Ambulence Sirens

I live a little under a mile away from Howard University Hospital. One of the things this particular hospital is known for is its excellent trauma department. I hear ambulances with blaring sirens going down the main street near my apartment all the time. At least one per hour, I would estimate, and sometimes more depending on the day and time.

I had an exam this morning, which meant that the last few days were consumed with studying. Since I have been studying mostly in my apartment, I hear these ambulances quite frequently. Hearing them while studying to become a doctor is an excellent characterization of some of my current frustration with being a student again. There I am, slaving away memorizing which enzymes cleave which parts of DNA, when, how, and what the significance is, and out there is all the action: real doctors with real patients.

Of course I am glad that those real doctors went to med school and learned their stuff, and that this is simply the stage of life I am in right now. I am generally someone who really enjoys school. I enjoy learning, and sometimes studying, and I am able to make the connection between working responsibly as a student in a subject area I love and worshipping God. God's given me a mind that can think and learn in a paticular way, and a desire to learn a particular set of material. Ignoring or not using that gift is not glorifying to Him, and I believe that God delights when we live and move and have our being in accordance with the way He made us, rather than trying to invent false selves.

But sitting there studying, even though I can feel connected to God in doing so, still leaves me longing to be out in the "real action." It isn't because the studying is boring, or because I don't understand its importance. Even Israel had to go through massive training in the "wilderness school" before being ready to live in the promised land. Yet, it is easy to disconnect time spent studying or "in training" from God's greater purpose. But the second they are disconnected, the preparation looses its purpose and despair ensues. Israel had to continually be reminded about who God is and what He promised not only because they were forgetful and it is important to not forget about God, but because their life situation wouldn't have made any sense outside of that context. They had to intepert the present through God's work in the past (creator and liberator), and through His promise for the future. Without the past there would have been no trust or sense of identity, and without the future there would have been no hope. And yet trust, identity, and hope are to be used in the present.

So in some ways, the amublance sirens are helpful in reminding me about the future (not that I want to be a trauma surgeon...). They also have the temptation of allowing me to think that for now my job is to study and that one day my job will be to heal people, when in fact we are created to preserve life, or "be salt," at all times, not just after going through the proper training.

Bright Lights

In an effort to focus on the blessings I have/am being given, and to remember how God defines himself for us as being always enough, here are some "bright lights" from daily life in DC. (this is in opposition to the moping around that I've been doing recently)

Sunrise at 6:08 am. True, it is early. But I enjoy my morning time of drinking coffee, reading some Words, and getting ready to face the day. Leaving the apartment at 7:20am. The morning air is a little cooler and people are starting to get up and move about. And, His mercies are new EVERY morning!

Georgia Ave. The street I walk down to Howard. Even though I dislike the frequent cat-calls, I do like that I am starting to recognize the different people I see every morning. I'm friends with the guys who sit outside Starbucks in the morning asking for money. Every morning Jeffrey asks, "how's it going Stefanie?" Every afternoon, "so, what did you learn today?" And I tell him a fact I learned during the day.

One of the schools I pass on the way to the grocery store. The little kids are always out in the afternoon playing soccer or football and they are sooo cute!
This is probably my favorite part of the neighborhood. It is a mural that lasts almost the length of the block and is entitled: wholistic peace. It was sponsered by the DC community economic development group. A group of youth worked on it all summer and it was awesome to see them put so much effort into it and see people stop by and ask about it and encourage them.

Some other bright spots that I don't have picture of...

Even though I've only been here 2 months, I have gotten to spend time with a lot of friends!

-Laura (my peton!) drove through and we had an excellent time at IHOP and driving.

-Margaret came for a few hours and we had some great chat time at the Potter's House.

-Lindsey came by on her way to a conference and we also had great chat time.

-Rachel Han came over for dinner while she was here with her family on vacation. Catching up was so gooood!

-Sarah Stew is now living nearby and working nearby and we had dinner and decided we should be friends :)

-And tomorrow I'm having dinner with Janice and a friend of hers.

All in all, I'm really not as alone as I have allowed myself to feel.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9