The waiting room
I had to go to the lab to have a couple of routine tests run, one of which required fasting. My challenge with fasting tests or surgeries is that I wake up hungry. Some people (like my wife) are in no hurry to get breakfast after they wake up. Not me.
Because of this, I looked up when the lab opened and made plans to be there a little early. Thinking there might be others with my same strategy, I got there about 15 minutes early.
When I got to the waiting room, I was probably number 12 on the list to be called back. A little before their scheduled starting time, they began to call people back. I knew they were calling them in the order they registered, so I had a few minutes of waiting.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” - Proverbs 3:5-12 ESV
About this time, a mature lady and a younger person walked in. She audibly asked in a loud voice where all the people in the waiting room came from and what time the lab opened. Obviously, she had planned to be among the first in line like I had, but wasn’t expecting anyone else to have the same plan.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” - Matthew 6:25-34
Shortly thereafter, I got called back for my turn. (When I registered, I said I was there to see a vampire.) I was amazed at the lab staff’s efficiency in getting through the backlog of people waiting.
