Middle of the Triduum

Well - it's Holy Saturday. Tomorrow, being Easter, is a day that many Christians have awaited for 39 days. I have to admit, this Lenten season hasn't been a particularly good one for me as I have failed miserably at it. I could serve up the usual list of excuses about how my work schedule didn't allow me to observe the season up to the best of my ability, or how other responsibilities I have took precedence, but I won't, simply because they won't work. That said, with Easter we get to celebrate the resurrection, and the life, of Jesus. With that comes forgiveness, and as always for those of us who believe, another chance.

I have managed to get through the first week of my new work schedule. It was challenging; the biggest adjustment I have to make is working 24 hours from 5:00 Sunday evening to 5:00 Monday evening. Also, this past Thursday I worked a little over 2 hours longer than I should have because of the call volume; I got behind on paperwork due to back-to-back-to-back calls near the end of the shift. Last night, though, I worked on the new transfer truck that services Exeter Hospital based in new quarters in Brentwood. We did one call all night, and that was at 8:30. After that, we didn't turn a wheel, and I slept all night long. It was fabulous! I got home and turned to on household chores, which was awesome, because I have a break in the action to write.

My wife and I were talking yesterday afternoon before I went to work. She is worried about me, and I suspect it is righteous concern. With everything that I've been dealing with over the past 8-9 months, she thinks it has affected me - not in a good way - and she asked me to consider going back into counseling for a little bit. I have to admit that I have thought about it myself; between the Magno situation, medication changes, and some other issues that I've encountered with work, I think perhaps it's time to get a psycho-tuneup. That's on the list of things to set up this coming week. Not only will that help me, but it will ease her mind as well.

When I walked into the Brentwood quarters last night, I found the following hanging on the wall in a frame. I asked one of the other people that was getting off shift where it had come from, and he told me that on of the chaplains from our parent company, St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, had put it up when he gave a blessing to the property. It should be pretty familiar to most, and considering what we do, it is most appropriate:

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.

He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.'

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

-- Luke 10:25-37 (NAB)

Happy Easter.