April 2 2020

I recently engaged more with health care workers than I care too. Not because of negative feelings, as a matter of fact, I have a lot a admiration for them. However, being a patient is never fun. My adventure included a visit to urgent care, followed the next day by a trip to the emergency room which led to being admitted to the hospital. Along the way, I was taken care of by a number of people but some stood out like the emergency room nurse Bobbie who, even though you could see exhaustion on her face made every effort to cheer me up. There was the ambulance transport drivers that made me feel like precious cargo; a nurses aide by the name of Timol that made me feel like a special patient even though I needed his help with some rather personal stuff. There were more nurses and doctors that all communicated, "right now its about you and not what has the world so stirred up". 

The reason why these folks come to mind is that in a recent news update, a governor addressed the question of public care worker's fear. He basically said, "Of course they are afraid like anyone else. The fear brining home the virus to their family. However, they are driven by something greater than their fear; they are driven by their passion".  During WWII General Patton was interviewed and during the interview, the reporter alluded to his bravery. General Patton said, "I am not brave, I am an utter coward. As soon as I hear the sound of a battle, my hands begin to sweat and I am afraid. However, learned long ago not to take  counsel from my fears."  There is a thought that moving forward in spite of fears we may have is the same as down playing the seriousness of what is happening around us. That is not the case, it simply means that we recognize that there are needs that have to be met and we have a responsibility as Christians and an opportunity to demonstrate the different way a child of hope faces adversity in comparison to those who allow themselves to be governed by their fear. 

John Wayne once said: "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway". We are able to saddle up and face each day and move forward in the name of Christ, not because we are ignorant or flippant of what is going on, but because we know that nothing can separate us from Him.. In Romans 8:35 we read the question: [Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?] and in 8:37 the question is answered, [No in all these we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.]

Let us walk as a people who take counsel from the knowledge of whom we belong to, and who we are in Him,  and not our fears. 
Have a blessed day, Vic