The Light



Many people say, "Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, LORD. – Psalm 4:6 (NLT)

You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. – Psalm 18:28 (NIV)

The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. – Psalm 119:130 (NLT)

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. – Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)


The other nurse rushed past me, carrying a kit that contained everything to start an IV. As I concentrated on increasing my pace to go to the prison’s Intake and was about to help the Intake Nurse getting swamped with arrestees who arrived from many streets in the county. She requested if I could just check and write on the logs and made sure all the suicidal inmates and those that were intoxicated were all doing well.

The noises were deafening as one drunk kept yelling profanities at the deputies. Busy shoving bodies to a particular cell to be processed, no one had time to pay attention not unless he would start hurting himself or others sharing the tiny cell with him.

I saw different shapes of humans wrapped in the grayish Velcro-strapped gowns. Some asleep. On their right side. On their left. On back or stomach. Whatever was comfortable, they did to try to get some rest they were craving for. A few of them talking as they sat on the wooden bench and slowly hushed as I came near the huge glass window. They acknowledged when I called their names. Surprising that no one had intimidated me. Most were cooperative and appeared calm.

I saw him. All alone in the adjoining cold cell. Pacing back and forth, his dirty feet approached me as he saw me charting something on the piece of paper that belonged to him. He was studying me. I could feel that kind of stare. A little surprised when I looked up all of a sudden and asked him how he was doing.

“Ok…I guess…What time is it?” he asked.

Raising my left arm with the wrist watch on it so I won’t lose some of my vision of him, I replied, “Almost 5:00.”

“It’s hard to tell. There’s no light,” he quickly answered, a huge smile occurred and exposed his white, pearly gems. I saw the tiny cell’s light on the ceiling shone on his head. It illuminated his weary face. But I could see he was also a handsome man. A good-looking guy on the outside yet tormented by stormy thoughts inside. 

“It is huh, Mr. K. But you know what? I can say you have been patient waiting for the doctor. When the light comes outside, a few more hours and he will be here to check on you. Okay?”

“Thank you, Nurse,” I audibly heard as I made a u-turn and went back to the Nurse’s clinic to chart on all of their paper works.

Back in my mind, something was revealed from that encounter. 

That darkness never lasts. The light is always there shining and waiting for its chance to have a breakthrough. 

The light that always waits for any heart that would see its brilliance. A heart that is willing to accept and embrace it.

8 comments:

  1. Dearest Rozelle, today I need your last quote; the assurance that the darkness never lasts. I also hold onto the Psalm that God's face will soon again shine on me. Thanks dearest sister. Bless you for your kindness to the inmates and your insight into life. Blessings, Jo

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  2. You inspire me to treat those who struggle with good choices to treat them with a quiet respect and dignity - and to find God in every situation - that He is there just waiting - like the light waiting to come into the darkness! How you handle your job is praise to God. Blessings to you friend! ~ Maryleigh

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  3. I second the thought of the commenter just above. I love reading how you find God in what you do at work and you worship Him through all the aspects of work. God bless you, my friend.

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  4. Always waiting for the light! You are a kind and compassionate nurse. I only wish there were more of you in this world. Even if you can't speak the name of Jesus, you radiate His love for others. And you always remember He came to save the lost. He came for even the inmates you encounter every day.

    Praying for you sister.
    Debbie

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  5. I love and appreciate the light that shines through your posts, especially this one. Thank you. We all need more light.

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  6. It's always a delight to read how God's working through you at your job. I appreciate the way bluecottonmemory said it, that you treat people with respect and dignity - something that lacks in that environment so it's extra precious.

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  7. This post made me teary eyed, Rosel. For that handsome young inmate with the pearly teeth. Oh, how I pray that he will meet the Lord and get to fulfill his destiny, not let it keep being stolen by the enemy.

    How I wish you could have a chance to be with a mercy team to our homeland. so badly damaged by storm Haiyan. Your heart is so compassionate... you would do a good work of reaching out to the survivors. Much love dear friend.

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  8. love your encouraging words at the end.. darkness never lasts. The light is always there ...shining and waiting...for its chance to have a breakthrough.

    Indeed! Darkness never lasts. Light always pushes it away! Light and darkness cannot co-exist....and yet.... together...they make one whole day. If we didn't experience darkness....we wouldn't appreciate the Light!

    hugs
    patrina

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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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