Granted Admission

Recently, I have been welcomed into the lives of many unexpected people. In a small group with church, we have been having a monthly game night at Paquin Towers, a local residence for disabled and those living below the poverty line. During a game of Cranium, an eccentric older man walked through the main door wearing a black beret and carrying an umbrella with a duck's head for a handle. He examined the game pieces, intrigued by something we did not see. I had brought my camera and as he was about to head up to his room for the night, I asked if I could take a portrait shot of him. He was hesitant at first and I wanted to respect that, but after a bit of thought he agreed. I took a few quick pics and then asked if I could get his contact info in case any of the pictures came out well, so I could give him a copy. We were about to exchange info, but he must have linked my affinity for photography with a love for the arts and invited me up to see his artwork. I was a little hesitant, but threw caution to the wind and up the elevator went. I spent the next couple hours listening to the stories behind each piece of artwork that literally filled his studio apartment. I could not have been more pleased to listen to each story, perplexed by the quantity and quality of his work. I realized I had spent a few hours up there and thanked him for showing me his work, we exchanged info and I headed back downstairs to see if the rest of our group was still there. I had been allowed into the intimate place of a stranger's home, an artist's studio to boot. During our time I had a small opportunity to talk openly about faith and nursing and living out of the country. Even at his age he works as a personal care assistant for someone with quadriplegic paralysis, so we were able to connect on several levels.

Another surprising opportunity happened during my maternity clinical rotation. We were at the hospital and my initial patient and her new baby had been discharged to go home. This gave me the opportunity to help out in the well baby nursery and to practice with extra assessments. After our lunch break my professor told me that there was a mother on the L&D floor with history of precipitous (swift) labor and there was a possibility she would let me help out. Turns out there were two women on the floor in labor and one of the nurses had told our professor about one in particular, but not the other. My professor accidentally asked the other. The mother didn't speak English, but through the translator said she was fine with me being there. Let me just say that I was ecstatic. A woman from a very modest culture had given the green light to a nursing student being present during such a special and intimate time, and a male nursing student on top of that! I had a little time to build up a rapport with the family, and was able to exercise what little Spanish that I know. The family was so kind and very great to work with. When the time came, the nurse called me over from recording the vitals to help support the mother's leg so that she could bear down and push. The physician was amazing and talked me through everything, solidifying the concepts I had learned in class. When the baby entered the world my eyes teared up. I have heard that birth is a miracle and I believed it, but seeing it happen right before my eyes made that phrase come alive.

I still cannot believe how special these moments are and continue to wonder why I was allowed entry into these private moments. God is SO big and I will never understand why he does what he does, but he is GOOD! My life so far has taken so many crazy twists and turns and I would be beyond a fool not to attribute each of the silly and awing moments to the sovereignty of He who created all things, showed his faithfulness to his creation by becoming a man, dying as a criminal, conquering death by rising from the grave, the father in turn looking on Christ's sacrifice as worthy, thus saving me from my depravity...

And now, allows me to be a part of his intimate story of redemption, choosing to display his grace by including me as a part of what he is doing. God is active in his creation and he is crazy good at what he does. Please get to know him; he welcomes you into his marvelous story.

Let Your Kingdom Come

How has accepting Christ changed the way I live? How do I now honor God with my life? Both are questions I've been wielding to further examine and ponder how I use the time and breath I currently have on loan. Jesus gave us a living example to model our lives by, footprints, by which if we should only follow them, we would be led down the straight and narrow road to a life well pleasing to God. By looking at the example of how Jesus lived in order to honor God, I begin to see specific themes and issues that he cared about and taught on.


Matthew 9:35-38

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthew 20: 25-28

25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [1] 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, [2] 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 4:11

11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 5: 22-24

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Psalm 102: 18-22

18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19 that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

Ephesians 5: 1-2

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Mark 16: 15

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

2 Corinthians 5: 17-19

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. [1] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling [2] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Matthew 25: 34-40

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, [1] you did it to me.’

Jesus made service to the poor, sacrifice, suffering, and sharing the Good News with all people a priority in his life. How does this affect the way I react to people I encounter? My future plans? My decisions? My Friendships? My attitude?

Things I am pondering.