Perseverance. Continued.

Sometimes I wish life didn't require perseverance. But, I guess we wouldn't learn, we wouldn't grow, we wouldn't become more Christ-like. It sure can be frustrating, though! This week was a challenging week; it was difficult to remain positive (I failed at that many times). . . for some reason a bitter or negative attitude, one full of complaints, just seems easier than the effort required to be positive.

Anyway, this week an opportunity to encouragement someone came during my clinical experience of observation in the OR and post-op recovery room (or PACU, for you medical professionals). I had the opportunity to watch an emergency surgery which was fascinating, but the circumstances surrounding the surgery were sad. However, I stayed with the patient during post-op, I could hold a hand, listen when the patient wanted to talk, and just be a quiet presence. But, it quickly became evident that the patient was a Christian. The patient was obviously sad and grieving, but the patient still recognized and testified that God is sovereign and uses all of our struggles to minister to others.

Wow. I was blessed and challenged. How the patient could find the strength to be an encouragement to others despite the circumstances was incredible. It also put my troubles into perspective, and reinforced to me the importance of reaching out to others despite our busyness, our struggles, our heartaches. It reminded of the healing that can come from taking the focus off of ourselves and putting the focus back on God, the author of all of our days.

Also, last weekend, one of the Cedarville '08 graduates was killed in a car accident. Obviously a shock to everyone, but in chapel two friends of the student shared that the verses marked by the ribbon in her Bible were Psalm 103: 13-17a

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him...

Alongside the verses, she had written something like "Life is short---live for eternity" (I can't remember the exact words, but it was enough to bring goosebumps and tears!) How minor my troubles seem in comparison to some and, in the midst of it all, God uses every moment to challenge us and encourage us. I am not guaranteed tomorrow or next week or after graduation, so how I am living today that brings glory to God?

Remembering that requries perseverance.