5.16.2008

Love Call: Dont let bad define the good

I was struck by the healthcare professional shortage in this country when in the hospital this week, and it is startlingly similar to the priest shortage in the Catholic church. Why would a person want to be a Doctor or Priest these days? We have allowed the “bad” to define the good which is extremely unfortunate for all of us.

While I complained about the lack of individual time the patient should be getting with the healthcare professional, I also noticed the lines and lines of people waiting to be cared for.

Every person I talked to in the ICU waiting room had some concept of God and knew that His will would be done, had faith that He knows best for each of us and took some comfort in that. However, at this moment in their lives no one was happy about it, no one felt free while waiting to see if their loved one would live, or die.

Same thing with being a Christian, we have allowed the bad to define the good. My relationship with Jesus inside me and expressed through others, aka the body of Christ, has carried me through a lot of suffering this year. Equally important has been church, the Eucharist – all the sacraments, the pastor and his staff, the sacramentals, the places of quiet worship and adoration, the people who worship with me.

Fidelity to an ideal has never been easy and particularly not now.

These days, it takes commitment to a difficult way of life to be a good shepherd, a physician, a nurse, a teacher, even the president/owner of a company providing jobs for people. Leadership is not easy.

The reality is not all of us are self-sufficient financially or secure with our relationship with God steadily throughout all of our life. Many of us still need churches, hospitals, healers, pastors, physicians, nurses, schools, teachers, jobs with dedicated responsible leaders.

Many of us also need counselors, advisors to help us discern our talents and gifts and give us encouragement and some direction to pursue a vocation.

Thank you from the depths of my heart to all of those who have answered God’s call to serve His sheep.

Peace and Love
Keren

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad I found you (thru Rhonda's blog). You're speaking my language "Faith"

You know, my Pastor always says it's up to us to know God's Word for ourselves and not to put all your faith in man because some men (and women) will deceive you. In the same token, the Word says we are ALL called to the ministry in one form or another so we have to be willing to make a commitment to something---to step in where others have failed.

Keren said...

Beverly I am so glad you found us too! Thank you so much for your comment.

Faith is a language many speak but dont really know. Me included. I am a pupil, a student (albeit an almost 50 year old one!).

I love what you say about stepping up to a committment. I dont necessarily think other people have failed...they may hav just got tired or something so I love the idea of waves of people - some retreating to rest some advancing to take lead.

It is never too late to begin, and it is always time and ok to start over!

your blog looks great, I look forward to a friendship!

Peace and Love

Keren

Keren said...

I wrote that kind of fast last night..but I wanted to add that I believe God calls us each to places where he can use us best whether inside or outside any particular system.

I think the key is that any kind of leadership - whther an insititutional leader or a parent or someone mentoring a friend takes a sense of fidelity to see it through to its good purpose. We all fail or get tired at times. THat is why loving support from others is so important no matter where you are. Even CEO's need care too :o)

Body of Christ you know.. nt all hands, not all feet - each part has its place and purpose.
Peace
Keren