Fellow labourers

We were visited recently by Dr. Regi Thomas, and Dr. Rajan, ENT surgeons from CMC Vellore. They visited with their families and conducted an ENT camp here in Manali. Two hundred patients were seen in three days and surgeries performed. It was very refreshing to spend time with them.  Earlier we were visited by Dr. Chuck Thompson, Luke Walters and Lonnie, from the United States. Dr. Chuck is a prominent interventional cardiologist there.

We all need encouragement wherever we may work. This can come from patients, from families, from the turn of circumstances. However, the right hand of fellowship is when two like minded people come together and spend some time together. There is something special when hearts motivated by service to our Master come together, and a commonality emerges as shared experiences that need not be elucidated join paths for a brief while. It leaves each person encouraged, and as paths diverge again to continue the journey, each heart leaves a little warmer.

I was very encouraged by the support that is in the hearts of senior people like these towards work in small areas like that we work in. They are at the apex of academia and practice. They have achieved standards of practice that are internationally recognised and are at the cutting edge of advancement. Yet their hearts reach out to the remote regions and workers who are far removed. This is the love of the Lord, reaching out to us.

It is a proud realisation that we have partners like this, and that we can all mutually continue to strive and encourage each other in our respective journeys.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD

The road to Ladakh is a formidable one. Tremendous gorges plunging into ravines,  and immense sandy plains confront the traveller, stretching the mindscape by its vast hostility and daunting solitude.  This photograph taken in the  rear view mirror of my motorbike is self expressive, from the time we took  a medical camp into the Zanskar valley.  I think it holds a powerful life lesson.

All of us have stories from our journeys. Our life lessons have not all been pleasant tales of green pastures and flowing waters. Yet, on our respective roads, we all do get the opportunity to look back, and then continue to look forward.

Why is looking back important? Even the people of Israel, on their Exodus were constantly asked to “Remember”.  We tend to forget. What does our rear view mirror show us?

For all of us, we can remember times and seasons of struggle, yet support and direction through those battles. Of strength, provision, and friends who came alongside us.  The recognition of the hand of God, watching, leading and guiding. When He has led us thus far, we can draw inspiration for the formidable challenges ahead. Our struggles shape and mould us, develop our muscle to be able to navigate the twists and turns of the boulder strewn horizon more gracefully than we did in the past. And we have the opportunity to draw not just on brute strength, but also the wisdom that was gleaned from pinnacles of the past.

One trekker, who has trekked the Rohtang pass in his youth,  walked over it again in his fifties. He said, that this time, he had one thing going for him. He had less strength and stamina, but he had the wisdom  and experience that his earlier summits had left him with.

We are all called out. We have been led so far. We can look backward with grateful thanks. And that strengthens us to look forward to the future with hope.

• ·      Let us look back and count the times we have been led, guided and helped.
• ·      Where we are now is a testimony to where we have come from and what we have come out of.
• ·      Let us recognize these historicial events in our lives with gratefulness.
• ·      Let this knowledge equip us for the road ahead, secure in the knowledge that the God of our yesterdays holds our tomorrows.