Serving the God of Convenience

I would wave my magic wand
I would say the magic words
Working up a miracle
Puttin’ on a show
Changing what I thought to be
Unchangeable reality
If I had a magic wand of my own

The only way to really change
Is simple choices everyday
Obey the Spirit-whisper in my soul
With the help of God, a little time
Can change a heart, renew a mind
Without a magic wand He’ll work a miracle...


These lyrics above are from a Chris Rice song, “Magic Wand.” I think it epitomizes the very aggravation we face in EMS everyday. And especially now in the midst of the flu season. It used to be when one contracted the flu, that person would head home, take something over-the-counter like Theraflu and go to bed. Now we’re calling 9-1-1, wanting to go to the hospital, looking for a quick fix. Get me well by tomorrow so I can return to work. Make me feel better so I can do what I want, when I want. Wave your magic wand of medicine over me and change this reality so that I can feel better in my medicated euphoria.

But this runs deeper than just EMS and the flu. Instead of working out the hard tasks of living and being alive, we want simple fixes for everything. And heaven forbid that we have to suffer any semblance of pain. A wave of a magic wand. A little pill to dull the ache of life. Wave the magic wand and give me a toned body. Give me a pill to lose weight without the work. Give me a drink of that potion to give me more energy.

I’m unsure when it began, but it is fully being brought up in the next generation’s minds as well. It has infiltrated my family too. I see it in myself. I want the easy road. That’s why I have a degree from A&M in BS. It was the quick path. I see it in my kids. My daughter plays hard at school and has the all too familiar muscle aches of playing hard. Crying on the couch because her atrophied muscles ache from good exercise, wanting a quick fix. A pill to take away the pain. We don’t make time to fix a healthy dinner. Instead we run to the most convenient place for fake food. A shot of convenience to offset the lack of planning.

I’m slowly beginning to realize that the easy way isn’t the right way. If I want to be a person fully alive, I must face the struggles. I must face the pain. I must deal with the frustrations and not run from them and hide under a medicated blanket. If I have the flu, I must endure to the end of the cycle (hopefully not infecting others) and then overcome and win. If I feel emotionally contoured, I must deal with the feelings and make it right before my God and those whom I’ve crossed. If I feel tired, I must exercise, dealing with the pain and enjoying it all the while.

But who wants to do this? Who has the time? Why put forth the effort when I can wave the magic pharmacotherapeutic wand and fix all things? Why not take advantage of the modernity of this age and take the quick fix?

To answer the questions, I must realize that the same 24 hours apply to everyone. What are my priorities? Where can I find these answers and what helps me adjust my priorities? I look to Hebrews for the answer and remember that Christ didn’t want to go to the cross. He even asked that the cup be removed from Him. But Hebrews doesn’t leave us thinking that Christ begrudgingly approached the cross. Hebrews fills in the gap there and states that He went with joy. With joy He endured the cross! With joy he scorned shame. And with joy He sat down at the Father’s right hand. Hebrews then tells us to consider Him... Christ... who endured this opposition. What opposition? The opposition of the entire world... sinful men. Think the world’s after you? Consider Him. The entire world of sinful men. Consider Him so that you will not grow weary and lose heart!!!! Hebrews 12:1-3

What an awesome magic wand. What an awesome pill. Endure. Persevere. Run the race. Put forth all of your effort. And do it with joy, just as Christ did. Consider Him and do it.

Facebook

I never thought I’d like Internet social networking. MySpace had no appeal. Facebook was a waste of time.

Notice: these are past tense. Who knew they were so much fun? I have actually wasted more time playing in Facebook over the past several weeks then I ever imagined. I’m not super popular. Don’t want to be. But I enjoy making contact with my old friends and acquaintances.

The past is sometimes scary. There are people that I don’t want to come in contact with again. There are people that are better left in the closets of my past. There are actions that I wish not to remember and times that are better left forgotten. That’s why I avoided things like Facebook. There was too much of a possibility of these haunting my present life. I didn’t want that. So I avoided people from my past that might remind me of those times.

Now, I embrace the past. There are more positives than negatives. And the negatives... were they really that bad? Not when I look at how my old acquaintances and friends have gotten old. They have kids... like me. Most of them are pretty cute kids too. They have jobs... like me. They are successful... like me. All of them have a past... just like me.

So my avoiding the simple discomforts of the past has prevented me from enjoying socializing with so many. It wasn’t worth it. I can now say, come see my Facebook... I’m there.

Second Semester in a row...

I can’t believe it’s been five months! Last semester was crazy. This semester is now just beginning.

Two classes. Eight hours. Biology I and Chemistry I. Career change. New kid in childcare. That’s how last semester started.

I took freshman Biology I and Chemistry I, each four hour classes. Within a few weeks of school starting, I quit my job with MEMdata consulting hospitals on medical equipment. Four other employees and me left the small firm within about a two-week time frame. At the same time, our family had to accommodate an extra child’s care while both my wife and I worked full-time. Coordinating three kids, one in elementary school, one in pre-school and one going to a friend’s house is no small task.

The semester ended with the revelation that my wife really needs to become a stay-at-home mom in order for our family to function smoothly. Too much rushing around. Too much pushing the kids and barking orders when everyone is sleepy, exhausted and cranky. Too much scrounging for food when no one has the energy to cook. Too much fastfood. Too little time with the family together. Too late of classes. The toll was too great on the kids.

The semester ended with excellent grades. That’s about it.

Two classes. Eight hours. Biology II and Chemistry II. House to sell. 24-on-48-off. That’s the start of this semester. Spring 2009.

I’m taking the second halves of freshman biology and chemistry. And it started last week. I’m now working a crazy EMS schedule. I took a job with St. Joseph Regional EMS. We provide 9-1-1 service to two counties, Grimes and Burleson. I’m on the Grimes County rotation. And I really like the job. It is great exposure to my calling and it actually pays a little more than I was making with MEMdata! Why didn’t I make this jump sooner?

Hopefully updates will come a bit more quickly this semester. Right now, I’m touching up paint and preparing for a garage sale! If you know of someone wanting to buy a house, let me know!

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