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Cancer Diary: Eating to Protect the Esophagus: A Practical Diet for GERD, Hiatal Hernia, and Barrett’s

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  hen the esophagus is under chronic stress—from reflux, a hiatal hernia, or Barrett’s—food becomes medicine. Every bite either soothes or irritates. This post outlines a diet that protects the esophagus, reduces reflux, and supports healing for those at risk of esophageal cancer. 1. The Core Principle: Reduce Acid Exposure The goal isn’t just comfort—it’s protection . Barrett’s esophagus develops when acid repeatedly injures the lining. A hiatal hernia makes reflux easier, and GERD keeps the cycle going. The diet must lower acid production, minimize reflux triggers, and support tissue repair. 2. Foods That Protect and Heal Gentle, Alkaline, and Anti‑Inflammatory Choices Oatmeal, whole grains, and brown rice — absorb acid and soothe the stomach Bananas, melons, and apples — low‑acid fruits that calm irritation Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus — alkaline vegetables that reduce inflammation Lean proteins — fish, chicken, turkey, tofu; baked or steamed, never fri...
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Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Shane's 10-year-old Gigs

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  Shane was always bored at school, even after skipping four grades. He began first grade six weeks after turning three. We had tried to place him in preschool, but on the very first day the director met me at the door and said, “A child who can read full books, add, subtract, multiply, divide, and work with fractions does not belong in preschool.” The university lab school agreed and moved him directly into first grade. His only complaint was that he couldn’t reach the doorknob to get into the building by himself. The next seven years were marked by a steady pattern of running away from school because he was so bored. When Arlington Public Schools in Virginia tested him at age seven (he was in fourth grade at the time), they found his math skills were at the pre‑calculus level, and the books he preferred were the ones college students struggled with. He especially liked Faulkner. Teachers had no idea what to do with him, and unsurprisingly, he was not fond of school. He preferred ...
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The Dark Night of the Soul — When the Center Falls Away

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  If the first night purified your senses, this one purifies your self. It is not about losing God — it is about losing everything that is not God. 🌑 1. The collapse of the familiar The soul enters this night when its previous image of God no longer holds. Prayer feels impossible, not just dry. The intellect cannot grasp, the will cannot cling, and the heart cannot feel. It is as if the scaffolding of faith has been removed — and yet, the foundation remains. 🌑 2. The stripping of spiritual identity Here, even the idea of being “a spiritual person” dissolves. The subtle pride of progress, the comfort of certainty, the self‑image of holiness — all are taken. The soul is emptied of its own light so that divine light can fill the void. 🌑 3. The silence of God This silence is not neglect; it is intimacy beyond words. God withdraws perceptible presence so the soul can learn to rest in pure being. It is the purification of the spirit itself — the will, the intellect, the memory — u...
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