Christ in Knoxville

I managed to get sick in Oak Ridge last week. Had nothing to do with Oak Ridge. They have good air and really nice leaves there. I must have brought some nasty Atlanta germs or such. But, it was a long night and then a long day. I had called my doc and they told me to go to the ER. As I could walk and breathe that didn't seem to be reasonable to me. I have many other ways to use any discretionary income I can scrape up and, quite frankly, I was too sick to go to the ER. You just can't sit in a waiting room when you are that sick. But, as the day went on, I got that nagging feeling that if I didn't do something, my stomach might just blow up, ruining someone's day and surrounding walls. So, I went to the walk in clinic. And then the fun started. I filled out the paperwork. I handed over my license. And it continued to hurt just like labor but without any benefits. That is when I realized I didn't have my health insurance card. Had the data, didn't have the card. Had a credit card but that wasn't going to do. Called home but the phone wasn't answered. Waited and had some more pains. Called home again. And again, and again. Then, I just started to cry at the frustration of sitting where I could see the docs and with valid money but not being able to be seen. Then, I cried harder because I was quite embarrassed that I was such a wuss and crying in public. So there I sit sniffeling and trying to hide that fact.

A man named James came over, sat next to me and got a box of tisues. He asked me why I was alone and I told him I was originally there under protest and that I have been in too many ERs and clinics with other folks to visit that on anyone else. Plus, I hadn't intended for my stay to be quite as long as it was stretching into and it annoys me when folks sit there looking at you trying to judge whether you will fall over. That makes me feel really sick. He told me it would be okay and then just sat with me. Just like that. Handed me a couple of Kleenex and waited with me. When I finally got through at home and got my info they saw me long enough to send me away to the ER where I continued to breathe and walk. But, James looked me in the eye twice and told me I would be okay. I knew that already but it was good to have it confirmed. You just don't see that type of genuine compassion and for some reason I believed him more than the docs. I just knew it was Christ talking to me through another. Didn't want anything, just was there, telling me everything would be all right.

I only know one thing about James. He is pretty sick and is not very old. He seemed to be at peace. He has four grandkids, 7, 5, 10 months and 6 weeks. Three boys, one girl. Wants to stick around for a while and see them grow up. Might not be able to do so. So I'm praying for him right now.