Frustrations Of Work
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Luke 5:1-5
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret]with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything…
Simon (later to be called Peter) was tired and frustrated. He and his fellow workers had fished all night without success. Now they were washing their nets. Washing the nets was never a fun job. But after a full night of work without catching any fish at all, the task of cleaning off the seaweed and other smelly debris from the nets was especially tiresome.
Simon was not feeling particularly good about his occupation when Jesus approached him. It was one of those days he would have changed places with almost anyone. But, despite his frustration at the moment, Jesus was able to use Simon’s occupation as a way of enhancing his work. People were crowding him and those in the back could not see. Jesus used Simon’s boat to gain a better vantage point for speaking to this large crowd. Simon’s occupation – his boat – became the platform for the work of Jesus.
Those of us who are health professionals understand the frustrations of work. Like Simon, we sometimes work long hours at night. And like Simon, the long nights sometimes end in frustration and failure. But like Simon, Jesus can use our work as platforms for fulfilling his will and purpose.
On many occasions, I have spent all day and night working continuously for the benefit of my patients. After one especially long and difficult night on call, I was leaving the hospital to clean up before I headed to the office for my next day of work. As I was going out the door of the hospital, I was approached by a family member of one of my patients asking for a report. This patient was the main reason I had stayed at the hospital through the night. After a long battle with cancer, the patient had slipped into a coma. I had spent the last several hours assuring myself there was not a reversible cause for the coma. There was not. The imaging studies confirmed multiple brain metastases.
As I delivered this difficult news, the family member expressed appreciation for my care. She assured me that my attention to this patient had given the family the confidence that they had done all that had been possible for their loved one. She related how important this was to the family and what spiritual peace they had despite the very bad outcome. That day, my job was a frustrating and difficult one. But I was reassured that God was using my profession as a platform for His work.
Lord, use all of me, including my profession, for your Kingdom’s purpose.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
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