Appreciating Flaws

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)

“How can such a beautiful place look so good outside and deep inside is dark and scary?” that thought lingered as I drove away from my scheduled interview 11 years ago.

“Do you have any question?” the interviewing Nurse Manager asked me.

Photo Credit
“Only one,” I confidently stated.

“Your place looks so nice with the palm trees around and green lawn and beautiful flowers all over. But coming from the hospital, I haven’t truly been in, in any prison kind of work so I want to see how it’s like inside, if I may?”

“Oh…”with a surprised look she says, “No one had ever requested that. That was a good thing to ask. Some of the nurses who had come here for job interviews were so confident and was so positive at first, then after just working a few days, turned out they all wanted to quit.”

My request was granted. Someone from the Infirmary downstairs had volunteered to give me that tour in that precious few minutes of break she had amidst the mountain of paper works she dealt with daily. I immediately felt suffocated as we both descended downstairs that led to the prison units, including the Clinic and other offices vital to the prison’s needs. She brought me to Intake where heavy metal doors were slammed shut as different arrestees from all walks of life arrived and were to be processed. Funny smell arose from bodies reeking with alcohol and other unknown substances. The more the air became stale.

Sick inmates were lined up, some being yelled at for losing patience, as they waited to be called, one by one, to be seen by either nurses or the jail doctor. I saw darkness amidst the fluorescent light illuminating the whole facility. It felt being buried down there. It was suffocating, as if we were deprived of fresh air to breathe. The mixture of silence and noises at times were deafening.

“Thank you,” I told the Nurse Manager after my brief tour.

“I didn’t expect what to see but I think I will try to learn whatever I need to learn in your facility and just give my best.”

“No, thank you!”

“You had given me that idea to give applicants a chance to see this place and what truly goes on here, day after day.”

I took a deep breath as I hungered for a fresher air as I step a little lower on my gas pedal. Looking at the rear view mirror, I saw the palm trees dancing with the wind. The tan paint coated the outside walls and made the building appeared clean. The grass appeared greener as the sun's rays shone on them. I smiled as I saw some of the sunlight penetrated those tiny windows in the tiny cells. I knew I would be okay to work in that place.

We all face a war that rages deep inside ourselves daily. It is the war to make the decisions, whether good or bad, we need to choose. We are all flawed. We all have imperfections. We all can choose to see the “best” amidst all these imperfections. We can choose to see the “good” out of the “bad.” The way God sees humanity. He knows all of our imperfections and because of love as His nature, He chooses to give us the best despite our flawed nature. Sometimes, no one knows....It is in those flaws and little blessings that may turn out to be the biggest in someone's journey.






8 comments:

  1. You are such a terrific person doing the work that you do. I just think you have to rely on the Lord and do it. That is for any situation in this difficult life. You do an amazing job using respect and kindness towards others who might not get that treatment from others. Blessings to you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Trusting and obeying. Very hard things to do. Rosel, you are such an encouragement to many. Blessings and hugs to you dear one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have seen this video before, I just can't recall where. Probably also at your blog. ANd like before it brought tears to my eyes again. Because what she said is so true. Today is my birthday and just a few days ago, even up to yesterday, there was a deep sadness in my heart, for I missed Ernie so much. The grieving doesn't really end.

    Seeing this video was so timely for me.

    It is easy to expect things to be perfect, but while in this world, the imperfect can hold an important message... it is what makes us so human, it is what makes us admit our need for God.

    Your post is so deep, Rosel. Thank you for the inspiration that I got from visiting your blog today.

    Love
    Lidj

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pregnant little moments that end in the delivery of a choice, or a decision. I wonder how many of them we recognize?

    Oh how we need wisdom at these times. I could sure see it in your interview as well as it's aftermath - - flaws and all!

    ReplyDelete
  5. A great message indeed to encourage acceptance amidst perfections. I'm still praying.

    Hugs,
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  6. It was a couple of decades ago. Time to begin dating again. My girls were small yet, but on nights off, a date was preferred to being alone.
    Being alone is like building a brick wall, adding one brick each time you are alone. Soon you are sealed off from all.

    I thought I had chosen wisely.
    Her kids blended well with my kids.
    And, I have a long established habit of matching a gal to a particular flower.
    I told her she was a Lily of The Valley when the topic arose. Very fragrant, humble, pleasing.

    We discussed the Bible; another plus.
    Of course two decades ago, I could hear well.

    "What did you tell me your favorite Bible verse was this afternoon?", she queried of me one day.

    "Philippians 4:8" I replied....perplexed.

    Christmas came and she was giddy with excitement for me to open a particular gift.
    I shredded the wrapping and there was my favorite Bible verse, framed 2 feet by 3 feet, and triple matted, now hanging on a wall about 6 feet away from me. It has been on many walls for two decades.

    "I shop every Christian bookstore in town and know everything they carry. I have never seen this verse and exquisite matting. Where did you ever find this?", I pleaded to know.

    "Well, you remember that day you told me your favorite Bible verse? I thought it was this one, but was not sure so I called to ask you again. I needed milk on the way home, and stopped at a grocery store, and when I walked in, ....there was your verse! I bought it for you after I called to be sure it was right".

    Imagine me getting the Bread of Life from a grocery store!

    [I returned the favor...but will save that for another time].
    I have occasionally mixed up my flowers and this Lily of The Valley proved over time to be a Venus Fly Trap, but I escaped alive.
    Be a full time dad, or date; not both.
    I chose dad.

    Romans 12:1-2 tells you the purpose of your life:
    A Living Sacrifice
    "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

    Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

    This is WHAT you are to do with your life.
    HOW to do it is in Philippians 4:8, telling you the way to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. It explicitly states what you are to think on to do so.

    Think on all 8 items in the list, every day for a month, and how these apply to your life, and you will be transformed....to live as God's perfect will has chosen for you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I just came over from my friend and yours Regina at (Daily Living)- I really enjoyed your story and the video took me by surprise..was so touching- thanks
    Regina (another one)

    ReplyDelete

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

All posts/composed songs copyright by RCUBEs.



Encouragers

GotQuestions?org

Friends