I try to follow the Quaker testimony on ordinances and being educated in Catholic schools, I bear witness that the Catholics, Roman and Orthodox, have a lot of pageantry. I think the only health plan they had was the mandatory eating of fish on Friday. I still wonder what the fast was supposed to be in parts of the world where the only animal food is fish. Those days are long over.

I have looked over Kosher rules in the Torah and Talmud and Kosher products at the store, there is nothing about low fat, low cholesterol, low salt and the avoidance of caffeine. Ever seen the salt and fat content of Kosher soup mixes, prepared meats, matzo balls or gefilte fish? And where is adequate exercise for the elderly mentioned? Such a deal! Is there a Kosher method of dealing with diabetes?

Islam has a health plan in their ordinances, cardiac exercise five times a day, healthy avoidance of fatty foods and, if you can, a long hike across a desert. I can barely do the exercises I am prescribed by the VA, maybe I should shoot for doing Salat, though I do not think I could master Arabic singing. Do Muslims have opera?

I guess I shall continue being a Quaker, following my doctor's orders-- Basmala: Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, As-Salaam (In the name of God: the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Peace). That feels pretty Friendly to me.