Revel In the Blessings

 I had an appointment today to see my primary care provider.  Nothing serious…just something she needed to take a look at.  A couple of days ago, I needed to go to the dentist to have an adjustment made to a temporary appliance.  A few weeks ago, I needed to see my oral surgeon for the fitting of that temporary appliance I mentioned.  A week before that, I had to see my PCP for a different issue, again, not serious, but needing attention.  And the list of appointments I’ve had with various medical providers in the past months just goes on and on.

 Today, I caught myself saying that I was tired of having to see medical people.  I rather quickly, though, re-evaluated that statement.  I know that it is sometimes taxing and tiring to have to make and keep various medical appointments.  It is also sometimes difficult to remember and keep straight all of the specialists one sees.

 Let’s see.  I have a cardiologist, an ENT physician, a urologist, a dentist, an oral surgeon, a dental hygienist, a physical therapist, an eye doctor, an audiiologist, a podiatrist, a chiropractor, and a pharmacist in addition to my primary care person.  I’ve also been to a neurology clinic for testing as well as having received tests and scans for various possible maladies.  Who knows what specialty will come next…maybe the undertaker?

 But the fact that this stable of medical professionals is available to me…the fact that I have insurance that will cover the lion’s share of the costs…the fact that these people are close by and I am able to drive or be driven to see them…those things are blessings that by far the majority of the world’s population does not have.  Even in this nation, physicians and providers are sometimes few and far between.

 Check out how many dentists are practicing in Western Kansas.  Check out how far some veterans have to go to get to a veterans hospital.  And while you’re at it, check on hometown pharmacies in smaller communities (as well as larger cities)…how many have closed their doors in the last 20 or so years.

 And while we’re talking about blessings, we can always speak of the blessings of retirement checks that come monthly, our transportation needs and wants being met, the food that is in the house, the coolness of air conditioning or the comfort of heating, depending on the season, instant communication and information gathering via the Internet, stable electrical service, clean water, sanitation services, public education, public libraries, and a host of other things which we take for granted, but for many are only pipe dreams or perhaps an occasional blessing.

 Then we have the gall to complain about having to see yet another medical provider, or we gripe when the Internet is a little slow.  We complain when the electric bill goes up or the public library stocks a book we think shouldn’t be there.  We rag on public schools for seeming to always need more of our tax dollars.  We’re disrupted and even angry when the air conditioning doesn’t work.  We are indeed a thoughtless and ungrateful people.

 Ungratefulness is just one arm of those characteristics of humanity that we call greed and self-centeredness.  We think only about ourselves…work only for our own self-betterment…push other things and other people out of the way so we can have what we want.

 We’re very willing to schmooze others, deceive others, lie to others, and fake-friend others in order to get what we want for ourselves.  And when something happens that is outside of our control, such as a natural disaster, an illness, or even a loss of transportation or utility services, we immediately think of what that event is doing to us…how it is affecting our ability to get ahead or complete a task.  Others are not in our thoughts, or are expendable.  It’s just us.

 So, the next time you find yourself complaining because of some kind of disruption in life, whether that be a medical appointment, a power outage, an illness, or some other thing, thank God for the blessings.  Revel in His care and providence.  Let go.  Think of others.  And with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

 Blessings,