Thursday, April 23, 2015

Game of Cards...?

To my fellow, compassionate, inspiring peeps!

Question: You ever pick up a deck of cards, start a game, and realized you are missing a Jack? Maybe a Queen, a 4 of diamonds, or an ace of hearts? What are you going to do now? Start a different game? Look for another deck of cards? Become angry, frustrated, or disappointed? Maybe even loose any zeal to even play the game?

The thing about playing a game of cards is it takes every single card for the game to work the way it was designed. You could try to play and just hope it worked out. Maybe play a different game that didn’t require each card. You have options. However, the original thought was a great game of cards with every card present!

You have heard so many definitions of nurses. Let me remind you of a few:

A Nurse:

An individual who dares to go the extra mile and is resilient enough to do it again tomorrow.

It is said if you save one life, you’re a hero. Save a hundred lives, you’re a nurse.

Nurses: understand, plan, encourage, wipe tears, heal, refer, assess, counsel, laugh, touch, bandage, organize, comfort, respond, monitor, hold a hand, all without a prescription.

You getting it yet? YOU are pretty freaking amazing! YOU matter. YOU make this team (this deck of cards) work the way it was designed. Know the day is better when the deck is all-present. 

Wherever you are in this journey. May each time you see a deck of cards, may it serve as a reminder of how much you matter to your team! And know you are never alone in this journey! Like each card has such a specific job, specific task, specific function you and I are quit the same. We each have unique talents, strengths, and gifts we bring to the team. Build into those strengths, celebrate your gifts, and use those talents! For when we each live that out we function as a whole.

Make today great and tomorrow even greater! Never know whose life you will change!

And for those reading who have said to themselves..."Great, I'm not a nurse so..." Here is the deal. You are around people. Who influence other people. Who work on teams. So you my dearest friend are part of a deck. You have the chance to live out each strength, gift, and insight each day! Be present. Be wholly there. Never know the impact you are creating! 

Live loud people! 





Friday, April 3, 2015

Missed the STOP sign.


It was 2230.
Mission: Relocate a friend aka moving day. Three loads. Lots of stairs.

Music up. Eyes fixed. Thoughts racing. Driving.

You ever get lost in your thoughts?
Lost in memories?
Lost in dreams?
Lost in your mountain top moments?
Lost in your failed attempts?
Lost in joy, peace?
Lost in hurts, disappointments?
Lost in everything?

As my mind was lost, my phone lights up. Text: "You just totally blew through that stop sign..."

My mind instantly snapped to attention. "WHAT!" Looking in my rear view mirror...sure enough, a stop sign starred at my mirror. Wow! How did I not even see the sign? How had my eyes totally missed the red and white..the big letters... S T O P.

I started thinking of the implications of stop signs - their use, intention, and safety. What if someone had been walking? What if another car was about to enter into the intersection? There are so many things that could have gone drastically wrong. Yet, I was spared.

Reflecting on this night my heart was moved. On this friday, good friday - what a message for my wondering heart. A message to STOP. This typically is not a day to celebrate, but one to sense, to pause in order to try and grasp the depth of His love. Why He chose the cross. While I was yet wondering, he chose to die. I (we) don't have to be good enough, clean enough, put together for He chose us while we were still a hot mess.

So tonight, today, wherever your journey has taken you - stop. Let you mind settle, your emotion rest, and your past and future calm...stop. Pause. For when I take the time to actually stop, look around, and let my mind be focused on Him...I don't miss the signs, I don't miss the moments, and I can experience a peace that goes beyond my understanding.

Good Friday a day that changes everything.