Thursday, October 26, 2006

Perspective

Today I returned to the college campus where my seminary is located. I spent the last 3 1/2 years in classes there. This particular university is known for the wealth of many of the undergraduate students. There are BMW's in the parking garage. Although the university is less than 10 miles from the hospital where I now work, the two institutions are worlds apart. The hospital is all concrete and functionality and is crowded with persons of poverty. The university is old, stately buildings and huge oak trees. Shady green areas are dotted with young people who have never wondered where they will sleep or if they will eat. As I walked across campus, I remembered my first couple of semesters there. I felt terribly out of place. I was middle-aged not young, and it had been 20 years since I had studied for a test or written a term paper. Now, campus feels like home. I miss it. The hospital on the other hand is another strange new land where I am slowly beginning to feel comfortable.

One of the patients made a comment that made me look at my own life. She said when she was first given a walker to use she hated it. It meant a loss of independence and functionality. Now that she can no longer walk even with the walker, she would give anything to be able to use a walker again. It's all a matter of perspective.

I ask myself, what do I have in the here and now that I'm going to miss when CPE is over? What do I need to be appreciating now?

5 comments:

DogBlogger said...

Wow.

You are obviously learning so much from this experience. I'm grateful I can gather in even a portion of it by being around you.

Blessings...

spookyrach said...

Perspective is a powerful thing.

Anonymous said...

You say you wonder what you will be thankful for. From all your postings, it sounds like you already know what you are thankful for: your family and the love you have for them and the love they have for you.

Anonymous said...

As I come upon yet another birthday, I needed this perspective adjustment. Thanks.

Unknown said...

Perspective is indeed a powerful thing. Thanks for inviting me over.
Amy