Waiting and Working

Advent is always busy. Of course it is. We have our usual jobs and responsibilities but we also must find time to shop, decorate, and bake. Maybe even travel. We have added bills and year-end planning. There are parties and activities. And we do all of this in cold weather and limited sunlight. When our bodies really just want to rest.

I worked on Thanksgiving, traveling back and forth between three hospitals. Three surgeries, several other procedures, many consults, texts and phone calls. Luckily, I was able to join my extended family for our traditional crisp morning walk, leaving before the cinnamon rolls and coffee. It was a very busy day and by the time I got back home the leftovers were being put away, the dishes washed. My plate of food was still warm and delicious.

And during the day I found time to read a few pages of a beautiful work of fiction. Pearly Everlasting takes place in the forests of New Brunswick in the 1930’s and every page is a poetic delight. And I was able to listen to over an hour of an audiobook about joy as I drove around town. And to leave grateful voice memos for friends and family.

On that day, I talked to so many people. A scared, confused 101 year old woman. An anesthesiologist I hadn’t seen in twenty years. An eighteen year old boy and his proud and concerned father. A racist, sexist conspiracy theorist that I’ve known for fifteen years who only trusts me with his healthcare and who finally had the major surgery he needed. I apologized for him to the nurses that morning and implored him to behave for a few more days. I talked to scores of healthcare workers all over the city who give and give.

Reflection and action filled my day. Ora et labora

I have many faults and short-comings but being a physician is what I do best. Making quick and intimate connections, gleaning information from body language and words and the medical record. Performing procedures and surgeries that I’ve done thousands of times. Muscle memory and experience and interest in always improving. Searching for a way to address not only what the patient made the appointment for, but the bigger picture as well. Diabetes, depression, anxiety, poor sleep, alcohol use- encouraging and teaching and sharing.

And we all have things we do best. Specialties and interests perfected over thousands of hours. Where your treasure is, your heart will follow. When we spend time on something we are making a choice. We are reinforcing neural pathways. We are creating an emotional bond. And we are using our finite hours on earth. And only God knows how many more heartbeats we have.

So what can we do this Advent? These last days of this era in our country? This fleeting season of our lives? Advent is a time of waiting. But in no way does it need to be passive or static. We wait with anticipation. With hope. And we wait with preparation and action.

We must reflect in the gaps. Quietly and without distraction. And then we must keep working.

We need to spend time in a way that makes us stronger and healthier. And that in turn makes the world better. We all have a part to play. Every single one of us is necessary. Our personalities and interests and talents are uniquely ours but also vitally important for the common good.

Holy one, we often focus on our deficiencies and weaknesses. Help us feel like we are good enough. To use our strengths to help others. As we prepare for what is coming next. Amen

Brandon is a grateful member of Peace Church