Well, I continue to make the rounds in support raising. It is an interesting process. One of the blessings in this endeavor is the opportunity to "hook up" with some friends that I haven't seen in a while.
This past weekend, I got to link up with a dear friend -I will refer to him as M. M is an interesting guy I met about 4 years ago. We really hit it off. My medical partner and I were recruiting for a third doctor and I thought M was a great fit. Unfortunately, I was unable to successfully recruit him to my practice. This occurred not once, but twice in the past 4 years. Fortunately, we had such a respect for each other that we have remained friends. I always wondered why we "lost" in our bid to land him here. However, after visiting him and his wife, taking in the views from their house, and driving around his small town, I see why we failed.
M started his own practice almost two years ago. It has grown and continues to grow. We had an interesting conversation this weekend about our "callings". He pointed out that it was pretty obvious that I have a passion for teaching and that I have a passion for missions. He seemed to indicate that he wasn't sure that he actually had a "passion". He said he likes owning his own practice, he likes to manage people, he likes the area they are in. But he said he lacked a passion; until, that is, he said the best part of his day was when he walked into a patients room and shut the door.
That prompted me to share what I experienced as I said my "good-byes" to my patients this past year. I was overwhelmed at the number of patients who geniunely expressed their care and concern for me. I was overwhelmed that so many seemed to really be upset that I was leaving. I tried to figure it out. For some of those patients I recalled a "special" time where I was able to either intervene medically or spiritually. Both those seemed to be rare. What I realized is that over the past five years of caring for patients I just "showed up".
I shared these experiences with M. I encouraged him that maybe that was his calling - his passion. "Just Show Up". Be kind. Be courteous. Be caring. Be consistent. Be there. That is what people want in a physician - a caring human being, listening to them, touching them, giving them hope and encouragement as well as healing.
I hope M heard me. He has such a heart for people. He will be used mightily by and for God if he "just shows up".
I heard it said once that "90% of ministry is just showing up". Take a willing heart and God will do all the rest...sometimes even with an unwilling heart (Balaam comes to mind).
Bless you on your support raising efforts. I can imagine you have to raise a bunch to even fly your family there. Our support needs aren't so huge, but we don't go through any organization.
-Jan
Posted by: jan | April 28, 2004 at 09:54 PM