The Hey You Lady

Earlier this month I was hospitalized for 3 ½ days for severe inflammation in my legs and feet. While I was in the triage portion of the ER experience that first afternoon, at least two nurses and an EMT trainee poked me with a lot of needles in a lot of places, trying to draw blood and place an IV, all without success. When it was finally my turn to be seen by a doctor, I was “needled” more times – unsuccessfully – until finally a viable vein was found ... in the neck. It was not a pleasant procedure. During the first six hours or so after I was actually admitted into the hospital it seemed that every time I opened my eyes there was a new person looking back at me, wanting to poke or probe or do something to me that I didn't want to have done. When it got to about the fourth person I remember looking at a young woman and thinking, I don't know you, but you scare me, because you want to do something to hurt me. Now, that statement had no foundation of truth, but the fear was ...

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, age 5, and Ryan, age 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson about love. She told the boys, “If Jesus were sitting here, he would say ‘Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.’” It only took Kevin a split second to catch on. So Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus.” This morning's Scripture passage is from the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verses 34-35. It takes place on the night of the Last Supper. After Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples and shared the Passover meal with the Twelve, and after Jesus had identified the one who would betray him, he gives this command to the remaining eleven. “Love one another. As I have loved you, love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples.” In the days of Jesus' ministry to b a disciple meant that you were someone who studied with a particula...