Glad to be a fool ...
Come and sit awhile beneath my tree or upon my billowy branches and rest a while with me....


My work schedule is one 12 hour shift on, one twelve hour shift off, then, five 12 hour shifts in a row. That is 72 hours in 7 days if I don't pick up any extra shifts. Needless to say, by the end of my 72 hours I am quite tired, physically, emotionally and mentally. I am saying this because I have learned that on that 5th twelve hour shift, the enemy will try to do his best to distract, deceive, and disassociate. Notice that I said "try".

A conversation recently on prejudice took place in my workplace. Also, the issue of gay rights, elimination of 10 commandments and prayer from public places etc... . Anyway, I just sat and listened to the opinions of those around me. My spirit was grieved. Several people were (are) so steeped in the world's ideas of being "politically correct" and acceptance of alternate lifestyles, and the mind set of social, political and cultural tolerance.
(Honestly, I was hoping a new patient would come into the Emergency Dept. so I could escape this one!) But, as God would have it...no one did. I began to silently pray in the Spirit.
Soon I was reminded that Ephesians 4:15 says that a sign of Christian maturity is to be able to speak the truth in love. As a believer in Christ, who will be forever growing in HIM, I succumbed to the Spirit of truth....Saying, " I have observed some in this place exhibiting prejudice speech and comments toward those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Stating that you don't have a problem with so and so's lifestyle or anothers social status and need for public assistance. Then, in the next breath, making durogatory statements about them through what some call "joking". For me to remain silent is to remain part of the problem, as I see it. Personally, I feel that Christians are the ones who are most discriminated against in this country. It doesn't matter what color the christian is, they are discriminated against. Pharmacists who don't want to dispense the "morning after" pill because of their faith, children and young adults who love the Lord and want to practice or share their faith are being constrained to certain times and places this can be done. Well, for the sake of time I won't bring up the rest of the conversation and the things that were discussed. Someone stated, "Debi, I'm sorry if we offended you." I stated, " I am not offended. I have a great concern for our nation and the citizens of it. Especially our children and young people. My concern is the legacy/ inheretance we are leaving them. Is everything acceptable? Is everything tolerable? We need to visit this. How far do we go as a nation without standing up and saying , 'enough is enough'? Have we cast aside the foundations that this country was established on and allow it to crumble? Do we want our children's minds and spirits polluted with the garbage that is handed to them in the name of tolerance and acceptability? I don't."

Well, the comments were, "Religion is for the weak, wounded females of the world! You notice that there aren't as many men as there are women in the churches."

" What about the Catholic priests molesting all those boys?"

" How do you feel about the prejudice between Catholic and Protestant?"

I just replied that I was sorry for what has happened and is happening and that my only hope is that my story will really be about what God can do despite--no, because of--my weakness. I hope that you will see a story of His love for me and how that love can change not just a person but a community. Because that, is the cry of my heart, and the prayer in my spirit.

I was told I was foolish in believing this.....lol...well, we know what the foolish things of this earth do don't we...nothing else was said...all went about their work after that....confounded.... there was such an awesome presence of God in that place...hmmm. I love it when God shows up like that!

In , through and to HIM,
Deborha