So, today I finally went to have my foot x-rayed after hurting it 3 weeks ago.  I was there 45 minutes. Pretty good, eh?  It would have been faster but something was wrong with the printer so the SEVENTH paper that I needed to sign took several tries.  The nice lady kept apologizing while I kept saying it was fine;   it certainly isn’t her fault that we have to sign paper after paper after paper so as to be certain that every base is covered for Medicare and insurance and the doctor and the clinic and the baker and the candlestick maker and anyone else that I could possibly find to sue should my foot fall off during the x-ray.

Nonetheless, I got out of there in 45 minutes.

It took me back to Haiti two years ago.  We were in the clinic which looked NOTHING like the clinic I was in today. 

Anyway, back to the clinic in Mizak.   We were working there when we heard someone say that there was a baby coming.  We looked and saw a woman coming who had walked miles up the mountain to get there with her husband and mother.

 She lay down on the cot (off of which I had earlier shooed a chicken) and birthed her baby. Yep.

Her husband came in.  We prayed…at their request.  She stood up and posed with him and the baby for a photo…at our request.    She did not sign seven pieces of paper.

 She walked back down that mountain.

She was there for 45 minutes.

So that came to me today.   I could not help but think of what 45 minutes brought to two different women from two different corners of this same world.   I honestly do not think she thought she deserved more.  I honestly think most of us think we do deserve more.  I honestly believe God thought we would somehow make it even.

I am not suggesting that we all should climb mountains and have babies but I am suggesting we be aware that IS how many people live so as to ease up a titch on what we feel we need.   Entitlement is a dangerous thing:   we seldom recognize where it starts and it seems then to have no end.

So next time we have 45 minutes to wait, let’s  think about our Haitian friend…and so many others…and, at the very least,  lift them in Spirit.

Might be a great way to start expanding our minds and our hearts….one minute at a time!