Ah,
Monday. Always the big workday of the
week for me. That’s when I get out my
brand new list for the week and start plodding through the things that come
already printed, the things that have to happen every single week, fifty-two
weeks a year. And if we are by some freak
chance on vacation or if something pressing comes up … the Monday list still
must be done.
So,
after a three miler with Chris and the rest of the morning at the computer, I
headed out for my Monday exception. This
time it was a hospital visit up in Texas at the Clear Lake Kindred Hospital. There were actually two patients I needed to
see. One was Todd, the guy we have been
praying for a long time now. He’s the
one who was originally told he had kidney stones when actually his appendix was
about to rupture. It did. He ended up septic and has been through a
horrendous month or so. The other
patient was a retired fire fighter I was asked to visit by the retired
association’s president. Danny had some
extremely serious cancer surgery and has been in the hospital for two months
now.
I
followed the directions given to me by Old Faithful, Google Siri. Not always a great idea, I know. But it is usually an adventure, if nothing
else. Sure enough, she sent me on a wild
goose chase. I ended up at a Kindred
facility, all right, but it was not the right one. She even had me pass by the place and make a
totally unnecessary, wild and crazy U-turn to get there. Fortunately the receptionist knew where
another facility was, and even called ahead for me to make sure it was the
right place. And I enjoyed watching her
try to give directions. She leaned and
twisted and pointed and did all manner of gyrations so I would certainly be
able to picture where she was leading me.
I think Google might consider hiring her if they ever decide to do a visual
version of the Google Siri voice.
I finally
found the right place, though, and went in first to see Todd. He was in much better shape than the last
time I saw him, but he obviously has a lot of physical therapy ahead of
him. He was most excited about being
allowed to have ice chips and about the prospect of have a smaller trach put in
that will enable him to eat actual food.
After prayer I headed back to the elevators to go see Danny. A gentleman joined me as we pushed the “up”
button. He was carrying a New Testament,
so I figured he was headed to make a visit as well. We talked briefly, and as we exited I let him
lead the way. I had a hunch we might be going
in the same direction. Sure enough, he
went to the same room, so we paused at the door and kind of formalized our
elevator introductions. He was a member
of the Sunday School class of the guy who asked me to make the visit. So we joined forces and made the visit
together. Danny seemed genuinely glad to
have some company. He was pining about
not being able to eat real food as well.
He did give kudos to his daughter and ex-wife for all the help they have
been to him. In fact he was ready to put
his ex-wife up for sainthood. I was glad
to hear he had that kind of family support.
Physically he has a really long and difficult recovery ahead of
him. He did assure us that he was born
again, though. So he is ready for
whatever comes next.
Oh,
when I got home there was a guy taking measurements out on 40 Steps (the lot next door). Chris couldn’t stand it, so she asked him
what was going on. He said the plan is
to start building sometime today. Long
sigh here.
1
Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you greatly
rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all
kinds of trials. These have come so that
your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by
fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when
Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Father,
be with Todd and Danny. They both will
really be needing you over the next few months in particular. Amen.
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