Remote Control

Good Morning All,

When I was preparing for ministry I participated in a basic unit of Clinical Pastoral Education as a student chaplain at the University of Kentucky . This experience allows you to take a deep and critical look at yourself while serving in a hospital setting and offering pastoral care to the patients—speaking with them; counseling with them; praying with them. Through this experience and the many years of pastoral ministry that have ensued, I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about a variety of medical procedures, illnesses, etc.—just enough knowledge to be dangerous and yet not enough knowledge to put M.D. after my name! :)

All this has helped me be increasingly more comfortable in hospital settings and have encouraged me to be curious about a whole host of things and to be aware of my surroundings while visiting with patients..

This past week I was visiting one of our members prior to his surgery that morning. There didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary in the room, until the nurse wheeled in a contraption I had never seen before that also included a different kind of gown for the patient to change into. After that happened, I got a closer look at this new gizmo that resembled an old-fashioned hair dryer, complete with a white coiled hose.

The nurse said that the hospital was trying out this new technique on patients who would be in surgery longer than one hour; to help regulate the patient’s body temperature. The special gown has a plastic connection to which the coiled hose is attached…you punch a few buttons and it begins to blow warm air into the gown. Wooooo Hooooo! The gown then began to look like a huge inflatable pillow. Great invention!

Then I looked down and noticed that he had a small remote control in his hand. I quickly looked around for a television or monitor, only to discover that the remote was given to him to help him regulate the temperature of the forced air. How appropriate for him to have a remote control even on his way to surgery. His wife said it was quite appropriate since he’s happiest with a remote control in his hands…he’s King of the Remote!

It was then time for us to pray before they wheeled him off to the OR and I couldn’t resist this opening phrase:
“Gracious God, in our desire and our need to always be in control, remind us, that YOU are there as the One who calls us to trust in you as the God of all time and all circumstance…

As I left his room I began to think about the whole issue of control in our lives. Now while I don’t believe that God controls us like a puppeteer, I do believe that God asks us to ultimately trust God always and in all ways; to let go of our need to figure everything out on our terms--as though we could possibly control what will happen to us from the time we rise and when we put our head on the pillow at night. It’s the very idea that we cannot control it all, that calls us to trust God more…to get us through whatever each day may hold no matter how challenging or joy-filled it may be.

As difficult as it is to trust God, it seems to me that our attempts to control it all can be detrimental to our well being. Think of all the wasted time we spend worrying, fretting, stewing in our own juices and then think of how that affects our physical, mental emotional and spiritual health. What about the times we spend trying to second guess others; attempting to figure out any and all possible outcomes to whatever comes our way? And all for what purpose?
Even our coins remind us, “In God we trust…” But we rarely look at our coins while spending them. Then there’s that wonderful phrase, “Let go and let God…” Easier said than done most days…But do you think we could actually do this? Wonder what would really happen if we try this wisdom on for size. Are you willing to give it a shot?
I will if you will. Let’s get started today…Now where’d I put that remote?

Blessings, Joanne