Meeting God's Mercy Face to Face

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall know mercy (Mt. 5:7)

This past Tuesday night, I found myself in the emergency room at Huntington Memorial Hospital. I'd been sick on and off since the previous Sunday, but by Tuesday night, I knew something was seriously wrong. I emerged 14 hours later with a handful of prescriptions and a diagnosis of gastroenteritis and a bacterial infection in my intestine.

As unpleasant as the whole ordeal was (the 5 hour wait just to get blood work done was the worst!), the hospital personnel who cared for me truly showed me the face of Christ, especially my husband (who himself had knee surgery only a week ago) and a technician named Jack who took care of hooking up the IV and administering fluids and various meds to get me rehydrated and more comfortable while I waited to go for a CAT scan.

I felt grateful that there were people like him in that position because the broken sea of humanity that came through the ER that night truly needed people like him to show them God's mercy. People like the elderly woman with dementia who came in after me and babbled like a brook. The poor dear had no family with her to answer the myriad of questions you get asked. Yet, the nurse was incredibly kind and patient with her.

Or the fellow down the hall who yelled all night "Help me, help me!" I don't know if he was coming off a bad drug trip or if he had mental problems, or what. Yet, he was treated with tremendous kindness and respect.

The whole experience reminded me of the Gospel scene where Jesus looked out over the vast crowd and had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mk 6:34). Surely, He was in that emergency room that night, showering His compassion and healing on His ill children through the hands of the doctors and hospital staff. It also was a good reminder that we are to likewise show mercy to those around us who need help, in whatever capacity we are able. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give (Mt. 10:8).

Prayer Request: For all those who are ill and in the hospital today, and in thanksgiving for the kindness of those who took care of me that night.

Prayer: Lord, our God, we give You praise for sending Your only Son to save us and to heal us. Rain down your mercy on all those in the hospitals this day, and continue to bless our world with willing doctors, nurses and others who bring your gift of healing to our suffering world. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.