The view from my window was spectacular and I did get some good reading/writing time!

I know I’ve been guilty of thinking that the only people in “ministry” are missionaries, church staff, and people who work for religious non-profits. But I’m pretty sure ANY job can be a ministry if you come at it right.

I recently needed to spend a few days being monitored during a medication change. Which meant several nights in that downtown spa known as a hospital. There’s nothing like being stuck in the hospital when you’re not obviously sick. But I LOVE how the nurses and CNAs minister to their patients. Now that is clearly a calling and often a ministry.

But what about the guy who brings the food trays around? Sure he can do it with compassion and caring, but as a ministry? Seems like a stretch. Algie was my nutrition guy (oh boy, hospital food!). I think he had some sense that his patients weren’t super excited about the menu choices, but he presented them well and offered as much choice as he could. Friendly and happy to chat a minute, Algie and I got to know each other a little.

Sunday evening he bid me farewell–he was off on Monday and if everything went according to plan, I’d be leaving Monday afternoon. Nice guy, I thought. Probably won’t see him ever again.

Then, on Monday morning, my final round of test results weren’t quite what I hoped. And I began to fret and worry that I’d have to stay longer to make sure the medicine was working right. When who should pop in with my morning tray but Algie! They asked him to work an extra day and he agreed.

Without meaning to, I blurted out that I might be there for supper since my test results were a little off. Algie sat in the room’s guest chair and pointed to the ceiling. “He’s got this.” I just blinked at him. “Surrender means surrender,” he said.

“You’re preaching the sermon I need to hear,” I told him.

Everything in God’s timing,” Algie answered and I nodded because there was a clog in my throat I couldn’t speak past.

By the time Algie brought my low-sodium stir fry (how is that possible?) for lunch, I’d met with the doctor who wasn’t overly worried about my numbers, my bags were packed, and my husband was on his way to get me. Algie just grinned and said, “See?”

Yes. It’s through a mirror darkly, but I think I do see just enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other even when I’m scared. Thank you, Algie, for your ministry.