Posts
My local church family at a recent retreat
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Gored photo #1
Wu, riding pedi-cab at recent Taiwan Night Market at his church, narrowly escapes death by hordes.
GORED News
Dear “Adored of the Lord”: November 27, 2004
How are you? As we recently celebrated (in America) the Thanksgiving holiday, I hope & pray each of you are experiencing God’s best, even amidst some of the significant hardships I know some of you are facing. God has been gracious in blessing me in some pretty neat ways, so let me assure you that your support is greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!
“Local Citizen Gored by Hordes of Untoward Boards”
I’m glad to report to you that since I last wrote you in May, I completed my residency training. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness! In order to become certified in my specialties, I sat for the national board examinations in the last few months. Thank you for praying for these important tests. I spent a lot of time studying for them, & last month I found out that I passed the August internal medicine board. I should hear in the next few weeks about my results on the October pediatrics board. These tests have been especially important to me not only because they were very expensive, but also because they should allow me to practice more widely, including overseas.
Well…(ahem) OK, so there were only two. “Hordes” might not really be the best word to describe two things. And…even though they were painful encounters, I didn’t actually get gored by them… But they were very, very untoward, OK? “Local Citizen Takes Two Hard Tests” just doesn’t cut it as gripping headline! Maybe this one is better…
“Explored Boards Help Me Go Forward”
Medical boards aren’t the only kind of boards I’ve been dealing with in the last months. While decidedly less “untoward” than the ones mentioned above, I’ve also been exploring various mission boards for going overseas. As mentioned in my last letter, I joined the Evangelical Formosan Church’s (EFC’s) mission arm, Global Life Enrichment Center (GLEC based in Santa Ana, California). Recently I attended their annual conference and was encouraged by their work among Chinese peoples around the world. Within my own local EFC body, opportunities to expand mission awareness & involvement both locally & worldwide have also been very encouraging.
As you may remember, I was also looking for a secondary mission board with more experience with medicine & Muslim peoples. After much counsel, research, interaction, & prayer, I finally decided to go forward with Serving in Mission (SIM www.sim.org), an international, interdenominational agency, & I attended their September candidate orientation in North Carolina. I was particularly impressed by their focus on church planting, professional excellence, and member support. To no small degree, I consistently sensed their internal care for one another, especially among the many missionary veteran couples I have met along the way.
Honestly, it is a wonderful feeling to go forward in this regard, & each small step I take has served to confirm the decision to head overseas along this path. GLEC & SIM have been gracious to me in support & guidance for the road ahead. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!
“Professor Who? Professor Wu?”
Another big thing I thank God for is my job. At the writing of my last letter in May, I still wasn’t sure what job I’d have starting July. Nearly at the last minute, a part-time position was made available to me with Loma Linda University (where I completed residency). The position entails patient care but also involves a faculty appointment with the LLU School of Medicine, & as I’ve passed (at least) one of my certification exams, I’m set to be an Assistant Professor.
Weird!!! If you’d told me 5 years ago that I’d be a university professor I’d have thought you were crazy! The words “Professor Wu,” in my mind, could only be jokingly preceded by the words “nutty” or “absent-minded.” A few years ago, though, I began to think more about teaching medicine, since I felt that God might have me serve Him in a residency training program &/or medical school abroad one day, & because I have long enjoyed teaching. But honestly, I never felt “high-powered” enough to think it might come true!
Let me tell you: I really enjoy my job! I enjoy getting to know my patients & serving them & their families. I am humbled by the physical & spiritual issues shared with me & the opportunities to offer healing for these sometimes very deep & complex matters (drug abuse, history of molestation, sexual promiscuity & sexually transmitted diseases). I am further humbled to be able to teach what I know to medical students & residents, some of whom are eager to learn everything! I’m slowly getting used to the fact that I’m not only finally making my own medical decisions but helping them make wise decisions, too. Praise the Lord!
“All Aboard in One Accord!”
Indeed, God has been so good to me, & part of His goodness to me has been extended through you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support & prayer. How desperately this brother needs it! May I ask you to prayerfully join me in “one accord” (am I overdoing this rhyming thing?) for the following requests?
- wisdom in managing my time. When someone asked my colleague & me what we were going to do with our “extra” time since we were both joining on part-time, we simultaneously answered: “Find a spouse”! Silly thoughts aside, I’d really appreciate your prayer that I would know how to juggle work, family, and preparation for heading overseas, while being faithful to each of them individually. I’ve been busy reading books & looking into seminary & language classes for the future. (Incidentally, if you remember my injury from a few months ago, soccer season restarts in January, which will bring with it new opportunities to re-injure my rib & get it removed! Don’t understand? See Genesis 2:18-23.)
- faithfulness with money. In setting up my personal goals for loan repayment, I failed to factor in some necessary expenses. Please pray that I would be both wise & generous in using God’s money for His purposes. Please also pray for my discussions with Project MedSend (www.medsend.org), which helps medical missionaries with school debt repayment & may be able to help me head overseas sooner.
- continued rest & joy in the Lord. God has been faithful to remind me that true rest & joy are really only found in Him, & when I remember these truths, there indeed is great blessing in my life! To be honest though, I too often forget. Here’s a Scripture passage I’m trying to memorize: “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Would you please pray that my heart would be captivated by the true joy of following Jesus? I especially ask this in light of continued sharing about missions & an upcoming sermon; I want people to know that following Jesus (whether it be in going overseas, praying more, or reading His word more carefully) is the best thing they can be doing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am bound to thank God for you (2 Thess. 1:3) for your love & care. Please let me know how each of you are doing, & how I may pray for you as well.
“Outpoured for the Lord” (last one :)
Sid Steve Wu
IMPORTANT: If you’d like to be on a mailing list for updates outlining more specific needs, please let me know.
“Sid’s Kids” (don’t worry, I’ll let you know when I have my own offspring; these are my patients)
Some of my favorite answers in a recent unscientific survey while I examined some of my four-year-old patients: “Why do you have a neck?”
- One smarty-pants boy with a confident grin: “The esophagus is inside.”
- A girl with a look of innocent confusion: “Because I have a head.”
- A girl, with head cocked & a wry smile: “For my necklaces.”
How are you? As we recently celebrated (in America) the Thanksgiving holiday, I hope & pray each of you are experiencing God’s best, even amidst some of the significant hardships I know some of you are facing. God has been gracious in blessing me in some pretty neat ways, so let me assure you that your support is greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!
“Local Citizen Gored by Hordes of Untoward Boards”
I’m glad to report to you that since I last wrote you in May, I completed my residency training. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness! In order to become certified in my specialties, I sat for the national board examinations in the last few months. Thank you for praying for these important tests. I spent a lot of time studying for them, & last month I found out that I passed the August internal medicine board. I should hear in the next few weeks about my results on the October pediatrics board. These tests have been especially important to me not only because they were very expensive, but also because they should allow me to practice more widely, including overseas.
Well…(ahem) OK, so there were only two. “Hordes” might not really be the best word to describe two things. And…even though they were painful encounters, I didn’t actually get gored by them… But they were very, very untoward, OK? “Local Citizen Takes Two Hard Tests” just doesn’t cut it as gripping headline! Maybe this one is better…
“Explored Boards Help Me Go Forward”
Medical boards aren’t the only kind of boards I’ve been dealing with in the last months. While decidedly less “untoward” than the ones mentioned above, I’ve also been exploring various mission boards for going overseas. As mentioned in my last letter, I joined the Evangelical Formosan Church’s (EFC’s) mission arm, Global Life Enrichment Center (GLEC based in Santa Ana, California). Recently I attended their annual conference and was encouraged by their work among Chinese peoples around the world. Within my own local EFC body, opportunities to expand mission awareness & involvement both locally & worldwide have also been very encouraging.
As you may remember, I was also looking for a secondary mission board with more experience with medicine & Muslim peoples. After much counsel, research, interaction, & prayer, I finally decided to go forward with Serving in Mission (SIM www.sim.org), an international, interdenominational agency, & I attended their September candidate orientation in North Carolina. I was particularly impressed by their focus on church planting, professional excellence, and member support. To no small degree, I consistently sensed their internal care for one another, especially among the many missionary veteran couples I have met along the way.
Honestly, it is a wonderful feeling to go forward in this regard, & each small step I take has served to confirm the decision to head overseas along this path. GLEC & SIM have been gracious to me in support & guidance for the road ahead. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!
“Professor Who? Professor Wu?”
Another big thing I thank God for is my job. At the writing of my last letter in May, I still wasn’t sure what job I’d have starting July. Nearly at the last minute, a part-time position was made available to me with Loma Linda University (where I completed residency). The position entails patient care but also involves a faculty appointment with the LLU School of Medicine, & as I’ve passed (at least) one of my certification exams, I’m set to be an Assistant Professor.
Weird!!! If you’d told me 5 years ago that I’d be a university professor I’d have thought you were crazy! The words “Professor Wu,” in my mind, could only be jokingly preceded by the words “nutty” or “absent-minded.” A few years ago, though, I began to think more about teaching medicine, since I felt that God might have me serve Him in a residency training program &/or medical school abroad one day, & because I have long enjoyed teaching. But honestly, I never felt “high-powered” enough to think it might come true!
Let me tell you: I really enjoy my job! I enjoy getting to know my patients & serving them & their families. I am humbled by the physical & spiritual issues shared with me & the opportunities to offer healing for these sometimes very deep & complex matters (drug abuse, history of molestation, sexual promiscuity & sexually transmitted diseases). I am further humbled to be able to teach what I know to medical students & residents, some of whom are eager to learn everything! I’m slowly getting used to the fact that I’m not only finally making my own medical decisions but helping them make wise decisions, too. Praise the Lord!
“All Aboard in One Accord!”
Indeed, God has been so good to me, & part of His goodness to me has been extended through you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support & prayer. How desperately this brother needs it! May I ask you to prayerfully join me in “one accord” (am I overdoing this rhyming thing?) for the following requests?
- wisdom in managing my time. When someone asked my colleague & me what we were going to do with our “extra” time since we were both joining on part-time, we simultaneously answered: “Find a spouse”! Silly thoughts aside, I’d really appreciate your prayer that I would know how to juggle work, family, and preparation for heading overseas, while being faithful to each of them individually. I’ve been busy reading books & looking into seminary & language classes for the future. (Incidentally, if you remember my injury from a few months ago, soccer season restarts in January, which will bring with it new opportunities to re-injure my rib & get it removed! Don’t understand? See Genesis 2:18-23.)
- faithfulness with money. In setting up my personal goals for loan repayment, I failed to factor in some necessary expenses. Please pray that I would be both wise & generous in using God’s money for His purposes. Please also pray for my discussions with Project MedSend (www.medsend.org), which helps medical missionaries with school debt repayment & may be able to help me head overseas sooner.
- continued rest & joy in the Lord. God has been faithful to remind me that true rest & joy are really only found in Him, & when I remember these truths, there indeed is great blessing in my life! To be honest though, I too often forget. Here’s a Scripture passage I’m trying to memorize: “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Would you please pray that my heart would be captivated by the true joy of following Jesus? I especially ask this in light of continued sharing about missions & an upcoming sermon; I want people to know that following Jesus (whether it be in going overseas, praying more, or reading His word more carefully) is the best thing they can be doing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am bound to thank God for you (2 Thess. 1:3) for your love & care. Please let me know how each of you are doing, & how I may pray for you as well.
“Outpoured for the Lord” (last one :)
Sid Steve Wu
IMPORTANT: If you’d like to be on a mailing list for updates outlining more specific needs, please let me know.
“Sid’s Kids” (don’t worry, I’ll let you know when I have my own offspring; these are my patients)
Some of my favorite answers in a recent unscientific survey while I examined some of my four-year-old patients: “Why do you have a neck?”
- One smarty-pants boy with a confident grin: “The esophagus is inside.”
- A girl with a look of innocent confusion: “Because I have a head.”
- A girl, with head cocked & a wry smile: “For my necklaces.”
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Bread & Water
Bread & Water
May 4, 2004
Dearest Friends & Family:
Greetings to you in Christ!
By my record it’s been almost 6 months since my last update to you. For those regularly praying for me, I cannot thank you enough. You may be assured that this man desperately needs it.
Much has passed since I last wrote to you all; I’m sure many of you feel it’s a blur when you look back at the last six months of your own lives. In this time I’ve learned a whole lot from our good God, and I think it is best encapsulated in His own words spoken through the prophet Isaiah (55:1,2):
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”
BETTER THAN WONDER, BETTER THAN SPARKLETTS
I first came across this passage about a month ago when I was throwing one of my famous pity parties over how overwhelmed & frustrated I felt with several projects I was working on. A good brother encouraged me, prayed for me, and recommended that I look up & memorize some Scripture related to my struggles.
Why do I so often spend my time, effort, and emotional energy on silly things that will not satisfy? Why do I think that I’ll be happy only when I land the “perfect” job, or feel appreciated by my family, or win the respect of my colleagues, or get married, or accomplish everything on my “to-do” list, or even find the right mission board? Why am I so hurt when I feel rejection or failure? Why do I often think the deepest joy is to be found in those things, in helping young folks go to college, in running smooth church programs, or even in saving people’s lives?
You see, Jesus was graciously calling me back to Him. He says in John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” He knows the desires of my heart, and He also knows that He alone can satisfy them. There is nothing greater than to be known and loved by my Creator, who lived and died (& resurrected!) so that I can walk with Him and among His people!
To be sure, I’ve found that life in Christ indeed involves service to others, love for family, and diligence at work, but these are to be done in His strength, according to His perfect plan, and for His glory. In themselves they will never satisfy me to my core. And while there’s still pain in rejection, failure, and human tragedy, all things are put into proper perspective when I remember Jesus’ complete love for and acceptance of me, as well as His perfect control over all circumstances.
I want to live on the Bread of Life and on the Living Water! When I remember this, I find that my life indeed is most joyful and fruitful, even despite difficult circumstances. I want to live life to its fullest!
SO GET GOING?
In case you might not have known, I’m on track to complete residency this June. Praise the Lord!!! May I share with you a tentative timeline for the following 2 years of my life? Here it goes...
- 08/2004: American Board of Internal Medicine certification examination
- 10/2004: American Board of Pediatrics certification examination
- by 12/2004: finalize decision about 2ndary mission board
- by 12/2005: complete necessary repayment of medical school loans
- by 06/2006: head on overseas
I hear an unspoken question out there: “What? Sid, you’ve been writing these prayer letters to us for years now. You’re finally completing residency; what are you doing hanging around the United States? What’s up with the delay? Aren’t you the one who told us that people called overseas should go as soon as possible? Get going!”
Well, thanks for the encouragement. I too have felt the hankering to get overseas as soon as possible. The bottom line is that I discovered soon after graduation from medical school that years before I had foolishly overlooked the fine print of an educational loan, which keeps me in the U.S. until it’s paid back.
Though I used to get upset over my misstep, I have tried to make the most of it. In these years I still have been dutifully preparing for overseas service by communicating with different mission boards, serving in my local church (Evangelical Formosan Church of the Inland Empire – Riverside, California), and conserving my money. I take these projected 1-2 post-residency years as extra time to spend with family, learn some Arabic, gain some theological training, and also serve our church’s mission focus.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!
So, needless to say, I need your continued prayer. Please pray for...
- faithfulness in time left with family & friends. There have been awesome opportunities for sharing Christ’s love never open before. Pray for boldness, wisdom, and trust in our good God to work on all of our hearts.
- faithfulness in time left with my church, both locally & denominationally, from whom I have thankfully received much support. Last fall I was officially taken under EFC’s mission arm, the Global Life Enrichment Center (GLEC). Locally, I have been involved in leading regular community outreach events, including a recent 30-hour fast during which we learned about & participated in addressing spiritual & material poverty locally & worldwide. Pray for continued growth in this area.
- faithfulness at work as I finish residency & start working as an attending physician nearby. Pray that I would study diligently for my board exams, work well with hospital/clinic staff, and be sensitive to opportunities for the Gospel.
- faithfulness with money. Even though my income will substantially increase after I complete residency, it is still all God’s money. Pray that I would be His faithful steward, particularly with regard to loan repayment. I have also talked to a special mission agency (Project MedSend) about receiving their loan repayment assistance in the future.
- faithfulness in finding the right secondary mission board. (The process has taken much longer than initially expected!) I may be much closer to finding that board, especially as I was able to meet several board representatives face-to-face at the big Urbana missions conference last December. I continue to sense a calling to northern Africa or the Middle East.
- my rib. While playing in an intramural soccer league I recently injured (& re-injured!) my right chest in such a way that I really felt that I might have broken a rib. One of you suggested that I get it removed quickly so that God would make a wife for me! (Over the years many of you have gently suggested that I look for a wife, and I think that was the funniest version yet! Don’t get it? See Genesis 2:18-23). Just pray for that... and stop snickering!
- above all, faithfulness in finding my joy in the Lord, my Living Water (Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:10) and Bread of Life (John 6:35).
Indeed, it is in Jesus that we have life!
Please let me know how I may be in prayer for you as well; I’d love to hear from you. I’ve moved in with my sister & brother-in-law’s family in order to save money, so if you don’t mind the baby squeals, come on by & visit!
By God’s Grace Alone,
Sid/Steve
May 4, 2004
Dearest Friends & Family:
Greetings to you in Christ!
By my record it’s been almost 6 months since my last update to you. For those regularly praying for me, I cannot thank you enough. You may be assured that this man desperately needs it.
Much has passed since I last wrote to you all; I’m sure many of you feel it’s a blur when you look back at the last six months of your own lives. In this time I’ve learned a whole lot from our good God, and I think it is best encapsulated in His own words spoken through the prophet Isaiah (55:1,2):
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”
BETTER THAN WONDER, BETTER THAN SPARKLETTS
I first came across this passage about a month ago when I was throwing one of my famous pity parties over how overwhelmed & frustrated I felt with several projects I was working on. A good brother encouraged me, prayed for me, and recommended that I look up & memorize some Scripture related to my struggles.
Why do I so often spend my time, effort, and emotional energy on silly things that will not satisfy? Why do I think that I’ll be happy only when I land the “perfect” job, or feel appreciated by my family, or win the respect of my colleagues, or get married, or accomplish everything on my “to-do” list, or even find the right mission board? Why am I so hurt when I feel rejection or failure? Why do I often think the deepest joy is to be found in those things, in helping young folks go to college, in running smooth church programs, or even in saving people’s lives?
You see, Jesus was graciously calling me back to Him. He says in John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” He knows the desires of my heart, and He also knows that He alone can satisfy them. There is nothing greater than to be known and loved by my Creator, who lived and died (& resurrected!) so that I can walk with Him and among His people!
To be sure, I’ve found that life in Christ indeed involves service to others, love for family, and diligence at work, but these are to be done in His strength, according to His perfect plan, and for His glory. In themselves they will never satisfy me to my core. And while there’s still pain in rejection, failure, and human tragedy, all things are put into proper perspective when I remember Jesus’ complete love for and acceptance of me, as well as His perfect control over all circumstances.
I want to live on the Bread of Life and on the Living Water! When I remember this, I find that my life indeed is most joyful and fruitful, even despite difficult circumstances. I want to live life to its fullest!
SO GET GOING?
In case you might not have known, I’m on track to complete residency this June. Praise the Lord!!! May I share with you a tentative timeline for the following 2 years of my life? Here it goes...
- 08/2004: American Board of Internal Medicine certification examination
- 10/2004: American Board of Pediatrics certification examination
- by 12/2004: finalize decision about 2ndary mission board
- by 12/2005: complete necessary repayment of medical school loans
- by 06/2006: head on overseas
I hear an unspoken question out there: “What? Sid, you’ve been writing these prayer letters to us for years now. You’re finally completing residency; what are you doing hanging around the United States? What’s up with the delay? Aren’t you the one who told us that people called overseas should go as soon as possible? Get going!”
Well, thanks for the encouragement. I too have felt the hankering to get overseas as soon as possible. The bottom line is that I discovered soon after graduation from medical school that years before I had foolishly overlooked the fine print of an educational loan, which keeps me in the U.S. until it’s paid back.
Though I used to get upset over my misstep, I have tried to make the most of it. In these years I still have been dutifully preparing for overseas service by communicating with different mission boards, serving in my local church (Evangelical Formosan Church of the Inland Empire – Riverside, California), and conserving my money. I take these projected 1-2 post-residency years as extra time to spend with family, learn some Arabic, gain some theological training, and also serve our church’s mission focus.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!
So, needless to say, I need your continued prayer. Please pray for...
- faithfulness in time left with family & friends. There have been awesome opportunities for sharing Christ’s love never open before. Pray for boldness, wisdom, and trust in our good God to work on all of our hearts.
- faithfulness in time left with my church, both locally & denominationally, from whom I have thankfully received much support. Last fall I was officially taken under EFC’s mission arm, the Global Life Enrichment Center (GLEC). Locally, I have been involved in leading regular community outreach events, including a recent 30-hour fast during which we learned about & participated in addressing spiritual & material poverty locally & worldwide. Pray for continued growth in this area.
- faithfulness at work as I finish residency & start working as an attending physician nearby. Pray that I would study diligently for my board exams, work well with hospital/clinic staff, and be sensitive to opportunities for the Gospel.
- faithfulness with money. Even though my income will substantially increase after I complete residency, it is still all God’s money. Pray that I would be His faithful steward, particularly with regard to loan repayment. I have also talked to a special mission agency (Project MedSend) about receiving their loan repayment assistance in the future.
- faithfulness in finding the right secondary mission board. (The process has taken much longer than initially expected!) I may be much closer to finding that board, especially as I was able to meet several board representatives face-to-face at the big Urbana missions conference last December. I continue to sense a calling to northern Africa or the Middle East.
- my rib. While playing in an intramural soccer league I recently injured (& re-injured!) my right chest in such a way that I really felt that I might have broken a rib. One of you suggested that I get it removed quickly so that God would make a wife for me! (Over the years many of you have gently suggested that I look for a wife, and I think that was the funniest version yet! Don’t get it? See Genesis 2:18-23). Just pray for that... and stop snickering!
- above all, faithfulness in finding my joy in the Lord, my Living Water (Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:10) and Bread of Life (John 6:35).
Indeed, it is in Jesus that we have life!
Please let me know how I may be in prayer for you as well; I’d love to hear from you. I’ve moved in with my sister & brother-in-law’s family in order to save money, so if you don’t mind the baby squeals, come on by & visit!
By God’s Grace Alone,
Sid/Steve
Friday, March 05, 2004
Thoughts Thad Wrought
Thoughts Thad Wrought
By Sidney Wu
Thaddeus Thomas thought out loud whilst thumbing his toupee:
“Though in a trice I sought and caught ten thousand cod
And thrust the throbbing throng into my trough I doubt
That’d thrill me through and through.
“The truth is that I’d rather tough the rough – or even rough the tough –
And bout drought out with trouble double
And tread through thatch both thick and thin
To throw my thread with trained, true twitch of switch
O’er thund’ring torrent or torpid trickle
And then pull taut the tangled twine
To catch and cache a single taupe-throated trout.”
With this, Thad tumbled from my couch, and there he shouted out,
“The thought! The thrill! The triumph of catching TROUT!”
…
…
Though thought-through thoughts are not Thad’s cup of tea,
He’s trusty in attending my anti-ichthy-therapy.
(There he’s taught his thoughts ought not be overly fishy.)
Background:
English, perhaps especially American English, is a terribly confusing meld of different languages. While I’m far from being a linguist, I am aware of English words with origins in Latin, Greek, French, German, and even other non-European languages (e.g: “tsunami” from Japanese). This leaves us with words that look amazingly similar but are vastly different in pronunciation. Since I was a child, I marveled at this fact, and somehow I distinctly remember the confusing triad: “though,” “thought,” and “through.” “Th” can be pronounced with a hard breathy sound (as in “thought”) or a softer buzzing sound (as in “though”). Furthermore, “ough” in this set of three words have three totally different pronunciations! Hence, since school-age, I’ve wanted for fun to create a sentence containing all three of these words.
In 8th grade I wrote a poem entitled “The Peddler” which played mainly with the words “peddle,” “petal,” and “pedal.” To me, even though it was part of an assignment, it was written in good fun. To my amazement, however, it won various school and regional awards.
Ever since that encouraging response to “The Peddler” I’ve wanted to write a poem playing on the three words “though,” “thought,” and “through.” Not until 1997 (in the second year of medical school while “studying,” no less) did I start making a list of words I wanted to include in that poem. Several attempts at putting the poem together were aborted along the way, and the great majority was completed much later in the summer of 2003 (probably, again, while I was supposed to be doing something else). Final touches bring it to its completion today (March 5, 2004) as I finish my on-call duties in the ICU as a resident physician!
This poem is not simply a “tongue-twister.” It’s meant to be more an “eye-twister” in that while it may be difficult to enunciate the words, to me it is even more gleefully difficult to interpret how the words should even be pronounced!
Enjoy the ridiculous rigors of the English language!
[June 21, 2005 note: Crazily, I was actually encouraged by several friends to try to get this poem published. Not believing that it would "make it" in an actual poetry journal, I submitted it to a few medical journals & even Reader's Digest..... nada! Oh well, here's my cheap shot at "publishing" it by putting it among prayer letters to trick people into reading it when they think they're reading something of actual value! haha! Hmmm... does this qualify as something that fulfills the desire of the prayer that heads this site? Perhaps it attests to the wild & crazy edge of the creative palette in our unfathomable Creator's hand. All praises to Him? Yes! ...and all eye-rolling to me!]
By Sidney Wu
Thaddeus Thomas thought out loud whilst thumbing his toupee:
“Though in a trice I sought and caught ten thousand cod
And thrust the throbbing throng into my trough I doubt
That’d thrill me through and through.
“The truth is that I’d rather tough the rough – or even rough the tough –
And bout drought out with trouble double
And tread through thatch both thick and thin
To throw my thread with trained, true twitch of switch
O’er thund’ring torrent or torpid trickle
And then pull taut the tangled twine
To catch and cache a single taupe-throated trout.”
With this, Thad tumbled from my couch, and there he shouted out,
“The thought! The thrill! The triumph of catching TROUT!”
…
…
Though thought-through thoughts are not Thad’s cup of tea,
He’s trusty in attending my anti-ichthy-therapy.
(There he’s taught his thoughts ought not be overly fishy.)
Background:
English, perhaps especially American English, is a terribly confusing meld of different languages. While I’m far from being a linguist, I am aware of English words with origins in Latin, Greek, French, German, and even other non-European languages (e.g: “tsunami” from Japanese). This leaves us with words that look amazingly similar but are vastly different in pronunciation. Since I was a child, I marveled at this fact, and somehow I distinctly remember the confusing triad: “though,” “thought,” and “through.” “Th” can be pronounced with a hard breathy sound (as in “thought”) or a softer buzzing sound (as in “though”). Furthermore, “ough” in this set of three words have three totally different pronunciations! Hence, since school-age, I’ve wanted for fun to create a sentence containing all three of these words.
In 8th grade I wrote a poem entitled “The Peddler” which played mainly with the words “peddle,” “petal,” and “pedal.” To me, even though it was part of an assignment, it was written in good fun. To my amazement, however, it won various school and regional awards.
Ever since that encouraging response to “The Peddler” I’ve wanted to write a poem playing on the three words “though,” “thought,” and “through.” Not until 1997 (in the second year of medical school while “studying,” no less) did I start making a list of words I wanted to include in that poem. Several attempts at putting the poem together were aborted along the way, and the great majority was completed much later in the summer of 2003 (probably, again, while I was supposed to be doing something else). Final touches bring it to its completion today (March 5, 2004) as I finish my on-call duties in the ICU as a resident physician!
This poem is not simply a “tongue-twister.” It’s meant to be more an “eye-twister” in that while it may be difficult to enunciate the words, to me it is even more gleefully difficult to interpret how the words should even be pronounced!
Enjoy the ridiculous rigors of the English language!
[June 21, 2005 note: Crazily, I was actually encouraged by several friends to try to get this poem published. Not believing that it would "make it" in an actual poetry journal, I submitted it to a few medical journals & even Reader's Digest..... nada! Oh well, here's my cheap shot at "publishing" it by putting it among prayer letters to trick people into reading it when they think they're reading something of actual value! haha! Hmmm... does this qualify as something that fulfills the desire of the prayer that heads this site? Perhaps it attests to the wild & crazy edge of the creative palette in our unfathomable Creator's hand. All praises to Him? Yes! ...and all eye-rolling to me!]
The Peddler (1988?)
A peddler who peddles bike pedals
Was a peddler also of rose petals.
He once peddled & said,
“What’s ‘dis life I has led,
To peddle these petals & pedals.”
Thus the peddler of petals & pedals.
Stopped peddling his pedals & petals.
“I will peddle some pets.
How much money I gets!”
Said the peddler of pets which he peddles.
Lucklessly the peddler of pets
Peddled only a set of two owlets.
The peddler was sad
And then he got mad
& now, his pets are full of pellets.
Was a peddler also of rose petals.
He once peddled & said,
“What’s ‘dis life I has led,
To peddle these petals & pedals.”
Thus the peddler of petals & pedals.
Stopped peddling his pedals & petals.
“I will peddle some pets.
How much money I gets!”
Said the peddler of pets which he peddles.
Lucklessly the peddler of pets
Peddled only a set of two owlets.
The peddler was sad
And then he got mad
& now, his pets are full of pellets.
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