What’s wrong with the world today? More specifically, what’s wrong with this generation of Young People? I’m sure we’ve all heard this many times, “We would never have thought of doing the things these kids do when we were that age.” I had heard it so many times that I stopped listening until suddenly I discovered they were partly right. No one can deny that the world we live in today moves at a much faster pace or that the people, young or old, have more freedom than ever before. Therein lies part of the reason for this trend. Notice I didn’t say excuse, because there is none; I said reason. We are still commanded to live according to God’s guide for us, His Word.
Since I’ve come to know at least in part what it means to be chosen by God, there have been many times when it would be much easier if I didn’t have to face another day, knowing I couldn’t begin to do what I was commanded. However this is a despairing outlook and my object is not to depress you but to tell how wonderful it can be to make a conscious effort to live in harmony with our Father’s will.
What’s wrong with it? This is the question foremost in our minds when we are told we cannot participate in or do a particular tiling we would like to do. “No,” say our parents, “you must not do those things for they are of the world.”
“Well, what’s wrong with them,” is too often our question. Usually our parents give us reasons we have heard many times before and therefore we don’t really listen, or we say, “But that doesn’t apply to us. We are not going for the same reason as those of the world. We see all of this through a Christian viewpoint.” I surely cannot argue whether one individual really believes this, but participation in this way seems near to impossible to me. This is the negative attitude.
It is true that the Bible does not say specifically, in regard to modem entertainment and life, that you cannot do this or that. This is my whole point. It does not tell you what is wrong with something. On the contrary it emphasizes the positive by telling us how we are to live. Proverbs is a book rich in practical texts to be applied to life. How often have we sung Psalter No. 322 which is so plainly made for us?
With God’s Word as your guide to life, then ask not what’s wrong with my doing that, but what’s right with it? In what way will it increase my knowledge of God? In what way will it strengthen my faith? What will I gain from this experience? Remember, God is with His people wherever they are. Would we want God to see us purposely going against His Word? Many of these things we would never even want our parents to know or find out about. How much worse that God knows. He does you know.
Lest I sound like a hypocrite or give you the idea that I’m judging, please note; the only reason I dare to say this about us is that I am part of today’s youth and know too well what happens when a friend say’s, “Want to go to the play with me?” Right away I start rationalizing the situation to make it okay in my own mind. It takes a while to realize what I’m doing and stop. Many times I’m too weak and cannot resist.
Don’t do this for me or anyone else, but for yourself. The next time you’re faced with a situation like this, look for your answer in God’s Word and pray that He will show you the way. Ask yourself what’s right with my doing this. If you can answer that question truthfully, I feel you will find a peace one cannot describe.
What really is the nursing profession, and where can one of God’s chosen people find a place in it? Is there really a place for us, who are Protestant Reformed youth? I believe the answer is yes. Each one must consider nursing within himself and come to a conclusion as an individual concerning his or her place in Nursing and degree of involvement therein.
Nursing is the practice of aiding physicians to maintain or restore normal physiological or body functions, such as the ability to walk or breathe correctly. If you break your leg you will be unable to walk. The situations with which nurses deal become ever more complicated and extend to the person who has had open heart surgery or a kidney transplant. The graveness of the situation should in no way affect the basic attitudes of one who practices nursing.
The goals of a nurse should be to aid the patient in resuming his normal life, with as little pain and inconvenience as possible. Contrary to many ideas, a nurse is not concerned with only the patient as a physical body as the usual contention would indicate that people aren’t really people in a hospital but only bed numbers or disease entities: such as that gall bladder in bed two. On the contrary student nurses today and conscientious registered nurses are required and encouraged to give what we call Total Patient Care. In essence this means caring for a person’s needs, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
The physical care is that with which you are most familiar because this is obvious in the hospital situation or at least in part. In training for the career of nursing, students are taught to observe for any change in the physical being of their patients which might indicate abnormal function such as signs of swelling or abnormal-colored secretions from the body. Pain is the most common sign of trouble and another of the main aims in nursing is to alleviate pain and suffering.
Suffering, however, can be much more severe in other areas than in the physical. We have medications which relieve pain and even some to help dull the mental and emotional anxieties of patients but these latter problems will recur unless the cause is discovered and eliminated if possible. Through your understanding, true interest and willingness to listen you as a nurse can serve as an outlet for people’s emotions; for often simply telling someone your problems makes them less alarming and easier to cope with. In this way the person himself becomes fully aware of the problem as a whole. Suggesting possible solutions may also be the nurse’s role.
The one remaining area is that of spiritual support. This is a touchy subject in any situation but especially in the hospital, for it is not my place as a student nurse or would it be yours to convert your patients to the Protestant Reformed Church. 1 think perhaps there is a visible and invisible way of giving people, particularly sick people, spiritual support. The invisible support is not entirely invisible but is indicated by every action you do. The manner in which you perform your work and the attitude toward your patients becomes evident very soon, if you go about your tasks, seemingly unimportant to some, and perform these with cheerfulness and a conviction that this is the work God has chosen for you. Your attitude will be communicated to the people you serve. I have heard many patients say. “I can always tell if a nurse is a Christian; by her actions and manner in her work; she smiles and it’s genuine and she really cares about you as a person.”
The visible support is really verbal. When someone is spiritually disturbed, he too must be encouraged to talk about his problem. If he knows that you are concerned about him, he will be more likely to confide in you. Once your patient has brought to you the subject of his faith you can simply tell him what you believe and why. Perhaps you might say, “I can only tell you what 1 believe with all my heart to be the truth: that of myself I am nothing, a sinner who is destined to be lost but by the grace of God He sent His son to die for all of my sins and bring me to salvation.” A simple and concise statement and explanation of Calvin’s five points could serve as a summary of your beliefs should they desire to know them.
Often the problem is doubting of one’s faith and you as a nurse can state the reason for your faith and in this way try to assure others.
One thing should be stressed; that you as a Christian nurse will formulate your basic ideas as a student and prior to entering training you must assume the correct attitude. The nursing profession in connection with the medical profession is really only a servant of God. We can do nothing lest it be God’s will. No matter what ends are used, if it be God’s will that a person die we can do nothing.
If you feel that you can best serve God by devoting your life to helping people then feel assured that you may do this in the nursing profession. May God be with you young people as you choose your life’s work.
