ER visit: State of triage in the physical means what in the spiritual?
On Wednesday night, I took someone to emergency and saw much more than I wanted to see. Was there for a total of 7 hours. ER was very busy upon check in, so we were brought to “overflow”. This ended up being the triage area right in the ER. We were positioned in the main hallway outside of triage rooms. While there, I witnessed and overheard many things that distressed me. I saw a group of medical staff rush in with a man having seizures due to alcohol poisoning. He fought them as they attempted to treat him. They saved him. Three different police escorts came with people strapped down to gurneys. Apparently the severe restraint was because these were a danger to themselves and others. Overdoses and withdrawal issues were being treated. A man in a severe schizophrenic episode battled hospital staff as he followed the “voices” warning him he was in danger. A very sweet, but clearly anxious elderly man accompanied his wife who came in experiencing chest pains. He was protective of her, making sure the drapes stayed closed for her privacy. He was also fearful; leaving the room in tears at one point, tears I believe he did not want her or me to see. A frail elderly woman laid on a hospital bed in the hallway next to us. She was there when we came at 5:30pm, she was there when we left at 12:30am. The nursing staff had repeatedly tried to contact her family to pick her up with no luck. Towards the end of our visit, a large blue tent the size of a hospital bed was brought into a dark triage room and then rolled out. I am assuming a body of a deceased person was under the covering.
To stand there and wait that long, not being able to “do” anything was a challenge for me. I kept thinking, “LORD, if you were here, you would heal and set free.” Then I thought, “But He is here. He is in me and anyone other believer in this space.” It was uncomfortable. I definitely had intense urges to lay hands on people. I only received a faint whisper, “Sing.” I obeyed; putting one ear piece in and playing a set of songs. I have no idea what God did or will do as a result. One day I will find out.
Also this week within the contract position I’ve taken (referenced in last week’s blog), I’ve listened to a wide variety of different states of medical needs. More than anything what I hear underlying each situation is emotional and mental distress. Peoples’ anxiety levels are high with a clear sense of urgency to find relief.
Within this contract position, God continued to turn conversations in a spiritual direction. Today as someone shared something with me, I gave a response that, “often times the chaos in our physical life is a direct reflection of the chaotic state of our spiritual life”. It stopped her. She said, “You’re right! I really like that. I have to write that down.” She thanked me for being direct and using scripture with her. She asked about any meditations I might be doing in Rochester soon. Another person repeatedly asked when another session would be and told her co-worker about it. They plan on coming!
Regarding physical chaos often paralleling spiritual chaos, I speak from personal experience and through the wisdom I have cried out for. I had a severe amount of chaos in my life, in my mind and in my emotions when my spiritual life did not line up with God’s Word. In the beginning of my relationship with Christ, I was not surrendered. I wanted things with God my way. He refused that offer. He does not allow us to write our own prescriptions on how to get well. We must surrender.
Thankfully, we have a good Father who will wrestle against our willful flesh. He will resist us. He will allow spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst to develop to a point where our souls “pant”. He allows a state of desperation and anxiety that, too often, we ourselves create. He is always there. He doesn’t leave; we resist. We disconnect.
Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Christians are privileged not to have to “go” anywhere and meet with the Great Physician. Jesus has come to us, His Spirit within us, just a soul cry away. He came to heal the sick, Matthew 9:12-13.
A Christian woman told me this week that she has been holding my blog emails in a folder, intent on reading them at some point. She finally got to some last week and said she took significant time reading through many posts. Tears came immediately after she began to tell me that she tried the exercise of letting the Holy Spirit pray for her. That week’s blog can be found here. She was deeply moved in that prayer time with God. “His presence was immediate!”
That Christian woman has been the biggest blessing all week of the spiritual conversations I’ve had. She stands out from them all. Why? Her intent for more of God were not mere words, she acted. And she gave Him glory. The joy and relief that welled up in her eyes was a testament to the Good Father who sweetly kissed and gave satisfying spiritual drink to his daughter. As a result, she signed up to fast and participate in an upcoming session. Satisfying time with God makes us long for more of Him!
I hope you take time with Him, desperate for Him. Jesus will not reject anyone. He longs to reach in and stop the hemorrhaging, the emotional and mental chaos. It will bring life to your mortal (physical) body, Romans 8:11, Psalm 51:8-12. Please check out the calendar page HERE and make note of the sessions scheduled for September 7th, October 5th, November 2nd, and December 7th. Plan on attending one or more!
On a final note, thank you
SO VERY MUCH
to those of you who have donated or have become one of my first strategic partners. What an expression of God’s promise to provide you have been! So thankful for you!
As an fyi, online donations via Paypal are batched weekly by our 501c3 fiscal sponsor. This means that I don’t see the report detail until the following week. I am a bit behind on sending out thank you cards. God is providing! Thank you to anyone who is connecting with God’s mission through Into the Waters! While I continue seeking out monthly strategic partners, I very much appreciate one time donations if you feel so led. You can donate online
.
May you be richly blessed in claiming His promises and developing intimacy with the King of All! Press in! He is near!
Acts 17:27-28a- God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being…
