contemplations of week 2

I experienced and learned a lot as a student at "Rotation One"  this past week. I have grown in confidence in the skills I do have and the skills I need to work on have made themselves apparent to me. What I have leaned at "Rotation One" is not really what I want to share though.

"Rotation One" is about 45 minutes away from my sister and brother-in-law's. I am staying with them for both of my fieldwork rotations (free rent and family is a pretty sweet deal). Forty-five plus minutes both ways is a long time in the car which gives me a lot of time to think. Even though, I leave the house before the sun is even thinking about coming up, there is STILL bumper to bumper traffic on parts of the highway. I am antsy to get to "Rotation One" to learn and help my patients. I want to be in the best lane, the one that's moving the fastest. When traffic isn't moving, I want to know what is a head and what's causing the backup. If I am in a lane that's not moving fast enough, I just cant wait until I can merge over into a faster lane. In all actuality, I need to be paying attention to the cars immediately around me.

One morning last week, God just tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Marybeth, this traffic is just like life".   Let me see if I can break this down for you. In life, you don't need to know what is down the road 10 years, 5 years, 1 year, 1 month, or even a day a head of you. Just like I really don't need to know why traffic is moving slowly. God will take care of life ahead of you. What is important is the life right in front of you; live it to the best of your abilities, glorifying HIM in all things. I know I get distracted and get into trouble when I try to look down the path of life.  In regards to wanting and coveting the best or the fastest lane, in life that's like wanting to be someone else's life. So many times I catch myself thinking, "I wish I was doing x, y, or z like [fill name here]. When I should be content and loving the life I am journeying though. It is so special. Coveting someone else's life takes the joy out of all of the abundant blessing the Lord has bestowed upon me that I do not deserve. I recently have worked on not being antsy for life to move on which would translate to being impatient to change lanes or get from point A to point be. Its so easy to say, "I can't wait until I get a real pay check" or "I cant wait until I graduate". Those are great things ahead of me but there is abundant life to live here and now.

I know this wasnt written very eloquently, but I thought I would share. This is one of those lessons that I have learned over and over and will probably learn it many many more times.

Matthew 6:33-34, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."