Mockingbird
New member
Here in Denver, the university just built a new hospital recently, which I've been attending this past week. On the pulmonary wing, there is only one bed to a room and the rooms are HUGE. It was about the size of a standard living room. There was a huge window that let sunshine in all day and had a great view, and I had my own personal bathroom and shower. Also, there were two phones with two separate phone numbers; one by the patient bed and one by the visitor couch where visitors could spend the night (I didn't personally need this feature, but I figure someone might find it cool). The visitor couch was only moderately comfortable, but there was more than enough room for someone to lie down on it.
Anyway, since I wasn't really able to leave the room it was nice to have such a great space.
I know most people hate being in the hospital, but I loved it this past week. I usually choose to do all the IVs at home because I'm not really able to take time off from my life, but this time my doctor insisted I spend at least the first few days in the hospital My FEV1 dropped from 70% to 50% in less than two months, I had a huge amount on pneumonia on my left side, and I lost seven pounds in two weeks. That's how sick I was physically, but I really had no idea how sick I was emotionally and spiritually.
There's a story in the Bible (I promise I won't make this too religious) of Jesus visiting two sisters. One sister, Martha, is running all over the house trying to be a great host while the other sister is sitting at Jesus' feet, doing nothing. Martha, of course, gets fed up and basically says to Jesus, "Why are You letting my sister sit there like that? Tell her to get up and help me!" Jesus replies, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Anyway, the point is I've been so busy working full time and teaching sunday school at church and running errands and everything else. Just like Martha running around the house, I felt like everything I was doing was absolutely necessary. Being in the hospital, however, I was cut off from all those things, and I had a lot of time to focus on my relationship with God, spend time with friends, and get in touch with family over the phone.
Things like work and volunteering and running errands are important, but when I allow them to become the top necessities in my life, they cease to mean anything. At that point, I've become nothing but a little worker ant, scurrying around without ever really knowing or thinking about the reason why I'm doing what I'm doing.
Anyway, when Jesus said only one thing is necessary, he was talking about our relationship with Him. Relationships with family and friends are really only an extension of that. My time in the hospital was a good reminder for me to just take some time to "do nothing" and strengthen the relationships in my life.
Anyway, since I wasn't really able to leave the room it was nice to have such a great space.
I know most people hate being in the hospital, but I loved it this past week. I usually choose to do all the IVs at home because I'm not really able to take time off from my life, but this time my doctor insisted I spend at least the first few days in the hospital My FEV1 dropped from 70% to 50% in less than two months, I had a huge amount on pneumonia on my left side, and I lost seven pounds in two weeks. That's how sick I was physically, but I really had no idea how sick I was emotionally and spiritually.
There's a story in the Bible (I promise I won't make this too religious) of Jesus visiting two sisters. One sister, Martha, is running all over the house trying to be a great host while the other sister is sitting at Jesus' feet, doing nothing. Martha, of course, gets fed up and basically says to Jesus, "Why are You letting my sister sit there like that? Tell her to get up and help me!" Jesus replies, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Anyway, the point is I've been so busy working full time and teaching sunday school at church and running errands and everything else. Just like Martha running around the house, I felt like everything I was doing was absolutely necessary. Being in the hospital, however, I was cut off from all those things, and I had a lot of time to focus on my relationship with God, spend time with friends, and get in touch with family over the phone.
Things like work and volunteering and running errands are important, but when I allow them to become the top necessities in my life, they cease to mean anything. At that point, I've become nothing but a little worker ant, scurrying around without ever really knowing or thinking about the reason why I'm doing what I'm doing.
Anyway, when Jesus said only one thing is necessary, he was talking about our relationship with Him. Relationships with family and friends are really only an extension of that. My time in the hospital was a good reminder for me to just take some time to "do nothing" and strengthen the relationships in my life.