Very much like most Americans, for the last three days I have been immersed in emotional confusion and uncertainty. My family, friends and even casual acquaintances of the last few days all find ourselves pooled together in a terrible crisis situation with only limited understanding of how we got here or why this had to happened. We have been valiantly struggling to find answers to our questions from within and among ourselves, because the experts holding most of the important facts are difficult to reach and reluctant to provide specific details or even speculations about the immediate future. This environment produces tremendous emotional strain, because of the apparently devastating effects for the future on so many lives.
Unlike most other Americans, for the last three days I have not been overwhelmed and consumed by the news coming from Wall Street and Washington DC. My family, friends and many wonderful new acquaintances of the last few days have spent time waiting, weeping, praying and seeking encouragement in a small second floor waiting area outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. We have all spent hours standing at the bedside of loved ones, who are fighting battles against serious illnesses or injuries that have proven to me just how short and precious life really is. Many of us have had to suffer the terrible news that our loved ones may actually be losing their battle. Some have lost the battle, while others do show signs of improvement and growing strength. We’ve even been blessed at times to witness great joy as we move throughout the hospital and see other families celebrating the birth of a new baby. The point for me, and hopefully many others, is that most of the worries of this world are really much less important when viewed from the ICU perspective.
I know this is not my typical fun and upbeat blog post, but this is really something I felt compelled to share, because having the right perspective is essential in all areas of life but very difficult to keep. Just visit an ICU waiting area to get a better perspective on your own personal crisis situations.
Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com
DeWayne,
Thank you for injecting some real treasure into the mix today. My heart and prayers are with you and yours in your hours of trial. Oh, and, by the way -- way to watch for the silver linings!