Dorcas

I was impressed by this passage yesterday - what a neat lady she must have been. She is one of my scripture envys, I admire her. What an impact both in life, and death, and life!

ACTS 9:36-40

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widowns and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Life, Death, and Travel

This past week my grandfather unexpectedly passed requiring some urgent travel to a certain northern state. While usually I anticipate trips and visits with family, this was one I was less certain about. Overall, things went very well. The death has been very hard on my Grandmother, but being the firm woman of faith that she is, she is leaning on His arms. This week most of the family will travel a bit west for the family reunion and it should be a good time of fellowship and comforting.

When I returned I expected my work inbox to be flooded and to have a few minor-crisis to attend to, but God is good. Things were so much calmer and controlled than I expected! I'm still loving being a PA, and truthfully it has only gotten better since the first year of school. I feel blessed to do the type of work that I do, despite the internal flurries that come with doubting one's experience in a field.

As a mini get-away, I'm planning on going to the beach this Saturday. Of course not for the sun aspect, but hopefully for some good photo-ops and time away from work and home responsibilities. Things really aren't that stressful, but it will still be good to disappear for a day!

Hello Goodbye

Conference was great. I don't mean 'great' as a I-don't-know-what-descriptive-word-to-use-at-the-moment, I mean G-reat!! I didn't realize how lecture-hungry I was. It was so good to reliterate known medicine, and to pick up some new stuff too. Oh and Kara. Kara is a hard-working, intelligent, and cheery fellow-Christian PA. We met initially during a leadership event and have hit it off ever since then. We are both new providers and it was so good to catch up, blabber about life, and bounce clinical ideas off each other. I will miss her so much!

Leadership activities were long, but productive. I have served in this position for two years, and while I am ready to move on, I am also sad to be leaving neat memories and friends. I have decided to take a year off before pursuing other leadership roles. Something about sanity and free time...

So the week's talley is looking good: conference, short week of work, seeing friends, and lots of sleep last night. However, one patient today at work made the week even better. This was the first time one of MY own patients got teary-eyed and thanked me and the Lord for the care provided. I got a hug at the end, and needless to say, I walked on air the rest of the day praising our GREAT Father - the only one who truely heals.

As for the picture, I just thought it was funny.

Inner Workings

Talking to a friend last night we reflected on seemingly unfair circumstances that were affecting our inner family. Now, while morbidity and mortality may not seem appropriate for a Friday night chat, I believe I have reached the period of my life where it is a frequent reality. Ironically, without knowing my thoughts, my dear friend echoed them perfectly.

We know that we serve a good, gracious, and omniscient Father. He is the only one who is faithful and abounding in love and kindness. I have no doubts about His greater plans and purposes.

However, the age old question arose that evening - why suffering? Why so much at one time? Why to those who have served so faithfully?

I do not have the answers, but I take comfort in knowing that we see only the bottom of a large loom tapestry - the tangled threads, knotted colors, and chaotic highway of fabric. I know that God sees the pattern and enduring design, one carefully planned for my good. I know that Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will."

I wish I could be there right now and provide a physical presence of encouragement instead of distant support. I wish I could see the other side. Terry aptly and biblically encourages us to preserve with joy. His words, these circumstances, and the incredible witness of our loved ones has reminded me of this song countless times the past few months. I hope you take comfort in it as I do.

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift though all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Find Us Faithful - Steve Green

The Newsies

So first, I must apologize for my long absence in the blogging world. To say I fell off the face of the earth would not be accurate, however I have seen much more of its surface since I last wrote. Let me touch on the major news:

(1) Finished PA school

(2) Traveled extensively following graduation

(3) Rachael and John are married

(4) More travel

(5) Will start new job on Monday. Bittersweet feelings about the location, but very excited about the staff and position. I will miss my central eastern friends!

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and patience. I am back.

Technology Conundrums

I absolutely love technology: love my gmail, my phone, my camera (!!!), and even my laptop and I were recently getting along well until the screen cracked.

Yup, somehow driving up to MI this summer, my laptop screen cracked. I'm not sure what happened, and no one in my family can quite figure it out either. Anyways, so while I would love to post pictures of VBS, beautiful MI, and the trip - I'm afraid these things will have to wait.

The new screen is in the mail. Next challenge: installing a lenovo LCD laptop screen.

Scrambled Botch

Sometimes I mess up. Really, really mess up.

You know that pit in the bottom of your stomach feeling when you know you’ve just done something that will take a lot of work to get out of – or for that matter be impossible to. And there’s the first problem…. My nature to go incognito, behind the scenes to become “Miss-Fix-It-Girl”. I loose sleep and hair, and gain ulcers and forehead wrinkles plotting my “way out”.

The top 3 things I hate about this self-made strategy? (1) That I can’t be honest up front and fix it when the problem arises – cutting the issue in the bud. (2) That I don’t go to God first when I start to find myself cornered, rather I start to fix…. Er, severely mess things up trying to touch-up myself. (3) That I hurt people in this process – I either alienate friends, myself, or lend incorrect impressions.

So you’re probably thinking – “She’s having a terrible day, what's the problem?” Yes, it’s not my best day, but it’s a learning one. I’m learning to step back, think about things before I speak, and to turn to God and very wise godly people for advice. Thank the Lord for Mothers!
Why can’t I learn the easy way?