One Second

Have you seen the new AT&T commercial where the man invisions his son being the next president, and then changes his train ticket to sit by the girl? The closing slogan says, "Any second could be the second."

I love that. If you know me well, you know that I love love, and you can probably envision me tearing up at that commercial. (Yeah, that happened. Okay, okay....more than once.)

But what it says, "Any second could be the second," spoke to me in more ways than just love. Doesn't it keep you on your toes to think that the next second of your life could potentially change your life? That unexpected conversation, that little prayer, that wrong turn....everything can change.

I'm not afraid of change. I'm not afraid to take a risk just to see how it pans out. It keeps things interesting.

When I was in high school, a pastor in my life told me I would always be in God's will unless I intentionally stepped out of it. That took away all the fear of accidentally missing it. I desire to know God, I desire to make him known, and to live the life he desires for me. I don't want to ever step out of it, but I do like that it takes interesting turns. :)

Changes coming. I know you're not surprised. Details to follow in the near future. :)

Much love.

Patches? We don't need no stinkin' patches

As you finish each level of EMS and pass the appropriate tests, you earn a new patch for your uniform. I currently hold my EMT-Basic in both national registry and state licensing. When I walk into clinical sites, I have visible proof that I am capable of certain skills and responsible for a stash of basic-level knowledge. Just a glance at my patch says, "She can administer instant glucose and is learning IV's now." Easy, right?

Don't you wish your other life achievements, accomplishments, or figure-it-out-the-hard-way moments were more obvious to others?

Instead of people asking me in shock, "You're 26? Why aren't you married?" They would see my certified "2 broken hearts" patch and "multiple failed dating attempts" certificate.

Instead of assuming I'm in paramedic school because I've wasted the last 8 years since high school, they would see my "bachelor's degree" emblem, and...well, I guess I could go ahead and wear my flight attendant wings. I might need a patch that says something about "She changes her mind a lot" and "Just wants to love what she does."

I would also have patches for my useless knowledge of celebrity life and "Friends"...just in case someone wanted to play a trivia game or make a bet, or something.

Anyone up for this idea? I'm also pretty great at hand-stitching, so I could get started on your patches, if you need.

Let me know. :)

(By the way, the title is stolen from the movie Troop Beverly Hills, and is best said with a Hispanic accent.)

One

In my new line of work, I'm constantly reminded how blessed and fortunate I am.

I thank God for the roof over my head, as the man tells me he's lived in a tent for 15 years.

I thank God for parents who continue to love and support me, as a child dies from child abuse.

I thank God for health, as the patient with asthma struggles to breathe.

I thank God for the wisdom to not smoke, as the woman in her 30's lists "emphysema" as part of her health history.

And I thank God for the heart he's given me, the desire he's placed in me, and the strength to continue as I encounter these seemingly hopeless situations.

I will never be able to save every child. It's impossible to cure each disease.

But I can try.

And if I'm able to save one, I've made a difference.

But for a season

I find it really easy to get caught up in my own world. I see the tests, clinical hours, work schedules, and sparse free time, and it's almost suffocating. Yesterday, it seemed to all catch up with me. I was having a rough day at work, and it took everything in me not to sit in a corner and cry. I was feeling pretty down and sorry for myself.

But then I went to church, and the first song during worship said, "I adore you, I love everything you are." Do you know how hard it is to honestly sing those lyrics while focusing on your own problems? Then, one of my small group kids reminded me about the book we've been reading, Crazy Love, and the lesson we had about worrying. Worrying, or seeing your own problems as a big deal, is a form of arrogance. Compared to the happenings and injustices not only in this world, but also the ones throughout time, my problems are but a moment. I probably won't even remember these frustrations in a year. Life goes on. And God, and our relationship with Him, is so much bigger and better than any issue we think we are facing.

I went to bed thinking about the blessings I have, instead of the frustrations. And I awoke knowing that this is just a season.

I hope you know that today's problems are just a season. He will see you through.

Much love.