Have You Ever Seen This Happen?

A couple of situations to chew on:

Ambulance

Normally, the general practice (and the California Vehicle Code) is to pull over and stop when an ambulance approaches you.  If yhou can't pull over and stop, then stop where you are in the lane of traffic you happen to be in.  All this is for the benefit of the ambulance driver and the patient they are carrying, or are enroute to carry. . . to save precious time in the event of a life threatening medical situation. 

The other day, I was returning home from running errands when I witnessed the following: not only were drivers not pulling over or stopping on my side of a three lane each direction city street - a busy suburban street heavily used within eyesight of a hospital at that - they were not pulling over or stopping on the heavier traveled opposite direction of the street!  Granted, that side of the street at that midday hour was full of cars, and it would have been difficult to pull over.  The ambulance driver gamely stayed in the heavier traveled lanes going his direction, and kept airing his siren, though at a low pitch as though he was resigned to not see the situation get any better for him to move more efficiently. 

My wife has spent her working career in the nursing field, and has been a Registered Nurse for years.  I reported what I saw to her.  She said that was crazy that drivers wouldn't pull over and show any courtesy or consideration.  I quite agreed.  I've frankly never seen this kind of thing happen anywhere before, at least in the United States.  So I called the Sheriff's Department about it. 

The deputy I spoke with told me that there was nothing he could do about it.  "When we see it and we are out there, we do ticket drivers like that," he remarked.  "Thanks," I sighed as I hung up the phone. 

This situation is sooooooo lamentable.  Have we as a society - as a culture - lost respect and compassion for those in trouble and in need of emergency medical assistance?  Is it really all about what's in front of one's nose that counts?  Selfishness?  I know, the deputy I spoke with said that if it were their loved ones - the driver's own family or friends - in the ambulance, they would behave differently and pull over.  But how about the rest of the drivers remaining?

Appointments

I was calling around to several doctor's offices lately.  I'll recount my experience with one younger doctor and her staffer at the phone here. 

Me: "Hello, I'm calling about seeing a doctor."

Receptionist: "You need to see her now?  She doesn't take patients now, and not even today.  She's booked up. . . booked until (two weeks later).  You'll have to make an appointment, or see urgent care somewhere else."

Me: "I don't need to see a doctor now.  I don't even need to see a doctor soon.  I just got out of the hospital!  I'm just inquiring about if your office takes my medical insurance."

Receptionist: "Everyone else has to see the doctor right now.  You don't?  You're sure about that?"

Me: "Yes, I'm sure.  I'm just calling around to see about seeing another doctor."

*****

Galatians 5 (from The Message) has some good words on these matters:

^19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.
^22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Selah.

A (Post)Modern Day Parable

The word of the LORD came to me as I was resting in my house saying, "Son of dust, consider where you are and what you remember of days long ago.  What comes to mind?"  I answered and said, "Do you mean the days of my losing childhood tetherball games to my older brother in the back back yard?"  "Surely not," said the LORD, "but you are in the right place.  Consider a different event."  "Do you mean the cutting down of the fruit tree with the hardened fruit, so hard that not even the dogs would eat of it?" I asked.  "No," replied the LORD, "although that is a worthwhile story to tell for another day.  Reflect some more." 

"Ah, Sovereign Lord!" I exclaimed.  "You have in mind the story of the chicken and the workbench?"  "Very good, yes son of dust, I do.  You must tell this story to every tribe, tongue and nation, from the rooftops above and the valley - even the Valley of Jehosaphat, for surely the rejoinder fits - below.  But tell it to this people who are from the Land of the Pilgrim's Pride, for they need to hear it first,since they have fallen away so astoundingly that my people cannot even recognize it as the place I once walked among them anymore," says the LORD. 

I was thenceforth taken away to a place back in time in my memory by the Spirit of the LORD.  My father had a chicken by the neck.  In his mighty right arm he held an axe, sharper than any two edged sword, as iron surely sharpens iron.  "Do what you must do, and do it quickly," he urged.  The son swung the axe straight through the chickens neck, in one clean swoop.  The father let the chicken fall to the ground, whereupon it immediately fluttered about the whole yard, beating its wings vigorously and with tremendous effort, but to no avail.  In time it laid down and ceased moving its wings so strongly,and gave up its last twitch as it laid motionless upon the ground. 

I wept for the chicken, for it was familiar to me and I drew sustenance from its eggs.  "Why, O Lord, did you have me remember this event?  I am repulsed at the mere thought of it!" 

"Say to them as I live," declared the LORD God, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O Land of the Pilgrim's Pride?" 

An angel strengthened my feeble legs and weak knees, and helped me get up from the place where I witnessed such things.  "What are the meaning of these things?" I asked of the Lord.  "Surely you abhor violence and death, and love goodness and lovingkindness from the rising of the sun to the setting of the same!"

The LORD of hosts answered and said, "Because you have asked me, and have been my faithful servant in this thing in all of my house, I will reveal these things to you.  The father is the Father, the great I AM, God Almighty.  The son is the Son, the Risen Savior, He who will judge the quick and the dead.  The axe is the Holy Spirit, sharper than any two edged sword, who guides His own into all truth - not error - and convicts one of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  The yard is the Earth, and all that is in it. 

The chicken is these people whom I love, who desire a ruler yet detest the King of Kings.  Their pride and arrogance knows no bounds.  They have knowledge, but not wisdom and understanding and true insight from Me.  They are ever seeing, but are blind; hearing, but are deaf."

"Ah, Sovereign Lord!" I exuded.  "This explains why they act as they do.  They are quick to accuse, slow to listen and quick to anger and will not come reason with the LORD.  They do not learn; instead they travel about faster and faster, gathering information  in ever expanding amounts but amounting to a stench in your presence.  So they are. . ."

"As a chicken with its head cut off," replied the LORD.  "I showed them for what they really are in my sight," declared the LORD of Sabaoth. 

Welcome!

Welcome to my weblog!  I hope you will find material here that is useful and thought provoking, and may even move you to action.  At the very least, perhaps you will scratch your head and have considered something you may never have experienced or expected.  Hopefully, there will be much more light than heat in the essays and reflections you will find here.  Coolheadedness is such a lost art anymore.

These are the reflections and essays of one Wandering Pilgrim. . . who looks to that Wonderful Star.  What's that. . .   Who's that. . . you'll find mention of Him in the Christmas song Do You Hear What I Hear. . . "A star, a star, dancing in the night. . .   He will bring us goodness and light". . .   Link provided here: http://wilstar.com/xmas/doyouhearwhatihear.htm


Enjoy!