A while back the editor of Theology Today chronicled his family's misfortunes one winter. Dr. Hugh Kerr told about two emergency hospitalizations: one in Tucson, Arizona -- the other in Princeton, New Jersey. He said that for a period of ten weeks, the outside world seemed to fade into unreality. He and his family were caught up in filling out endless insurance forms, the cancellation and remaking of reservations. He and his friends were interrupted by both hospital staff and well-meaning friends. The Kerr family flew back to Princeton hiring someone to drive their car. Their car was sideswiped. More insurance forms! They had to make appointments to get repair estimates from auto repair shops, etc.

Dr. Kerr told a friend about these unsettling experiences, which, like a recurring bad drea…