice physician in Wesson for 57 years and her mother and maternal grandmother were nurses. She married Dr. Steven Liverman, a family practice physician who served the Wesson community for 38 years before retiring in December 2021. Liverman attended Wesson Attendance Center and graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School. She later attended Co-Lin, Millsaps College and the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1973. She also attended Jackson State University, New York University, and University of Mississippi School of Nursing before graduating from Mississippi College with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1978. She took great interest in psychiatric nursing, patients’ rights, and curbing domestic violence. Liverman was also a strong advocate for children’s rights and welfare, and civil rights. She was a breastfeeding advocate and became a La Leche League Leader in Wesson and Brookhaven. Always an avid reader with a penchant for books, education, and lifelong learning, Liverman homeschooled her two daughters, Dove Deustachio and Leaf Maggio, now grown with four children. “We are thrilled to offer this new scholarship to our students in memory of Sandra,” Co-Lin Foundation Executive Director Angela Furr says. “The Livermans have such a long legacy of meeting healthcare needs in Wesson, and that will continue through this scholarship.” Contributions to the Sandra H. Friedman Liverman Memorial Scholarship can be mailed to the Co-Lin Foundation at P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191, or made online at https://www.colin.edu/alumni-foundation/give-now/.

Today the Mississippi State Board of Health announces that Daniel P. Edney, MD, FACP, FASAM, will be appointed the new State Health Officer of the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), effective August 1, 2022. Edney currently holds the position of Deputy State Health Officer. He initially joined MSDH as chief medical officer and regional health officer for the Central Public Health Region in February 2021. According to State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Edney has been a tremendous asset since he joined the Health Department, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Among his many contributions, Dr. Edney worked with various organizations and partnerships to explain COVID and answer questions. He has also worked with providers to sign them up to give COVID vaccine, and he fielded questions from providers about allergies and other complications related to the administration of the vaccine,” said Dobbs. Edney appreciates the time he has spent working closely with Dobbs. “Following in the footsteps of Dr. Dobbs, I, too, hope to serve as a catalyst for change – especially with infant and maternal mortality, the opioids battle plaguing the country right now, and moving the needle in preventive health and health equity issues,” Edney added. A summa cum laude graduate of both William Carey University and the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Edney is a board-certified General Internist with subspecialty board certification in Addiction Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia. He has practiced general primary care internal medicine in Vicksburg since 1991 and has worked actively in the field of addiction medicine since 2013. He currently serves as an addiction medicine specialist for various inpatient residential facilities and outpatient programs in the state and has a private practice at the Medical Associates of Vicksburg. Edney is a former president of the Mississippi State Medical Association and currently serves as a board member on the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure. He has also served as a fellow and laureate for the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Physicians and a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Edney will be replacing Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH, who is resigning from his position at the end of July. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and the Department of Agriculture and Commerce will host a Rebuilding the Walls of Safety crime summit in the Mississippi Trade Mart at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds on Wednesday, June 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Members of the community, law enforcement, churches, businesses, community organizations, legislative officials, representatives of the judicial system and all those interested in fighting crime in Jackson are invited to attend. Those attending will have the opportunity to hear from statewide officials, county and city officials, and members of state and local law enforcement including representatives from the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office and the Jackson Police Department. In addition, Commissioner Gipson will give an update regarding plans to soon establish a multi-agency Crime Command Center in the historic Mississippi Guard Armory located on the Fairgrounds near the State Capitol and downtown office buildings. The crime summit will begin with a general session followed by breakout sessions where participants will have the opportunity to discuss and share solutions for curbing crime in the capital city. “We look forward to hosting the Rebuilding the Walls of Safety crime summit. This will provide an opportunity to bring together community members, leaders and law enforcement to discuss various ideas and ways we can all work together to deter crime in the capital city and bring criminals to justice, and in doing so, to restore peace and safety in this area of the state,” said Commissioner Gipson. The event is free to the public. Registration is required. Participants can register online at https://www.mdac.ms.gov/CrimeSummit/register/ or call (601) 359-1179. Please register by June 1, 2022. Visit https://www.mdac.ms.gov/CrimeSummit/ for more information.

By Kara Kimbrough Memorial Day officially begins Friday at 5 p.m., signaling the start of outdoor grilling, eating and entertaining season. Whether it’s at a backyard cookout, family reunion or long-weekend-vacation, food served outdoors just tastes better. Finding the right recipes to celebrate the holiday is second only in importance to a few coveted days off. I’ve included a few of my favorite summer recipes, with an emphasis on quick and easy. First, every Memorial Day weekend worth its salt includes something…anything…grilled. Besides burgers, dogs and ribs, teriyaki steaks are the perfect meat to throw on the grill at some point during the weekend. It’s hard to find a more versatile, portable and delicious summer side dish than pasta salad. I’m passing only a slightly different recipe from a Gulf Coast friend by way of New Orleans. This weekend is not the time to count carbs, so a shortcut version of stuffed baked potatoes is also included. As I mentioned recently, I’ve never met a dip or spread that didn’t meet with my approval. I recently found a recipe for a vegetable-centric dip to serve with crudites or chips. It’s vibrant green color and tangy taste will enliven any picnic table. An easy, go-to summer dessert, lemonade pie, can be baked without a lot of fuss when the last-minute decision to fire up the grill and invite the neighbors over is made. It’s as valuable as an invitation to a friend’s beach condo. Happy Memorial Day! Teriyaki Steaks Marinate a thick cut of sirloin (or your favorite cut) steak for several hours (or shorter if you wait until last minute) in the refrigerator with: 1/2 bottle of teriyaki steak sauce Juice of 2-3 lemons Salt and pepper Remove from refrigerator and top with 1-2 tablespoons of butter. Grill or broil to desired level of doneness. Let meat rest before slicing. Recipe doubles easily. Quick Twice-Baked Potatoes Bake two large baking potatoes. Scoop out inside, leaving a small border of potato around edges. Add to the potato filling: Small container of French Onion Dip 1-2 tablespoons of butter Stir well and return to potato skins. Place under the broiler for a few minutes until insides are heated through; don't overcook. Feel free to add any other favorite toppings (grated cheese, sour cream, bacon, etc.) Big Easy Spicy Potato Salad 5 pounds baby red potatoes (scrub and rinse well if planning to leave skin on) ¼ cup shrimp and crab boil (dry mix) 1-1/2 cups celery, finely chopped 1 cup white onions, finely grated 1-1/2 tablespoons Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning 2 cups mayonnaise ½ cup Creole mustard Boil potatoes in large pot of water, adding shrimp and crab boil at the beginning. Boil until potatoes are fork-tender; drain and completely cool. Peel potatoes (or serve with skin on if you prefer), then cut into large chunks. Toss together potatoes, vegetables and seasoning. Last, stir in mayonnaise and mustard. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Tangy Dip for Vegetables or Chips ½ cup fresh parsley ½ cup fresh chives ½ cup fresh tarragon 1 cup sour cream 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (to taste) Juice of one lemon, seeds removed 1 teaspoon minced garlic Salt and ground black pepper ½ cup mayonnaise Put first 8 ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth. Remove all ingredients and place in a large bowl. Stir in mayonnaise until blended. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving. Frozen Lemonade Pie 1 (9" round) prepared graham cracker crust 1/2 of a package of 8-ounce cream cheese, room temperature 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 6-ounce frozen lemonade concentrate, partially thawed Zest of a lemon 8-ounce container Cool Whip Mix cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and lemonade concentrate and beat until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add in the zest and beat until combined. (Note: a hand-held mixer is best for this recipe). Slowly fold in Cool Whip until fully incorporated. Pour the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth out the top. Freeze for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight, before serving. Store leftover pie in the freezer, cutting slices from slightly thawed pie. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

With Memorial Day marking the unofficial start of vacation season, families and friends head to swimming pools, lakes, and beaches for fun in and on the water. AMR medics urge safety in all water sports. Jim Pollard, AMR spokesman, said, “A few simple but critical steps can reduce the risk of a tragedy while swimming, diving and boating.” He advised Adults and children should know how to swim. Teach children water safety rules. Learn CPR. Never swim alone. Don’t overestimate your swimming skill. Use only approved flotation devices. Do not use toys or inner tubes. Swim only in designated areas. Watch small children closely near all bodies of water, even small pools. Keep a cell phone close. Never dive into rivers or lakes. Each year, nearly 3,000 people in the United States are paralyzed from diving into shallow water or hitting an unseen water obstruction. To avoid entrapment in pools, keep children away from drains, pipes and other openings. Keep an eye on everyone in your party. Drownings can happen quickly and without much sound or movement. Be mindful that ocean currents can carry people out to sea quickly. If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shoreline until you can safely reach the beach. Never go swimming, boating or diving when you are drinking alcohol. Around any body of water, if your party is drinking, designate a sober person to monitor everyone without distraction. If someone in the water is in distress, call a lifeguard if one is present or call 911 immediately. Enter the water to help a person in distress only as a last resort. Stay on a secure base such as a pier or boat. Extend a pole or oar to the person, throw a line of rope or life ring or reach out to the person from your secure base. If you’re the person in distress in the water, yell for help, splash and wave your arms. On boats, insist that everyone wears a life jacket or personal flotation device. Take a boating safety course. Check the weather forecast before launching your boat. If severe weather develops while you are on the water, get to shore immediately. Never stand in a small boat, canoe or similar watercraft. Don’t overload your boat. Operate your boat with safety foremost in mind. Never let children take the wheel and pilot the watercraft, not even “jet skis.” Tell a relative or friend where you’re going and when you’ll return. About American Medical Response (AMR) Serving 19 counties, AMR companies comprise Mississippi’s busiest ambulance service. American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR also provides fire services through Rural Metro Fire Department, www.ruralmetrofire.com. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram. AMR is part of the Global Medical Response family. Global Medical Response, Inc. is the industry-leading air, ground, specialty and residential fire services, and managed medical transportation organization. With more than 35,000 employees, GMR delivers compassionate, quality medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency and patient relocation services in the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.globalmedicalresponse.com.

When we think of cancer prevention, we typically think of those we hear the most about, such as breast cancer or lung cancer. One of the most common cancers is actually colon cancer: cancer of the large intestine and lower part of the digestive system. It is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed and the second-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. – and early detection dramatically increases the survival rate. An estimated 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are expected this year. If detected before it spreads, the five-year survival rate is about 90 percent – but if not caught before this point, the survival rate is lower. It’s estimated that as many as 60 percent of colon cancer deaths could be prevented if all men and women ages 45 and up received routine colonoscopy screenings. The exact causes of colon cancer are unknown. One of the most important preventive steps is to get a colonoscopy, a screening test to detect any signs of cancer. A colonoscopy is a procedure to see inside the colon and rectum. Merit Health has taken steps to make it easier than ever to schedule a colonoscopy. By creating a direct phone number to their colonoscopy scheduling clinic, patients can now call and schedule their own colonoscopy – without a doctor’s referral. “A colonoscopy used as a screening test or a diagnostic tool, can help providers investigate unusual symptoms such as unexplained changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and weight loss,” says George Smith-Vaniz, M.D., a gastroenterologist with Merit Health Medical Group. “It is important to follow up on any changes even if you think they might not be important at the time.” If polyps (growths) are found during the exam, they are quickly and painlessly removed at that time, and later tested in a laboratory for signs of cancer. Polyps are common in adults, and usually harmless. However, most colorectal cancer begins as a polyp, so removing polyps early is an effective prevention method. Your doctor can also take samples from abnormal-looking tissues – a biopsy – during the colonoscopy, so that any suspicious areas can be examined for signs of disease and treated, if necessary. “We now recommend a routine colonoscopy screening for all adult men and women beginning at age 45, or earlier, if you have specific risk factors,” adds Dr. Smith-Vaniz. “Over the last 20 years, we have seen an increase of diagnosis under the age of 50. About 1 in 10 now falls into that age category so it’s as important as ever.” A provider can provide guidance about the right time to begin and the frequency of testing, but industry guidelines suggest that a repeat screening be conducted every 10 years for adults with normal risk. Your risk level for colon cancer varies according to your age, gender and ethnic background, as well as your overall health and lifestyle. Factors that affect your risk level include: Advancing age (over age 45) Male gender African American ethnic status A family or personal history of polyps (growths inside the rectum or colon), or colorectal cancer A high-fat diet Certain digestive diseases, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis Depending on your age, a colonoscopy screening may be a covered “wellness” test under your insurance plan – and most plans cover a colonoscopy completely as a follow-up test or diagnostic tool. Check with your insurance provider and your doctor’s office for help in scheduling a screening exam. Learn more about Merit Health’s colonoscopy services or schedule your colonoscopy by calling (601) 376-COLO (2656).

By Bob Garver It might not be the epitome of blockbuster entertainment, but I do understand the appeal of “Downton Abbey.” The British television series, which ran from 2010-2015, is recognized as the most acclaimed “international” series in Emmy history. And of course, it developed a fandom based on its impeccable 1920’s costumes and sets, as well as its intricate storylines and snappy dialogue. A post-series movie came out in 2019, and made just short of $100 million at the domestic box office. That performance warranted a sequel with “A New Era.” I don’t think the new film will find the same success as its predecessor, as it’s opening in a “New Era” of its own, one where theater attendance is way down. But I would love to be proven wrong, as this is a very enjoyable movie. Everyone from the aristocrats to the servants has a story at Downton Abbey, with over 20 billed characters interacting. The movie does the abundant cast better justice than I can in my story summation. Dowager Countess Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) inherits a villa in the south of France from an acquaintance she hasn’t seen in decades. Her son Robert (Hugh Bonneville) brings his wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and a host of family members and servants to the villa to meet the benefactor’s son (Jonathan Zaccai) and hopefully uncover the nature of their parents’ relationship (Robert fears the worst). Meanwhile, Downton Abbey itself plays host to a film crew using the mansion for a location shoot, much to the chagrin of older family and staff who consider movies vulgar. Robert’s daughter and estate manager Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery) oversees the chaos, including the film being changed from a silent to a talkie midway through. Lady Mary is quick to volunteer her services, which impresses director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy). Diva actress Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock) is rude to everybody, but changes her tune in humility when the changes don’t play to her strengths. Dashing leading man Guy Dexter (Dominic West) takes up a relationship with head butler Barrow (Robert-James Collier). Former footman Molesley (Kevin Doyle) discovers he has a gift for writing screenplays. And much, much more! So much of this movie is just so pleasant. Problems like the production shutting down or a character’s health scare never seem to last more than a single-digit number of minutes (raising the question as to why the health scare was included at all). Relationship successes, professional fulfillment, and moments to shine abound in the last act. It’s almost too pleasant for a spell, like the happiness-to-sadness ratio is distractingly unrealistic. But then there is an inevitable sad part, crucial to “Downton Abbey” lore, something that fans have probably been surprised has taken this long to transpire. But it’s handled perfectly, with appropriate sensitivity and even trademark wit. All the best things about “Downton Abbey” are out in full force in “A New Era,” from the acting to the writing to the production design. I’d say it might be in line for an Oscar nomination or two if its release weren’t buried so early in the year. Will there be more of “Downton Abbey,” on big screen or small? My guess is yes, since absolutely everything gets run into the ground in this era. But I shudder to think of continuation, because this is the perfect stopping point for this franchise. Then again, I wasn’t sure if “A New Era” would work, and my doubts have been proven unfounded. Grade: B “Downton Abbey: A New Era” is rated PG for some suggestive references, language and thematic elements. Its running time is 124 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Employees of Merit Health hospitals are now eligible for new and enhanced benefits designed as pathways to help them eliminate existing student debt faster, pursue additional professional education, and advance their careers. The goal in offering Merit Health Pathways benefits is to support and retain employees and attract a strong workforce, especially frontline nurses, technicians, therapists and other clinicians and caregivers, along with support personnel. Benefits include a new student loan repayment program that enables employees with outstanding student debt to consolidate their loans, reduce interest rates, and benefit from employer sponsored payments. For most clinical employees, Merit Health will directly pay a portion of loan premiums as long as the employee remains current with payments, offsetting student loan balances up to $20,000 per employee. A new employee reimbursement program has been established for licensure or certification renewals required for all job classifications and can be used for any license or certification testing or renewal not already offered for free by the hospital. In addition, a long-standing tuition reimbursement program that provides employees up to $5,000 in tax-free reimbursement annually is being expanded and can now be used for continuing education related to any role within the hospital. Previously, employees could only use the tuition reimbursement program toward studies in their current field of work. “We appreciate our employees in all they do and want to support them,” says Mandy Dean Blackwell, a Human Resources executive for Merit Health. “Through these benefits, we hope Merit Health Pathways will ease the burden of student debt and allow employees to focus on achieving their goals and career success. These benefits also appeal to new healthcare talent.” To learn more about career opportunities, visit MyMeritHealth.com.

Wesson Attendance Center's Ally Everett finished as the 3A State Runner-Up in Girl's Singles. Sam McInnis finished third overall in 3A Boy's Singles. Kamryn Bridges and Macy Loy finished 5th, while Baylee Newman and Vivian Mcree finished 9th in 3A Girl's Doubles. Coleman Bonds and Conner Brister teamed up to finish 9th overall in 3A Boy's Doubles. Wesson also won district for the second year in a row.

By Bob Arnold Working behind the window at City Hall -- meeting town residents about their concerns, answering telephones, processing payments and doing anything else the City Clerk doesn't want to do -- may seem less than an ideal job, but after working in grocery stores, cleaning houses, cutting hair and driving an ambulance, Deputy Town Clerk Cristy Griffin isn't looking at the help-wanted pages in newspapers. "I like my job, and am happy to be going home at four o'clock," says Griffin, now in her second year working for the Town of Wesson. In October, 2020, Griffin came off an American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to help her old friend Angela Hester, Wesson City Clerk, part-time as the Deputy Clerk. Last October, after injuring her back as an EMT -- driving and helping patients, she came on board full-time. A Terry, Mississippi, native, Griffin has lived mostly in Crystal Springs, now just west of the town on an old 400-acre farm near Calling Panther Lake. She recalls a childhood during the 1980s and 1990s in which she worked with her brother Jason in grocery stores managed by their parents -- a Real Value in Wesson, among others, including a Bells in Terry and Sunflower in Byram. After earning a General Education High School Diploma from the State of Mississippi, she started a house cleaning business in 1996, which transitioned into caregiving "as my clients aged," she recounts. Along the way, she also became certified in cosmetology at Hinds County Community College (HCCC) in 2010, and then "tried operating" a beauty salon in Crystal Springs for a year, along with her house cleaning and caregiving business. Griffin joined AMR after earning EMT certification in 2019 at HCCC -- a career cut short by her back injury after eight months on the job. Griffin and her husband Aaron, a Clinton police officer, reared two daughters, now grown, on their old 400-acre farm, which he inherited from his grandfather -- Brandie, 26, a former police officer now employed by Renaissance Bank, and Aleaha, 24, who will graduate from the HCCC LPN program in July. What are your hobbies? On the old farm, I raise cattle and horses, and reared my kids. Soon, I will have a garden to occupy me. I attend the First Baptist Church at Terry. Are you a reader? I used to be into science fiction before I became too busy. How about music? I listen to all kinds of music, but particularly enjoy County. Do you enjoy movies or theater? I watch movies on the basic television channels. In the country where I live, we have no cable or internet. What would you do with lottery winnings if you were so lucky? I would pay off my debts, and give back to people who have helped me to become what I am -- family, friends, others. How would you change the world? The world has become a mean place. People don't have respect for themselves and others. I would bring back the old values -- just being nice to each other.

While visiting for a few days on a beautiful farm in the mountains recently, we always went walking every day. Those eight hundred acres were covered in large trees, meadows, and had a briskly rolling gorgeous little creek within a ten-minute stroll of the farmhouse. The family had carefully cleared roads and paths among all the trees, bushes and flowers that grew everywhere on their land. So, as long as we stayed on one of those paths or roads, and kept our eyes peeled for a stray bear or panther, we were good. We were free to wander anywhere and everywhere, and that’s exactly what we did. But I mentioned there were wild flowers everywhere? Among the different varieties was a deep dark purple bloom the farmer called wild violet, and it quickly became one of our favorites. So much so, that Renie asked the farmer if she could uproot a few to transplant into her garden at our house. He readily agreed, so the last day there we ventured off the beaten path to dig up a few clumps. Upon arriving home, after wandering among that tall grass and trees to dig up those flowers, we found that an extremely unwanted guest had hitched a ride to our house. Yep, Terry the Tiny Tick had evidently decided he would become a guest of Andy’s. Just think about it from Terry’s viewpoint. A man’s thigh would give him an endless supply of blood to feast upon and make a nice warm home. All it had to do to become a permanent guest in Andy’s body was to hide itself from being detected. So it had quickly burrowed its body so deeply it was barely discernable. So deep Renie wouldn’t even attempt to remove it. Andy met some nice people at the local Emergency Care that day. Ticks really do have a lot in common with something else that hides deep. Those beautiful trees and bushes that we loved and admired among all that grass hid an enemy. And Andy walked out into that tick-infested meadow, not even giving a millisecond of thought to what was most probably lying in wait for him. That enemy moved silently, quickly and subtly into Andy’s life, and if left there would likely have become a big problem. Sound familiar? It will. The only safe place for a disease-carrying tick is wherever ticks go when they have been removed and squashed to death. And the same goes for that unwanted guest called sin that you unwittingly pick up and host in your mind and body while it burrows deeper and deeper into your daily life. Dangerous stuff that can only get worse. Oh yeah, I know, “It’s just a small innocent little habit, or lie, or bad behavior. No one is truly affected by it, in fact in many cases, nobody but me even knows about it. So how can it become such a big deal?” Tell that to Terry.