This evening I watched "God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of Lost Boys of Sudan" at L'Abri. It is a well done documentary on the Lost Boys, their struggles for survival in refugee camps and in the United States. After watching it, I felt like weeping for Africa, just weeping, as though my tears might heal the wounds of the suffering across the world.
The discussion afterwards was inspiring. Obang, an Ethipian refugee, and Ruth, from Somalia, along with others, shared about their own experiences, the current plight of those still in Africa and those within our midst here.
Rent this film. Buy it. Watch it. Cry over it. Think about it. Do something about it. Don't watch it alone. Share it with friends. Discuss it. Be changed.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Learning to Live
I'm trying to learn how to live. I'm trying to learn to plan for the future but live in the moment, to take things seriously, yet lightly. I'm trying to learn how to love and be loved. I'm trying to learn how to work and play and make each moment special. I'm trying to learn to feel and to think. I'm trying to learn to be broken without falling apart. I'm trying to understand what I can while accepting mystery. I'm trying to learn how to see, listen, laugh, cry, give, receive. I'm trying to learn how to love God. I'm trying to learn to be ever desiring without greed, to strive for what is good and beautiful but accept that which is flawed. I'm trying to learn how to be mature yet childlike. I'm trying to learn how to live fully and die to myself. I'm trying to learn this a little at a time without being too overwhelmed.
I'm trying to learn the art of a life well lived. I'm trying to learn more than I can learn by myself.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
I'm trying to learn the art of a life well lived. I'm trying to learn more than I can learn by myself.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
Monday, November 19, 2007
A Lady
I just drove a lady to dialysis. It was a five minute drive, during which time I learned a lot about her. She lived in Anchorage, Alaska, for 37 years working with the FBI. When she found out that I am a nurse, she turned and shook my hand as I drove with the introduction, "I'm a doctor." When asked what kind of doctor, she hesitated before saying that she is a psycholigist, MD. She also translates 27 dialects of Chinese as well as some Japanese. Oh, and she sings solos at Mayo, classical. In fact, she sang at Elvis Presley's wedding (probably not classical:). Her most notable achievement? Making up stories. I wonder what's true.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Loving People, Living Art
"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical." ~Sophia Loren
Lately, as I have been working, looking through photos and quotes, and trying to decorate my room, I have been enthralled with art, beauty, creativity. Some days I think I would like to do photography full time, then I think perhaps I could do it on the side, then I realize it might be most effective and rewarding when done in conjunction with caring for people. I don't know. I just know I want to pursue it more in some way. Perhaps you have some advice?
Here are some quotes from people wiser than myself along with thoughts from my own life...
"I feel there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." ~Vincent van Gogh
Loving people and being loved is truly an art. In college, we talked about nursing as an art. That's because it is about caring for people. Every person is different, and you have the challenge of trying to connect with them in seconds, minutes, hours and convince them that you care and can be trusted. With each new patient, you begin afresh. Such was my experience with a 90-year-old mostly blind lady the last two days. So many people go in and out of the room and care for her, but she can't recognize them. She could come across a bit rude or abrupt at moments, but deep down, there was a heart that was living, throbbing, tender, yet a bit scared. If you were to ask me what the best part of my day was yesterday, I would reply that it was giving this lady a shower.
While in the shower, I learned about her past, her family, her loves, and her fears. Since she is blind, showing her a beautiful photograph wouldn't mean anything. Instead, I mentioned a couple of my favorite quotes...by Helen Keller. To my surprise, she joined me in quoting this: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." That was a golden moment. As I washed her hair, I told her what a lovely white it was. She shared that when she was a girl, she knew a lady with the most beautiful white hair and hoped that hers would some day be like that. Well, when she was 21 her hair began to show some grey. She dyed it for a few years, but now has the purest white hair. To me, when someone shares something deep within the heart or memory, I catch my breath. I was trusted enough to get a glimpse into the deep places of the heart, the places where the only things are that really matter.
The second best part of the day? Thanks for asking. Perhaps it was threatening one of the doctors with a walker:) Or maybe it was walking out into the scattered snowflakes, or talking with my nurse orientee over lunch, or gazing at a sleeping, newborn baby, or watching little children in their element at a harvest party, or snuggling into a bed of flannel sheets for the first time this fall.
"To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle." ~Walt Whitman
My 90-year-old friend was hallucinating about gremlins, goblins, and witches yesterday. I wondered what I would hallucinate about if I were hallucinating. Thankfully, instead, I had a wonderful dream last night!
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." ~Rabindranath Tagore
"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed." ~Storm Jameson
"It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel." ~Unknown
"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman
I hope you are enjoying daily moments of the love and beauty that God has placed all around you and living, truly living in gratitude.
Lately, as I have been working, looking through photos and quotes, and trying to decorate my room, I have been enthralled with art, beauty, creativity. Some days I think I would like to do photography full time, then I think perhaps I could do it on the side, then I realize it might be most effective and rewarding when done in conjunction with caring for people. I don't know. I just know I want to pursue it more in some way. Perhaps you have some advice?
Here are some quotes from people wiser than myself along with thoughts from my own life...
"I feel there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." ~Vincent van Gogh
Loving people and being loved is truly an art. In college, we talked about nursing as an art. That's because it is about caring for people. Every person is different, and you have the challenge of trying to connect with them in seconds, minutes, hours and convince them that you care and can be trusted. With each new patient, you begin afresh. Such was my experience with a 90-year-old mostly blind lady the last two days. So many people go in and out of the room and care for her, but she can't recognize them. She could come across a bit rude or abrupt at moments, but deep down, there was a heart that was living, throbbing, tender, yet a bit scared. If you were to ask me what the best part of my day was yesterday, I would reply that it was giving this lady a shower.
While in the shower, I learned about her past, her family, her loves, and her fears. Since she is blind, showing her a beautiful photograph wouldn't mean anything. Instead, I mentioned a couple of my favorite quotes...by Helen Keller. To my surprise, she joined me in quoting this: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." That was a golden moment. As I washed her hair, I told her what a lovely white it was. She shared that when she was a girl, she knew a lady with the most beautiful white hair and hoped that hers would some day be like that. Well, when she was 21 her hair began to show some grey. She dyed it for a few years, but now has the purest white hair. To me, when someone shares something deep within the heart or memory, I catch my breath. I was trusted enough to get a glimpse into the deep places of the heart, the places where the only things are that really matter.
"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~Kevin Arnold
The second best part of the day? Thanks for asking. Perhaps it was threatening one of the doctors with a walker:) Or maybe it was walking out into the scattered snowflakes, or talking with my nurse orientee over lunch, or gazing at a sleeping, newborn baby, or watching little children in their element at a harvest party, or snuggling into a bed of flannel sheets for the first time this fall.
"To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle." ~Walt Whitman
My 90-year-old friend was hallucinating about gremlins, goblins, and witches yesterday. I wondered what I would hallucinate about if I were hallucinating. Thankfully, instead, I had a wonderful dream last night!
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." ~Rabindranath Tagore
"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed." ~Storm Jameson
"It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel." ~Unknown
"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman
I hope you are enjoying daily moments of the love and beauty that God has placed all around you and living, truly living in gratitude.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)