Dear Friends,
Clearly our greatest challenge today is to take a step back from our emotional response and tendency to react to all the craziness. Then we are in a position to ask ourselves, "How can I be part of the solution rather than part of the problem? God Bless All Your Children With hearts of gratitude and love Then we will know peace… Every time I see or hear "God Bless America" I wonder, has there ever been a nation more blessed? And who of us has lived a life of gratitude as we ought?
When we say, "God Bless America", are we saying, "Bless only America?" In a land of so many ethnicities and religions, wouldn't you think we would understand that God loves all His children and meets them right where they are? And yet it seems that few do. Do we think that God loves Americans more than, for instance, Afghans or Sudanese?
Here is the question that cuts to the heart of the matter: When my Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, agnostic or Christian brother/sister prays, wherever they are, for relief from their suffering, whom will He send? If prejudice lives in my heart, how will I hear their cry for help? The Moral Test of our Nation - How are we doing? It was once said, "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped."
Recently, on an ordinary weekday evening, I visited a young man who had been running fever for over two weeks. He had no medical insurance, Medicaid or Medicare so his only option for treatment was Parkland Hospital. He had not sought treatment earlier because of the dreaded ordeal of being seen at our county hospital.
We initially registered at Parkland's emergency room at 9:30 pm. At 9:30 am, twelve hours later, we saw a doctor. At 9:10 pm, almost 24 hours later, he was taken to a room. Every nurse, doctor or healthcare employee we asked during our twelve-hour ordeal told us, "this is normal." Every one of those people would no doubt be incensed if they had to wait one hour to see a doctor and yet day after day they accept this kind of treatment as 'normal' for our most vulnerable.
I'm reminded of an elderly gentleman years ago who had been without treatment for weeks for severe burns on his feet. The burn unit social worker asked me to drive him to daily appointments for two weeks as a personal favor. The obstacles to that simple task were shocking. Our youth minister found a thousand reasons why I couldn't use the church vehicle (commercially insured was a requirement). When I arrived at the hospital, there was no wheelchair and no one to take him in and on and on and on. I made up my mind that this old man was going to get to his appointment on time if it killed us all. When I arrived to pick him up on Monday, beginning the second week, a neighbor told me that he had died.
I sat down on the driveway of his little house and wept. I wondered if he was telling God or if God was telling him how the poor suffer at our hands.
Clearly our greatest challenge today is to take a step back from our emotional response and tendency to react to all the craziness. Then we are in a position to ask ourselves, "How can I be part of the solution rather than part of the problem? God Bless All Your Children With hearts of gratitude and love Then we will know peace… Every time I see or hear "God Bless America" I wonder, has there ever been a nation more blessed? And who of us has lived a life of gratitude as we ought?
When we say, "God Bless America", are we saying, "Bless only America?" In a land of so many ethnicities and religions, wouldn't you think we would understand that God loves all His children and meets them right where they are? And yet it seems that few do. Do we think that God loves Americans more than, for instance, Afghans or Sudanese?
Here is the question that cuts to the heart of the matter: When my Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, agnostic or Christian brother/sister prays, wherever they are, for relief from their suffering, whom will He send? If prejudice lives in my heart, how will I hear their cry for help? The Moral Test of our Nation - How are we doing? It was once said, "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped."
Recently, on an ordinary weekday evening, I visited a young man who had been running fever for over two weeks. He had no medical insurance, Medicaid or Medicare so his only option for treatment was Parkland Hospital. He had not sought treatment earlier because of the dreaded ordeal of being seen at our county hospital.
We initially registered at Parkland's emergency room at 9:30 pm. At 9:30 am, twelve hours later, we saw a doctor. At 9:10 pm, almost 24 hours later, he was taken to a room. Every nurse, doctor or healthcare employee we asked during our twelve-hour ordeal told us, "this is normal." Every one of those people would no doubt be incensed if they had to wait one hour to see a doctor and yet day after day they accept this kind of treatment as 'normal' for our most vulnerable.
I'm reminded of an elderly gentleman years ago who had been without treatment for weeks for severe burns on his feet. The burn unit social worker asked me to drive him to daily appointments for two weeks as a personal favor. The obstacles to that simple task were shocking. Our youth minister found a thousand reasons why I couldn't use the church vehicle (commercially insured was a requirement). When I arrived at the hospital, there was no wheelchair and no one to take him in and on and on and on. I made up my mind that this old man was going to get to his appointment on time if it killed us all. When I arrived to pick him up on Monday, beginning the second week, a neighbor told me that he had died.
I sat down on the driveway of his little house and wept. I wondered if he was telling God or if God was telling him how the poor suffer at our hands.
Medical Patients from Kosovo
Blerim Gjocaj underwent surgery in April for a nerve transfer to his left arm. His physical therapy will be completed later this month. It has been very exciting to see the difference this treatment has made in Blerim's life.
Gani Shehu was given an incredible gift when Dr. Ayaz Malik agreed to accept him for surgery. Gani is doing well.
Bajram Krasniqi walked without crutches for the first time since 1999 on the day Greg Wimbish of Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics completed his final fitting. John Hammarly with Fox 4 News did a nice story on Bajram that aired three times. Bajram has returned to Kosovo.
Containers
Our seventh container this year was shipped last week. The three that have been shipped this quarter went to Uganda and Mexico.
A Tribute To Peter Takahashi
Dr. Elizabeth Paulk contacted us several weeks ago regarding a man from Japan. Mr. Takahashi had been in the U.S. for many years but never had status here. Therefore, he was not eligible for any kind of assistance and had no family.
After visiting with our new friend, we learned that he had gone, in one year, from owning a beautiful home in Las Vegas to living in a make-shift apartment in a warehouse. He was very sick. And yet we were amazed at the grace with which he was facing the end of his life.
Soon after we first visited Mr. Takahashi, Dr. Paulk's office called to ask our help in getting an ambulance to him. Bill Waugh met the ambulance, Bob Striler met them at the hospital, and Dr. Paulk had him taken directly to a room. He gave the keys to his apartment and his personal belongings to Bob. There was money left on the table in his little apartment for his cremation. Bob was with him through many of the days that followed before his death.
I've always known that memorial services are for those of us left behind. Faced with this particular situation, I realized that more importantly, we are diminished when we fail to stop and honor the life of every person taken from us.
On June 4th, we gathered in a little chapel in Rockwall to honor the life of Peter Takahashi. Little rabbits on the lawn and birds singing were all part of the sacredness of that special time of remembering. What a gift to have known this man!
Thank you for all the ways you help us help others.
In gratitude,
Rae England