So, the other day I was wrapping up an otherwise normal day at the hospital. I was on one of my favorite wards and had just finished seeing my last patient before returning to my office to chart, change into my cycling gear and then ride home to my beautiful family. I love the end of the day.
However, as I was walking out of the ward past the nurses' station, I noticed a bouquet of flowers laying unattended. Having a great relationship with my corpsmen and nurse team, I asked where the flowers came from and what they were doing laying on the counter in such a sorry state. A young corpsmen replied that the flowers were left behind by one of the patients and given as a gift to the staff. Unfortunately, no one had taken the time to accept or care for the flowers so they had just been laying on the counter all afternoon.
So, I asked the corpsman why he didn't take the time to care for the flowers, and he responded, "Because they're cheap, I don't really care about flowers, and they are going to die anyway."
Hmmm...a teachable moment had arrived.
"Brother, you are a corpsman! Your job is to bring life and hope to the dying and sickly! What do you mean 'you don't care?' The flowers are literally right in front of you. In fact, they were given as a gift to you and your team because someone actually liked the care you provided to them. But, beyond this emotional provocation, you should care for these flowers because you can. Look! The flowers even come with a little 'fertilizer pack' attached to the stems. Get a glass of water, dump the pack into the water, and 'Viola!,' you've saved the flowers, honored those who gave the flowers to you, accomplished something meaningful, and perhaps even brightened up the entire ward. Come on, man; you're a corpsman!"
His response: "Sorry, Chaps. Not happening. They are just flowers."
Oh, well...I tried. Now, off to the bike, wife, kids and puppy at home.
However, as I took the first step toward the door and out of the ward, the conviction of the Spirit fell on me. If he wouldn't, then I must. How can I walk away when I have just as much ability as the corpsman? If I can, then I must!
I turned around, grabbed the bouquet, and went into the break room in the back of the ward. I found an old sports bottle (with the Navy logo branded on it!), filled it with water, put the fertilizer in, mixed it up, gave the stems a fresh cut with a butter knife, ripped the plastic wrapper off the bouquet and dropped the flowers in the bottle. It took a whopping 90sec.
Without saying a word, I walked back out to the nurses' station, set the flowers on the corner, and kept on walking. It's approximately 12' from the nurses' desk to the entry doors to the ward/hallway. Before I could hit the doors, the whole place was commenting on how beautiful the flowers were and how great it was to have some color and life in the place. Someone even commented kindly on the patient who had donated them earlier in the day.
I just kept on walking...
I don't always do things because I want to. I certainly don't do things because I think the task/person itself is 'worth it.' (I'm way too cynical & Calvinistic for that!) I've learned that the praise of man and self if way too fleeting and often leads to negative consequences, so I typically do not do things to be recognized. For me, it simply comes down to: If I can, then I must.
As a Christian, I know that my life is not my own. Nothing that I possess ultimately belongs to me; it's all on loan from God. I am 100% accountable to Him for everything: every breath, every conversation, every thought, every penny in my account, every relationship, every desire and every act. I belong to Him and He is not only holding me accountable, but He is also providing me with every opportunity and resource to meet that opportunity. How, then, can I pass these divine moments by or squander them for the weak and worthless impulses of my own will and desire? That's ridiculous.
Some of you religious types right now might be criticizing me now because I just revealed that my motivation is not completely grounded in 'love' for God or others. Sorry. I wish it was, and I'm striving everyday to love God and those around more and more, but sometimes I'm just not there. However, in all things I am constantly aware of God's sovereignty and my duty to Him. For me, this is a 'first motivation,' which leads to right action, which, in turn, reminds me of God's worth and love for me and my love for Him. Duty before Love.
We can't always be motivated by whether not something is 'worth it.' And we certainly cannot be motivated to act simply because we 'feel' like it. If we can, then we must. And since everything comes from Him in abundance, then we always can and we always must. And in doing so, the world is made better, lives are renewed with purpose, and God is ultimately glorified.
Go and Do.
No comments:
Post a Comment