The Broken Soldier

I’ve got the full script.  75 mcg/hr Duragesic Transdermal Patches I change once every three days.  Percocet, 80 count, 4-6 times a day, taken for ‘breakthrough pain,’ read to mean pain the patches fail to manage.  Robaxin, 90 count, taken three times a day for muscle spasms.  I’m feeling okay.  Really high possibly a more apt description.

The title?  Yeah.  “Oh Baudleaire, you’ve made worm’s meat of me.  Adieu, adieu … remember me.  Look!  The face of Death is near!  And so, I flail.”  The only other quote involving Baudleaire I know.  I’ve been two of those things.  I’ve been a member of two different services, and I am a published poet.  Now I’m going to be the third thing too.

My adopted dad offered me the opportunity to serve God as a cleric.  It’s something I’ve wanted to do since childhood, but, given the discipline (referring specifically to mandatory vows of celibacy) of the Roman Church and fundamental disagreements with Protestant Theology, I didn’t think it was possible for me.  With this offer, I can be married, have children, serve God as a priest, and not be forced to abandon my Catholic Theological commitments to do these things.  What a wonderful gift.

I’ll be starting theology courses as soon as possible.  Three years later, depending on progress, I should be ready for priestly ordination into the Benedictine Order.  The Abbot of my Order has suggested my primary responsibility will be to social justice, in particular matters involving service members and veterans rights.  To this end, the Archbishop and I will be starting a non-profit.  I will, given this order, complete a law degree, and possibly an MBA in non-profit management.

I truly believe this is my calling.  To help those who are or who have suffered because of the inefficiencies and built-in inadequacies of various systems designed to take care of our men and women in uniform.  I intend to get this ball rolling long before I’m ordained or JD’ed and MBA’ed.  I appreciate your continued support.