Yesterday morning provided the most interesting start for the day. I just wish I could remember the names of all the interesting people with whom I had the privilege of interacting. Unfortunately about a half dozen people for whom I am praying today will simply be “you know their name, Lord Jesus” on my list.
It started with me joining the Wednesday morning guys (my usual 10 minutes late). For some reason, 6:30 a.m. is earlier these days than it used to be! The theme verse for the day was a carry-over from the week before: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.” (Colossians 3.12-13) … with an emphasis upon the lines about forgiveness.
From there, after dropping off newspapers for recycling, I went to Twelve Mile and Little Mack for a routine blood draw. The pinch was slight … and I didn’t pass out … and, as the needle entered my arm, the young lady at the other end of the syringe asked, “What are your plans for the day?” The next two paragraphs contain my answer as I explained to her that I am a semi-retired pastor. On my way out I thanked her for doing such a great job and remembered to ask her name … which is the first one of the day that I have forgotten … (You know her name and her needs, Lord Jesus. Bless her with your love and Spirit).
My next stop was Henry Ford Main Hospital for a “first time in my life” experience. While there I met at least 2 nurses, 1 dietician, and 1 doctor (I believe). However, more significant on my list is the person I was visiting. Her name is Debbie and she was the recipient of a new heart over the weekend. There she was, sitting up in a chair, breathing 100% on her own, asking the medical staff 101 questions, and ten times perkier than I had ever expected. After spending some time together in Psalm 46 (God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble … The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress), our prayers ascended to the throne of grace with thankfulness for the successful surgery, for God’s continued healing for Deb, rich blessings and guidance for the medical staff, and comfort for the donor family. I don’t think I even took the time to ask for the names of anyone I met there that morning.
My next stop was Henry Ford Macomb Hospital’s ICU to visit 94-year-old Davis. He fell and broke his hip last week. The surgery was very successful, but he is struggling to come out from the anesthesia. The good news is that, as I have visited him on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, I have seen encouraging progress each time. Today he called me by name and we had a short, but good conversation. We spent some time on the middle verses of Psalm 46 (Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. … He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”) And I was not offended when he fell asleep during my prayer.
In the elevator at one of those hospitals a man asked me, “Is that a Bible I see in your hand.” He praised Jesus when I said, “Yes, it is..” He was on his way to visit his sister who is struggling in some unnamed way. I asked for her name and promised to pray for her … same prayer as above … only a different person.
My morning concluded with visits to a bank and a Credit Union. I complimented the second teller (actually, the third, because at the bank I had two different ones looking at a counterfeit $100 bill that I brought in to show them) on her pink nails and asked her if she did them herself. She said she could, but unfortunately all of her supplies are currently in storage, so she had to pay to get them done. This, of course, led into a conversation about Monica (and her nails) … Oh, the people you meet!
So many different people … so many different needs … so many different stories … yet for all “but one thing is necessary.” (Luke 10.42) To hear more about that, I suggest you come to worship this Sunday … and, oh the people you will meet there, too!
Oh, The People You Will Meet
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