Seeking Him

It was my first surgery. It's been over a week since I had my gallbladder removed - an event I don't think I will ever forget. As my parents and I left the house early that morning I wasn't expecting an encounter with Christ. I was expecting, however, to be more nervous than I'd ever been about anything in my life so far. I've always been the bystander. As my father was wheeled into surgery 2 years ago to have his gallbladder removed, or as my mother was wheeled into major surgery for back problems less than 5 months ago I was always the one watching them go and then whisked away to pace in the waiting room. The shoe was on the other foot, now. The tables had been turned.
It was a beautiful morning - Black Friday to be exact. Mom joked that it was the first time she'd missed Black Friday shopping in years. Needless to say - I didn't feel to bad. I was quickly pushed through all the registration and pre-surgery procedures once we arrived at the hospital. Anyone else may not agree but I thought I looked pretty cute in the pale blue hospital gown. The time came - my parents were taken to the waiting room and I was on the operating table, under the anesthesia in less than 5 minutes.
I woke up, after what seemed like a minute, in the recovery room. I didn't know where I was, let alone who I was when I first opened my eyes.
"Hi - my name is Wanda, the recovery room nurse. You're doing just fine, Aaron."
She was sitting on the edge of my bed and put her soft hand on top of mine. It was reassuring. Since I was the only patient at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown that morning Wanda devoted all of her attention to me. She would ask the typical small talk questions like where I was from and where I went to school and I would give her a one word response. I was distracted - my mind was running with questions: Did the procedure go ok? How long will recovery be? How long will it be before I can sing again?
Wanda, without a doubt a strong woman of Christ, could see right through the mask I was putting on to hide my fear.Then she spoke words that broke through that fear: "Can I pray with you?"
I stared at her - a blank expression on my face. How did she know I was a disciple for Christ? We talked about our faith walks and the trust we shared in our Lord, Jesus Christ the Almighty. She joined her hands with mine and prayed and beautiful prayer - a prayer of praise for our connection through him, of healing for my coming weeks of recovery, and for patience in him. My fears melted away. Nothing else in that moment mattered.
Wanda wheeled me back to the same day surgery room, where my parents were waiting for me, squeezed my hand, gave me a wink, a smile, and a look that said "Put your trust in God. He's going to take care of you now." I am forever blessed for her.
Its' amazing, friends, where we find Christ even when we aren't looking for him. During a time when I should have been seeking him out, I wasn't, but he was still seeking me. Through this amazing woman he reached me and stilled my soul. Today I think back on that encounter with my Father and think of this psalm, one that I hope reminds you of the importance to seek out his face:
Isaiah 55:6 - "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near..."