Friday, June 24, 2011

Wounded Souls

As I mixed up his IV medications, I overheard my patient talking with the other nurse. Gruff, negative, tough-guy-attitude. Complaining about his job—“hating every minute,” he said calmly. This comment—in an economy where there are those who would love to have a job they hate…just to have a job.

And when I searched for a vein to use for the IV, he joked about how he’d wanted to punch the last nurse that started an IV in his hand. Lucky me.

I was mildly annoyed with his dramatic, pessimistic attitude.

And in a brief moment, with rolling eyes…

I judged him.

Such a simple action. A moment in the mind. We evaluate and we label and we measure. By whose standards?

I had him all figured out from a few interactions. This complex child of God.

Later before his stress test, I reviewed his chart for a medical history.

And saw words like Divorce. Depression. Evaluating for suicide.

My heart plummeted. How could I have been so wrong?

This wounded soul. I was focusing on caring for his heart physically, but these were matters of the heart that a cardiologist couldn’t heal. Was he aching for love? Wondering his worth? And what had I done to help?

I, who am so quick to judge and slow to learn.

Sorrowed and softened by this newfound knowledge, I spoke more kindly. I treated more tenderly. I tried to love as Jesus would love.

Yet the lesson remains.

When I’m in a hurry, when I’m frustrated or annoyed, when I’m preoccupied with my own worries or pains…what wounded souls am I overlooking?

When I impulsively judge a person by their looks, their words, their actions…what wounded souls am I passing by like a Pharisee?

Holy Spirit, thank you for never giving up on me. Help me to see beyond the exterior. To obey your command not to judge (Matthew 7:1-5). Transform my eyes and my mind and my heart—to see and think and love as you would have me do.

5 comments:

  1. WOW. You have a SERIOUS talent with words! Thank you for them, and I can't agree more with them! I've asked myself the same thing many times. I am a slow learner too.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, and holding me accountable for not blogging! AH! I've just been so busy, I'll have to write my next blog about all that has happened.

    Yes I've been wakeboarding, but only once. Though it was for 4 days straight at a Malibu boat event. It was great, I was able to land my first backroll, 360, and toe-side wake to wake of the year :D And yes I love to wakesurf too! We did a lot of that those 4 days :)

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  2. Thank you SO much for your encouragement, vdefender. :)

    The boating event sounds super fun. Congrats on your wakeboarding!! I'm still learning to let go of the rope for wakesurfing, hee hee.

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  3. Laura, this is really beautiful and hits home. I agree with vdefender. You have such talent and wisdom. It is always a breath of fresh air to read your posts!

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  4. Aw, thanks, Lauren! That means a lot to me coming from you! You're one of my role models. :)

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  5. Once again..could I use this on YLCF? :)Email me, if you have a moment! <3

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