Crossroads

“More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.” ~ Woody Allen


I glanced at the monitor in front of me, my eyes glued to the female inmate’s age: “26”.

“So young,” I whispered to myself. “How can she have chest pains if she doesn’t have any history?”

I heard the female side's metal door opened. The female deputy escorting this young inmate, with her wrists handcuffed to her back, as her keys dangled from her pant's pockets. Taking little steps, the young, long-haired woman kept looking on the floor and couldn’t maintain a good eye contact.  I immediately took her vital signs as I kept probing on possible causes why she would have chest pains. Motioning her to the exam room #1, two of us made her lay down on the exam table and put the EKG leads. She wasn’t talking as much. Embarrassed and could not imagine she was in the jail.

“Listen,” I softly approached her as the last EKG lead was placed in one of her legs, “tell me now if you’re using drugs. Or I can’t help you. You have your choice to remain quiet about everything. But that would limit me from doing the best care we could possibly give you.”

Stuttering and with a tone of shyness, she started giving her history. That 3 days ago, she was driving her car with her boyfriend. When suddenly, flashes of bright lights shone behind them that came from a cop’s car. In a crucial, frightening seconds, they started fighting as to how they could get rid of a small bag of methamphetamines on board. She already had a previous arrest and was on parole. Her boyfriend: 1st time to be caught if arrested. He made her swallow that bag. To get rid of evidence. Despite her protest. She ended up being brought to the hospital. But after her treatment, this time, she was booked in the jail.

“Sorry. I never told you. I’ve been using meth, on and off, for 10 years now,” a bead of tear crept up in one corner of her eyes. "I also had an abortion, 3 weeks ago,my third," she added choking in between.

“Thank you,” I looked at her and managed to lock a good eye contact this time. “Now, I know why you’re having chest pains.”

Immediately, I asked for an ambulance so she could be treated at the county’s ER. Transferred to the EMT’s guerney, she bowed her head really low as the escorting deputy put a shackle on her left foot.

“Oh, my gosh! I can’t believe it. This is not happening,” she mumbled. “Will you cover my foot with something, deputy so the shackle can’t be seen?” she requested.

“Yeah, I’ll try to cover it with something. But you know what? You did this to yourself. If you don’t stop now, you are gonna’ die young,” he warned but with intention to remind her to not destroy herself with her bad drug habit.

“I know…I know…” as she tried to wipe the tears that fell. “Thank you, nurse,” she uttered as she was more comfortable looking into my eyes now. The guerney disappeared. I knew I would see her again.

God loves His creation: humans. Created in His image. Out of His love, He already had marked a right path of living way before. But people refuse to take that path. Oftentimes, going their own way instead. All of us face that decision, that crossroad: to choose God’s right way or to follow that path which we think we like. If we choose the latter, we are often misled. There is no peace. There is no contentment. It is only when we choose God’s path that we are able to find rest for our souls. Let us not be ripped off by this world. There is always time to go back to that right path…

“This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.” 
- Jeremiah 6:16 [NIV]





Father, this is your post, not mine. I pray that You speak to those who will happen to come by. Imprisoned by drug abuse, alcohol abuse, prostitution, and other self-destructive ways. Lord, I ask for Your intervention in their lives. For them to come to know You first. So their blindness can be removed. And that they will be able to see that path that leads to You. Father, help us. Those Who already know You and tasted Your love. Help us remain strong and not stray away from this path You had marked for us. Help us to not look in other directions but maintain our focus, to be straight...only on Jesus. Thank You Lord for the path You have created for us. The rest that awaits for our weary souls when we finish our journey. But the best of all, is to see You waiting there with Your open arms and to be with You forever. I love You Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

18 comments:

  1. What a sad life. I hope she chooses the right path.

    Have a wonderful holiday with your family Sis!

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  2. Rosel, Such a sad story... I hope you and your family have a great day. Much love my friend,

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  3. So heart breaking, bless you for sharing this post sis. I love you.

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  4. I am agreeing with you in prayer my friend.

    God bless.
    xo

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  5. Amen.

    Just like that young lady,I too, see so many young girls and guys making the wrong "choice" at the center.

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  6. I don't know how you could work in this field and area without God's strength in you. Such desparate hurting people...

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  7. Woody Allen married his adopted daughter- I wouldn't use a quote of his if I were you. His actions are foul as he abuses his power. http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9712/24/woody.weds/

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  8. Dear Anonymous:
    I welcome everyone's comments, whether you agree with my post or not. But it is not about us. I'm writing for what is in my heart. When I use quotes, I am not after who wrote them or what background they have. We are all sinners. I am only using them for others to see my point in an easier way. But the Lord's wisdom tops all! I am not after anyone's quote as man's wisdom is just foolishness to the Lord. But this just proves that none of us is perfect in any way. And the Lord is inviting us to come to Him. Blessings to you.

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  9. Rosel this is so sad. Only wish the best for her. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. I appreciate your response to anonymous! But moreso, I appreciate your sharing about real life that most often exists outside of our little comfortable lives. I too, see and hear the side of life not many see. As a psychologist I am in on the secret lives of ordinary people. Trust me, they are identical to the girl you encountered. They just haven't been caught yet. My prayer is always that the Lord will work through me to bring these lost ones to Him. God is faithful. We never know but that even a fleeting eye contact will be enough with God's touch to save a soul. God bless you richly and keep working, the harvest is ready but the workers are few.

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  11. What can you add? Prayer is all I can think of.

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  12. Oh Rosel. It must be so hard not to want to take these wounded people into your arms and love on them. I know you can't, but you have what they need -- Jesus and His love.

    God help that young lady.

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  13. A very kind post. It is easy to point the finger but Jesus forgives and loves us unconditionally and we are called to do the same. If we can't, we are not of Him. God bless your sensitivity.Good onya sister-in-Christ.

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  14. Thank you, Rosel, for showing this lost girl the compassion that Jesus does for all of us.

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  15. Rosel,
    I can't tell you how much your posts mean to me every week. You get right to the heart of what is wrong with our society today and point people to the way to salvation. You touch so many people in a day's work and I really commend you for your work and prayers.

    Blessings,
    Jean

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  16. this really touched me. Really sad..

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  17. I'm so glad that God has you working where you do. Grateful for the love, truth and compassion that you show. Grateful as I read how God used you in this young woman's life; I believe those seeds you planted will take root.

    I'm also grateful that God loves us and offers us a better life than our self-destructive ways.

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  18. The poor thing! Poor, but yet not without hope. Jesus didn't come for the righteous, He came for the sinners. So that's good news for her! She's right where God wants her. Maybe it took things to get this bad, to the point where she's completely broken in order to let God fix her.

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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