Friends, Family, Acquaintances, and Impacts

Well I am now official retired from Oklahoma Heart Hospital.  My last paycheck will arrive this week.  Time will fly for me while I get ready for my big transition to Ghana.  Dan Asiamah, the Director of the OAVI school where I will be, is here in the United States.  He will arrive here in Oklahoma this weekend and visit with various people for 10 days before leaving for Virginia.  The remaining time between now and April 16th (my departure date) will be used to see friends, family and decide what items I need to take with me.

Over the past few days, I have been reflecting on the friends and family who I will leave when I move.  During the past few days, a couple of comments have caught my attention which also caused me to reflect on my life and who I am.  Anytime someone moves away, you will hear comments like "Keep in touch" or "I'll never forget you".  These comments indicate that we know how important relationships are to our lives.  Everyone who comes into our life, whether for a short time or long time, will make an impact on the shape of our lives.

Most of us know without a doubt that who we are has been influenced by our parents, teachers
and long-time friendships.  But do we realize that each person we meet for even a moment will help shape us?  I have really been reflecting on some of these brief interactions and how they have impacted the shape of my life.
For instance, when I think about Ghana and my decision to move there to serve, I realize that some of the briefest relationships have made a monumental shaping adjustment to my life.  Then there are others who have been a part of my life for many, many years and the impact they have made on shaping my life has been small.  God sends people into our life each day who impact the shape of our life and who we are.  That impact may be just a nudge to our shape OR it may be a huge re-shaping of who we are.

Relationships are to be cherished.  I have been blessed by many life shaping relationships.  While I know it is hard to stay in touch with the same amount of influence over the years, those relationships will always be a part of who I am.  And for that I am Thankful.  However, the thought I am really wanting to put down to keep is that some of the relationships which have shaped who I am and who you are, are relationships or interactions which only occur over a minute or two.  Some interactions we have are so brief we hardly think about them, but they make good-sized shape-changes to who we are. 

I think about the brief interactions in the Bible which made HUGE impacts/shaping to peoples lives.  For example, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40), Jesus and the Samaritan Lady at the well (John 4:1-30), the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).  These, and so many more, are examples of brief encounters which made big shaping impacts on peoples lives.  So two thoughts I want to remind myself of are:

1).  Put your best foot forward in every interaction with others.  You never know how you may impact/shape that persons life.  You would certainly rather be a positive impact than a negative one.

2).  Receive each interaction with others with an open mind and heart.  This person/interaction will impact the shape of your life whether minutely or hugely.

To Serve....

Whew!!  What a busy few weeks!  I returned from Ghana only a week ago, yet it seems like a month ago!  The events of this last week in Japan are just so unimagineable.  The reality of their disaster sure makes anything I am concerned about seem so small.  Before I share more about my trip to Ghana and up-coming plans, I would like to take a few moments to pray for all those affected by the earthquake and tsunami.  Please join me.

Now to Ghana which is so dear to me.  The picture above is of the wonderful group of people who were with me during my last visit to Ghana.  Andrew (back, left) is an EMT from TX, Tom (back, right) is the Group Leader from IHCF, Jessica (front, left) is an accountant currently working with IHCF, and Dr. Fred (front, middle) is a board member for IHCF and a physician.  I watched each member of the team as they worked with compassion and love throughout each day.  Each of us used the gifts which God has blessed us with as we served others.   However.....

Meet Dr. Peter.  He is the physician who sees patients at the Yendi Clinic 5 days a week, every week, for many years.  (I believe he has worked at the clinic for over 20 years, but am not positive.)  I do know that he has not taken time off for a VERY long time.  He serves the people in this area continuously as do many others who are at this clinic.  They work long hours in conditions which many of us have never seen and if we have seen them, it is usually for only a short time....Not day in and day out.....No air conditioning, temps above 100 degrees, minimal supplies and equipment.

Now meet the people of the community.  These wonderful people wait for hours in the heat, sitting on wooden benches or plastic chairs, sick and/or hurting to see the doctor and receive care.  No TV in the waiting room, no coffee or water or pop machine, and no complaining about any of it.  Each waiting their turn patiently. 

You are probably wondering why I believe these things are important for you to know.  I have worked in healthcare for 20 years and I have seen and heard much.  I believe each of us needs to stop every day and be thankful to God for what we have.  We, as Americans, are blessed in so many ways and take so much for granted.  Many of us feel entitled.  We should PRAISE GOD DAILY, HOURLY, EVERY MINUTE for our blessings. 

I Thessalonians 5:17-18  Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Mark 10:45  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve others....