Monday, December 2, 2013

Friday Night Reflection

I commute 90 miles from home to work every day.  At the end of the day, I commute 90 miles from work to home.  It is not as arduous as it sounds.  As demonstrated in previous posts, there is much to see and appreciate about Creation and Eastern Oregon in particular.  However, at this time of the year, both ends of my commute are in darkness.

My extreme commute means developing some creative solutions at times.  Friday night on-call demands that I am within 20 minutes of the hospital at all times.  Hardly something I am able to accomplish from Condon.  The room I rented in Hood River has given way to a weekly motel stay at the Vagabond Lodge for a variety of reasons.  This past Friday night stay, I "lucked out."  Because of a miscommunication, I was bumped from my cheapie room near the highway, to a room with a "partial view" in the back.

The abbreviated commute (a mere 6 minutes), allowed me to arrive in sunlight.  When I walked into my room, the view that greeted me from the opposite window was  . . . well . . . wow.  The Columbia Gorge with its pines, river, and rock caused a chain reaction throughout my body.  Tension left each muscle in quick succession.  Shalom.  More than peace - peace in my very soul.  I don't like being away from Tim.  I don't like being away from my own bed.  But in the moments I spend in my motel, I am able to experience shalom.  Be still.  Know God.

2 comments:

  1. Just curious, could not the hospital provide a room for you when you are on call?

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    1. We are a very small hospital with only one sleep room that is for medical folks as needed. Plus, my choice to move so far away from my work, so really not their responsibility. I don't mind - probably have a better set up this way

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