thoughts on the news of the day: on call

hmmm…..

            This weekend I am “on call”.  Several pastors and I serve as “on call” chaplains at the local hospital here in the Ozarks.  You never know how busy you will be.  Some weekends the calls seem never ending but some weekends are free.  Either way, there’s no going out of town; no late night gatherings, no walks deep into the woods near Lake Norfork.  This would mean being out of range of the pager – a no-no for those who are supposed to be ready at any moment’s notice to arrive at the emergency room ready to go to work. 

            Yesterday morning I was relaxing at my home, anticipating a long day planning for a funeral when the call came.  I raced to get dressed, throw some make-up on and comb my hair.  As I was walking out the door, I received another call.  False alarm.  I could go back to my reading.  But it was already too late.  I cleaned up the morning dishes and headed out the door for my appointment with the deceased’s family.

            So why do I mention this?  Because while I am feeling sorry for myself, it occurs to me that lots of folks are “on call”.  Firefighters, police officers, doctors and nurses all take their turns being on call and that names just a few of those affected by the demands of their jobs. 

            Take a moment today to tell someone “on call” that you appreciate them and the work that they do.  You never know when you will need them.

            hmmm…..