DailySusan Humor Blog

WHY WE'RE HERE

And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
-- Romans 8:28

I had a lot of mundane days as a newspaper reporter. I wrote stories about the turnip that looked like Ronald Reagan, and what Mrs. Fleeblegetser served at the tea. But one time I helped expose a public utility’s insurance practices that wound up saving $707,000, and another time I discovered the description of a gun in court records that helped solve a murder mystery.

That’s why I became a reporter. I wanted to make a difference.

There are rare times in each of our lives when everything else falls away, and we clearly and convincingly see our purpose: why we’re here.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is one of those times.

Every tragedy has a flip side. There’s an opportunity to do good and to show love. You can be the right person at the right time to restore order and bring light where there’s darkness, healing where there’s pain. Remember Todd Beamer? Let’s roll.

Let’s roll, indeed.

And so I got goosebumps from this brave letter from a physician new to New Orleans, a friend of friends. He has suddenly put aside his sedate specialty, pathology, and has become an intrepid, battlefront-style doctor in a life-or-death, triage situation.

He’s in a position to really help people – the reason you go into medicine in the first place. He gets to do things of eternal significance. He gets to be used by God. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Here are excerpts from his letter, dated Wednesday:

”Personally, my family and I are fine. My family is safe in Jackson, Miss., and I am now a temporary resident of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New Orleans. I figured if it was my time to go, I wanted to go in a place with a good wine list. . . .

”Things were obviously bad yesterday, but they are much worse today. Overnight the water arrived. Now Canal Street (true to its origins) is indeed a canal. The first floors of all downtown buildings are underwater. . . .

”The city now has no clean water, no sewage system, no electricity, and no real communications. Bodies are still being recovered floating in the floods. We are worried about a cholera epidemic. Even the police are without effective communications. We have a group of armed police here with us at the hotel that is admirably trying to exert some local law enforcement. This is tough because looting is now rampant.

“Most of it is not malicious looting. These are poor and desperate people with no housing, no medical care, and no food or water trying to take care of themselves and their families. Unfortunately, the people are armed and dangerous. We hear gunshots frequently. Most of Canal Street is occupied by armed looters who have a low threshold for discharging their weapons. The looters are using makeshift boats made of pieces of Styrofoam. We are still waiting for a significant National Guard presence.

"The health care situation here has dramatically worsened overnight. Many people in the hotel are elderly, or small children. Many other guests have unusual diseases. . . .

“We have commandeered the world-famous French Quarter Bar to turn into a makeshift clinic. There is a team of about seven doctors and PAs and pharmacists. We anticipate that this will be the major medical facility in the central business district and French Quarter.

”Our biggest adventure today was raiding the Walgreens on Canal under police escort. The pharmacy was dark and full of water. We basically scooped the entire drug sets into garbage bags and removed them, all under police escort. The looters had to be held back at gunpoint. After a dose of prophylactic Cipro, I hope to be fine.

”We will start admitting patients today. Many will be from the hotel, but many will not. We are anticipating dealing with multiple medical problems, medications and acute injuries. Infection and perhaps even cholera are anticipated major problems. Food and water shortages are imminent.

”In a sort of cliché way, this is an edifying experience. One is rapidly focused away from the transient and material to the bare necessities of life. It has been challenging to me to learn how to be a primary care physician. We are under martial law, so return to our homes is impossible. I don't know how long it will be and this is my greatest fear.

“Despite it all, this is a soul-edifying experience. The greatest pain is to think about the loss. And how long the rebuild will take. And the horror of so many dead people.

”PLEASE SEND THIS TO ALL YOU THINK MAY BE INTERESTED IN A DISPATCH from the front. I will send more according to your interest. Hopefully their collective prayers will be answered. By the way, suture packs, sterile gloves and stethoscopes will be needed as the Ritz turns into a M*A*S*H.”

It was signed by Greg Henderson, M.D.

God be with you, Dr. Henderson. Thank you for this incredible service. Angels above you, below you, and all around as you work and heal and save.

Oh, Dr. Henderson, these are the worst of times . . . but these are also the best of times. You were made for a purpose, Sir. You’re lucky to see yours so clearly. When your calling intersects with crisis, and you’re willing to be used for good, great meaning and beauty result. May this be the adventure of your life.

That’s why you’re there . . . and it’s our privilege to pray for you.

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Prayer request: Father, we cannot understand Your purpose in allowing this horrible tragedy on the Gulf Coast. But we know You are good and You are sovereign. Human failing, not Your Hand, caused most of the problems and suffering. We know You love us, each and every one, and we have faith that the lessons of love and mercy that will come out of this will more than assuage the impact. Send more servants like Dr. Henderson into the area, and kindle more compassion in people’s hearts around the world to send help and pray for all those involved. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Praise report: Come see www.GoBigEd.com! Thank You, Lord, for fulfilling this longtime dream of mine, to try to make a difference in K-12 education in my beloved home state. I have been terribly impatient in this long process, and constantly jumping the gun on Your plans for me. But Savior, You are so faithful to complete Your end of any bargain, and You’ve done it here again, strengthening my faith in You. I rest in You, depending on You to take it from here. (James 5:7,8)