Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: JOY (10/28/21)
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TITLE: The Exchange | Previous Challenge Entry
By Philippa Geaney
11/04/21 -
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Although Ma regretted her decision later, when within the hospital she’d sent me, I discovered and announced with all the grace of a sledgehammer: “Ma, God’s not a Catholic.”
I hadn’t yet learned of His gentleness. What I should have said was, “God doesn’t restrict Himself to man’s identity tags.”
The Sisters of Charity, who ran the hospital, weren’t aware of the news either, but my relationship with them kept me from another unsolicited announcement. The nuns’ role as educators was first class, although their management of young students was less charitable than their name supposed. Their rigid demands and my oft-times physical exhaustion drove me to wonder if nursing was for me. At such times I returned to the front foyer where a statue of Jesus had greeted me on my first day.
As always, He stood with gentle eyes and arms outstretched in welcome. Was it wishful thinking to interpret this as confirmation of my belonging?
I wasn’t the only student struggling. Since day one, Joan, my roommate, and friend, had negotiated the pathway of learning, laughter, and loss with me. The fork in the road of our friendship came when a gnawing, God-shaped hole in my heart led me to absorb the words of Michelle, a fellow nurse. She informed me that there was more to God than we knew. Without offense at my self-righteous protests, she spoke of the beauty of His person, the Word, the delight of knowing Him as a Saviour.
How could I deny it? She was glowing while I was wilting.
Joan disagreed. “You’re being dramatic, Celie. Life’s not a bowl of cherries! The best we can hope for is to earn a place with God.”
“Ahh!” I clapped my hands in triumph. “Funny you should mention fruit, Joan Margaret Mary. One of the fruit of the Spirit is Joy. Our Bible says that.”
She remained non-committal, but I wasn’t giving up. “I want to know God the way Michelle does.”
My friend rolled her eyes and checked her fob watch. “I’m due back on the ward. You coming?”
After my shift and before falling asleep that night, I whispered, “God, if there’s more to You; if as Michelle says, Jesus’ crucifixion is the only means of salvation, please show me. And God, more than anything I’ve ever wanted, I want Your Holy Spirit to be my friend.”
As I drifted off to sleep, I decided to visit the statue tomorrow, but I woke with a new direction, the result of a dream…
The colors were arresting, the water blue and inviting. It moved with a life of its own, and I longed to dive in.
“Don’t you dare!” Joan was grabbing my arm, genuinely concerned. “look at your beautiful lead boots. You’ll ruin them – and in any case, you’ll sink.”
I stared down at my feet and, to my surprise, saw tightly laced lead boots.
“They won’t stop me, Joan. I’ll roll in if I have to. Maybe I’ll drown, but if I don’t, I’ll come back for you.”
One deep breath and I pushed off into the unknown.
I woke when a pillow hit my bed. “What’s the matter with you over there? It’s five o’clock, and your laughing. It looks as though you’re splashing in the ocean or something. Go back to sleep.” My friend Joan in no way pulled her punches.
I never did purposely revisit the statue, although it is a fine piece of work.
With Michelle’s guidance, I renewed my thinking concerning salvation and drank deeply of His Spirit. The lead boots did not cause me to drown, and I stored them out of sight in a cupboard.
I find His goodness, closeness, and delicious fruit of joy, continually set my feet a-dancing. Although when the patients are my focus, I have a pair of lead boots in my cupboard.
Scriptures: John 3:16 John14:16
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