NOT JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE BEACH (Part 2)

The lifeguard who came to my rescue, after I dislocated my shoulder at the beach, drove my friend and I to the Cornwall Regional Hospital free of charge. I was grateful not to pay the exorbitant cost proposed by the rasta taxi man.  After pulling up to the entrance of the emergency room, my friend decided to go ahead to prepare the hospital staff for my coming. At least John the Baptist got to get his message out before he was stopped, my friend stood no chance, as she was blocked from entering because she was “inappropriately dressed.”

She angrily came back to the car, while the lifeguard was cautiously helping me out of the car and into a wheelchair provided by a porter.  Although born in Jamaica, she lives in the United States where she is a nurse and she could not understand how she was not allowed to enter as this was an emergency and the incident happened on a beach, which would account for being dressed in a wrap over her swimsuit. I was happy they let me in.  I too was in a swimsuit and only had my Canadian friend’s warp as a sling.  Oh yes, and I did have my shorts on since the lifeguards and my friend was able to get it on back at the beach.  You would be surprised how many persons it takes to put on the shorts of someone with a dislocated shoulder. 

Well, again our lifeguard, who was seeming more and more like an angel, saved the day.  He literally gave her the shirt off his back.  Now, my friend, decked out in a lifeguard shirt could make her way into the hospital and be what I felt was my life support. 

The porter wheeled me slowly in front of a large door that said “Triage.” The lady who was sitting waiting by the door smiled at me.  I inquired of her how long I would have to wait and she said a while, but my go-getter friend came back and I was next up.   The lady who may have been waiting a while watched me go through. She was a veteran of the hospital system and she had a green card, which she knew was the symbol of a long wait as the two other colors took priority.

When I was brought into the small triage room a female Asian doctor sat at the desk. If I were not in so much pain, I would have asked her what country she was from, but my spasms kept on kicking and I was taking a licking. She asked what was wrong and I explained by injury. She told me once I had a dislocation, it was easy for my shoulder to get out of place. Those weren’t the words I wanted to hear, but I had no time for self-pity. 

The doctor determined the severity of my injury and awarded me a red card.  If I were playing football, seeing this card would have meant that I would have been kicked out, but this card in the ER meant I was on the top of the list to go through as I had a “real” emergency.  Next stop – the vital signs and pain relief room.

My friend wheeled me through a packed waiting area and actually bounced into a couple people to my dismay as every sudden move delivered a sharp jab in my arm.  There was a bit of confusion about whether to go to registration or to go get my vital signs. My friend deemed it fit to register later.  She pushed our way through another crowded waiting area and parked me in a corner. 

On arriving outside this other examination room, she handed the red card to a nurse who came out of the room.  She looked at it and gave it back to the annoyance of my friend, then without saying a word went back in the room. Not long after, another lady, who we later found out was a nursing student, came out and my friend gave her the papers from the triage and pointed out that I had a red card.  Success!!! I was brought in and to my horror was told to get up and bend over as I had to get an injection in my butt.  Being injury prone, I have frequented many emergency rooms and doctors, but I think the last time I got a shot in the buttocks I was about six years old.  Needless to say, I was not happy as I had to make movements that I did not want to make as they would leave me hurting even more. But, I kept hope alive as this injection was to assuage my pain. 

Unfortunately, the relief was not as much as I hoped for, but I had to continue on my journey to wellness.  Now, on to the x-ray room.  The student nurse directed us and my friendly friend asked her if she wanted to keep on practicing in Jamaica.  She replied “no.”  She was not looking forward to the long hours, little resources and low pay.  My friend said she couldn’t blame her. 

Oh I forgot to mention, by this time on my other emergency room visits I would have been given a bed, but no bed was forthcoming as there were no beds to be had.  Babies on drips lay in their mothers’ arms in the waiting rooms among patients who had to patiently wait in blood stained clothes. Many folks with green cards were waiting since morning and it was now early evening.   

As we waited for my x-rays to be done my friend expressed the desire to help the healthcare system in Jamaica.  Being a nurse, she wanted to come back and volunteer her services, but she considered her frustration at not having the necessary resources.

My friend garbed in the borrowed lifeguard shirt over her wrap
just outside the x-ray room 

My red card was very helpful. I was up next and again, I had to get up from my wheelchair, which was one of the few semi-comforts I had in my situation. Then, it was back to the waiting room where I went to registration.  Since I was in a public hospital, I would be the recipient of free healthcare.  However, I along with many of the others who waited, soon recognized that there was nothing free in life. After all, most of us know the saying, “time is money.”  And, judging from the long waiting time, wealth was being amassed, but I am quite not sure who was getting it though.

As I sat in the waiting room, hoping that no one would brush against my chair, there was a commotion.  Many individuals ran to look out the windows and doors as news spread that shooting victims were arriving.  Curiosity got the best of my friend, so she too dashed to see what was going down.

*Please note:  If you ever hear gunshots and you are around Jamaicans, never go in the direction where they sprint towards.  They are not running to safety, but rather they are scurrying to see who is shooting who. 

I was positioned near a gentleman who also had a red card.  He saw me looking down at my feet still covered in sand, and asked if I got hurt at the beach.  I told him yes and that I suffered a dislocated shoulder while attempting to swim.  He followed up with an explanation, “It was the devil.”  Being, a Christian who has the strong belief that God is always in charge and that He allows us to go through good and bad for a purpose, and no matter what it will all work out for good, I tried to tell him that God was in control.  He refused to believe this and said that God wouldn’t allow bad to happen to me.  

But, could this dislocated shoulder be what God would use to show me something more about life?

My answer came as my drama continued…                                                                                                                                 

NOT JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE BEACH (Part 1)

Finally! I got a chance to take a break and go to the beach in Montego Bay.  Living on an island doesn’t mean you have the opportunity to visit the beach regularly.  On the contrary, many Jamaicans cannot afford a trip to the beach as this, for many, is a luxury.   I was happy to go hang with my friends and just bask in the sun whilst listening to the waves roll up against the shore.

One of the many beautiful beaches in Jamaica

Unfortunately, my relaxation came to an abrupt end with a dislocation.  Yep, yet again, I dislocated my shoulder.  This time it came from one not so smooth stroke.  Seriously, no joke, one breast stroke and it was out.

The last time that I had dislocated my shoulder I was cheering for the Jamaican 4x100 meters team in the 2012 London Olympics.  What can I say?  I am a proud Jamaican and I have gone through excruciating pain to prove it.  I felt like Humpty Dumpty, without having that great of a fall, but unlike the unfortunate Humpty, I was put back together again by the UWI hospital medical team in Kingston.

Now, I faced a similar situation on the opposite end of the island. Needless to say, I became quite a spectacle at this highly frequented tourist spot.  However, many people came to my aid.  There are definitely many good people still living in this world.  My friend who was at the hotel with me is a nurse, and she did not panic but simply told the amazing lifeguards  how they could be of assistance.  And, a newly found friend from Canada who is a masseuse massaged my neck while insisting that I smell eucalyptus oil.  A fantastic beach, a soothing massage and two good looking strong men lifting me. This would have been the life, if it weren’t for the gentle sea breeze pounding against my upper left arm like Mohammed Ali - everything made my shoulder hurt.

A rasta taxi driver came and cordially offered to take me to the hospital for US $30. Definitely a problem mon. I would have rather walked the less than three mile journey in my state rather than pay that amount.  Everyone else tried to figure out what to do.  The consensus was to get my shoulder back in its socket without going to the hospital as the private hospital would have been way too expensive (they charge United States prices) and the public hospital would have been way too much drama along with a long wait time.  So, one lifeguard tried to put a bottle of water under my shoulder to move it out, back up and in.  Good idea in theory, but practically it didn’t go so well.  A medic came, but same result.  Alas, the public hospital would be the answer to my old friend’s and new Canadian friend’s prayers to get my shoulders back in place.

The lifeguard who failed at the attempt to relocate my shoulder with a water bottle succeeded at driving me and my friend to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.  Finally, relief was in sight.  Or was it?

Actually, that is where my drama really started . . . all over again.    

Weed it out!!!

The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one. Matthew 13:38

Gardenweb describes a weed as "a plant that is growing where it is not wanted, it can have strong and healthy growth, and is able to overgrow valued plants by overcrowding, thus depleting soil nutrients and moisture that would otherwise be available to preferred plants."

Bellis perennis

The thing about weeds is that they can be very beautiful.  Sometimes you just don't even want to pull them up.  Unfortunately, if you have planted "preferred plants" they tend take up space, crowd out the sun and take away all the nutrients. It baffles me why in Jesus' Parable of the Weeds, the owner would have the weeds grow with the good plants until harvesting.  He knows the damage they can do to the "good" plants. They also reproduce so quickly.

It seems that only the stronger "good" plants will survive the ravage of the weeds.  Sometimes if you know very little about plants, like I do, you will call a weed a flower and you will keep it until it takes away from the growth of the good plants.

We need to know the difference between a weed and a flower and get rid of the weeds in our life, making sure all the time that we are not a weed stunting the spiritual growth of others.  We may look like we are growing beautifully, but in the end, just like in the Parable of the Weeds we will be harvested and put to the fire.

WHAT NOW?

“From now on I will tell you of new things,
    of hidden things unknown to you.
⁷ They are created now, and not long ago;
    you have not heard of them before today.
So you cannot say,
    ‘Yes, I knew of them.’
Isaiah 48:6-7

I can truly say "I didn't know." I didn't see this coming. Life had lots of twists and turns to get me here. The path I planned to take just kind of disappeared in the fog of despair as I wallowed in self-pity after each broken dream. But, I have found that all things do work for good if we love God and we are called to His purpose.

Nevertheless, the road to God's purpose is often filled with obstacles that may not be meant to stop us, but rather to redirect us. How often do we believe that we are in God's will, yet, nothing seems to go right?  Well, our gaffes can be our greatest gifts. It just depends on how we receive it as it is true that our mess can definitely morph into an amazing message of hope for many. 

The suddenlies of God catch us off guard and then we are in a "new thing". It may be way out of our comfort zone and quite a stretch. So, What now? From now on, our lives will never be the same. God is creating something new in our lives. This may be painful process, but it is not without purpose. We are moving into a new position and getting a different perspective. We can never say that we knew this was going to happen.  Actually, this was never in our plans, but God had His way. 

NOTHING

I have nothing,

But, Jesus is everything I need

I have no money,

But, my God will meet all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus

I have no food,

But, the offspring of the righteous man will not go begging for bread, and I am the child of the most righteous Heavenly Father

I don’t have my own house,

But, I dwell in the shelter of the Most High

I have no car,

But, it is the Holy Spirit who moves me

I don’t have many friends,

But, Abraham wasn’t the only friend of God, so am I

I feel like my life is going out of control,

But, my God holds the whole world in His hands

I feel like I can do nothing,

But, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength

I feel like I am nothing,

But, I am specially designed by the Creator, and out of nothing, He makes me something, beautifully designed for His purpose

You may see me as nothing,

But, Jesus sees me as everything - someone worth dying for.

What Do You Expect?

Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, “The LORD declares,” when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled. Ezekiel 13:6

This verse is pertaining to false prophets, but I recognize it is extremely profound just reading it by itself. How often do we see things the way we want to see it, creating a false vision? Have we ever looked into the future conjuring up a life that we want, then manipulate our present to make what we "foresee" be what you want it to be?  That's nothing less than creating and living a lie.  But, we don't only create false visions and live a lie, we try to make ourselves feel better by saying that it is "of the Lord." And since "it is of the Lord," then we expect all that our visions will be fulfilled and our lies will be made true.

Our unrealistic expectations, gives way to living in a manner that is not pleasing to God.  We put our expectations on others and believe that they should be what we want them to be.  But really, they aren't.  Some folks may want to please us and they will try to be what we want them to be, however it can be quite difficult to keep up the facade and at some point the facade comes down and both parties are hurt.  One is angry because he or she feels that the person has changed for the worse.  While the other, breaks under the pressure of being what he or she wasn't meant to be.

Manipulations, lies and unfair expectations lead only to trouble. The fact is we are all broken and we somehow want to feel more together through love and acceptance. Furthermore, we desire the other person to show us love and acceptance through our own lens, which is often shaped by our experiences.  This is unreasonable as each person has their own experiences that have given them a different perspective on life.  

So, what do you expect?  It's time to have a reality check. No one can fit all our expectations. We need to give them a break and we need to give ourselves a break. We miss out on the uniqueness and beauty of others when we try to make them fit into our mold.  Let's just let people be who they were meant to be and support them to be the best person they were created to be. Step back and see them for who they really are.    Sometimes we may not like this realistic look, but then that's when we need to take a good look at ourselves. We may not like the person we are either. The things we hate in others are often what is wrong with us.  Once we know the truth about ourselves then bring it to God.  He will enlighten us and show us the way.

Read more about unrealistic expectations at  http://www.rechargerelationships.com/Expectations_Chapter.pdf

Dying for Christ

According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21

We often talk about living for Christ.  But, are we ready to die for Christ?  Are we ready to die to self?  Too frequently we say this is the way we are and we can't change.  However, if we say that we can't change, as Christians we are denying the power of the Holy Spirit.  We are in essence stating that our flesh is more powerful than the precious blood of the Lamb.

We are to put ourselves on the altar, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God. This requires death.  Something has to die for life to occur.  A seed dies in the earth and is buried away for new life to spurt that is abundant and fresh.  

Trying to cheat death to self, we remain egotistical and can never fully accomplish our God given purpose.  Sometimes it is our humiliation which humbles us after it helps to kill our flesh. Our shame is a necessary part of living for Christ and it enables us to better encourage others in their Christian walk as we remember that Jesus too suffered the "shame of the cross."  He did this so that we could have life more abundantly.  

It is not just about us, God is thinking about how much we can accomplish when he helps to murder our flesh and annihilate our ego. This is all a part of dying for Christ, so that the world will have much to gain.