I pass the public hospital almost every day, on my way to anywhere, just about. This building is a constant reminder of all the need that it represents.
The first time I brought someone there, I cried and cried, trying to hide it, of course, but basically failing. I had plenty of time, even that first day, to observe things that I hadn’t even imagined, in my past life. People lined the corridors, sitting on the floor. Little family groups huddled together, cradling a sick family member in their arms. Amputees, elderly, children, and people quietly crying were all sensory overloads to my horrified self.
It was one of those times when I prayed without words. The prayer was a groan and a deep sense of longing for God to put things right. I spent five hours there, my first day, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I sat on the cement floor with everybody else and entered into the misery of waiting, with no power to change the outcome. I felt like I was reliving the scene in John 5, at the Pool of Bethesda, except where was The Lord? At one point I even looked down the corridor and imagined what it would be like to see Him walk around the corner and come to the rescue. I longed for that rescue.
I’ve been to that hospital so many times now, I’ve lost count. Each time I bring someone there, I’m reminded of that man at the pool. “Sir, I have no man,” he told The Lord. I look at all the people there and I wonder at God’s grace to the person I’m with. I’m reminded to tell them that God Himself has stepped in, has singled them out, and is showing them how much He loves them.
I’m heading to Aningas to take someone to that hospital today. It will be a long, mostly tedious day, and there is very little chance that anything will be resolved. Each case takes many months of visits. For me, this is a nightmare, and I really have to beg God to take over because I never go there with the right attitude. For God, every hour spent is an hour filled with opportunity to quietly and patiently live Christ and show Him to a dying world. I have a hard time with quietly and patiently, and I usually fail. And when I fail and give up my will and wants, He takes over and makes everything easy. It becomes easy to love, easy to wait and easier to spend the time talking about the Great Physician. When The Lord takes over, every single person waiting in those corridors has the chance to see Him and the opportunity to be rescued by His strong arm of Salvation. I’m hoping that I fail today and He succeeds. Please pray for this.
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 AMP)
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