I was told the busses would arrive around 7am and patients would come to the tents by 8am. I really couldn't imagine what was about to take place, but I wanted to be a part of it so badly. How I wish Organic Chemistry didn't get the best of me my Sophomore year at Pepperdine! There was a day when I dreamed of being a surgeon. I remember answering the ever popular question, "what do you what to be when you grow up?," with "I want to be a specialty surgeon like for the heart or brain." (insert laughing emoji!) I very clearly remember sitting down with Dr. Green, my O Chem professor and coming to the conclusion that I was not meant to be a doctor.
Today I kinda wish Dr. Green would have pushed me harder, challenged me and encouraged me to stay the course instead of giving me an out. But God's sovereignty is greater than Dr. Green, so I trust that my place was to be on the dock at 6am instead of in the OR next week!
I felt compelled to go pray. Pray over the benches that would soon hold patients who held their own struggles, disfigurement and pain. I wanted to pray over the tents that would hum with the interaction between potential patients and nurses. I had to pray for the tough "no's" that would be spoken to people who would not be receiving surgery. "Please God, let them encounter you on this dock and receive hope, no matter what they are told."
As I made my laps around the dock, enjoying the light sprinkle of rain, runners began to pass me and for a moment I thought I should quicken my pace so at least I appeared to be exercising! But alas, I wasn't there to exercise my body. I was really there to exercise my faith. It was a bit of a struggle to get out of bed in the dark of the early morning. The rain was one more reason to stay inside. But because God put it on my heart to pray the night before, I knew if I didn't go, I'd regret it.
I stopped to take a few photos, never wanting to forget this moment, and as I did I noticed something. The ship parked next to us had a small sign lit up that seemed to be pointing right at our screening tents, right at the place where the patients would soon be, right where I was directing my gaze.
"GRACE"
"But he said to me, ''My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" 2 Corinthians 12:9
A perfect message to shine down on this screening process for all involved.
Grace.
God's grace.
It's one thing that every human needs regardless of their status, condition or race.
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