Miracles Happen
Today I did my usual rounds at the hospital. I had my hands full with three kids at one time, but for the most part they were pretty good. I spent the last hour with one child who happened to be a rather talented artist. I believe he was around seven or so and I tried to get a conversation going, but decided to just watch him work. I personally don't like it when I'm watched when I draw or work, so I asked him if it was okay to watch. He didn't seem to mind. I sat quietly for a while admiring his ability to manipulate colors on his canvas. I haven't seen skill like that in many children, especially his age.
I decided to draw alongside him to keep him company instead of looking over his shoulder. I soon ended up with a drawing of Cloud Strife of Final Fantasy VII, although I never really played that game or really looked at that particular character, it ended up looking a bit like him. Not much later, we hear another patient singing (incorrectly) the Barney song. I see him smile and we kind of laugh, because well I guess it's silly. I ask him if he knew what the other patient was singing, sure enough, despite the incorrect lyrics, the melody gave it away, "Barney" he says. And I finally get him to talk. I ask about his favorite shows and apparently he is quite fond of wrestling (WWE), Power Rangers, and Dragon Ball. Now, although I don't watch any of these, I've had my fair share of experiences seeing maybe a good few episodes at random times in my life (sans the wrestling...I never watch the stuff). So, I was able to use the little knowledge I did know about the three things to keep a conversation going. I finally got him excited and he was enthusiastically talking. He's a great kid. Oh, and if you're wondering where I got the Wrestling knowledge, blame my grade school classmates (guys of course), my ever so pretty high school friend Janice who loved Shawn Michaels, and my sweet friend Bert who gives me the 411 on the latest WWE info with Carlito Caribbean Cool -_-. Btw Bert, my patient agrees with me that Carlito is retarded. Sorry sweetie =P. He apparently likes HBK? LPH or something and the Undertaker (I thought that guy died a long time ago @_@). And apparently Hulk Hogan is STILL wrestling! Crazy man. Hollywood Hogan hehe.
Now, moving out of the hospital, I nearly forget to mail my friend's birthday card, so I walk out to campus and drop of my mail. On the way I have some random frat guy try and get my attention...twice. I pass them as I am headed off to campus. I assume they are calling someone else. And as I return, I get the same guy trying to get my attention and of course I walk on by like I didn't hear anything. Sorry guys, but you're too young for me, and even if you were old enough, I don't respond to cheap requests for attention.
I eventually get home and help my mom make a ribbon for one of her friends'/coworker's viewing. She passed away on Friday after a battle with brain cancer and later heading off into a coma. She was really nice to my mom too. I pray that her family will be able to get over the shock and are doing okay. My mom's other coworker's daughter is also terminally ill and is currently in hospice care. After taking her to USC med, there was really nothing they could do for her. It is tragic to know, especially since she was such a beautiful and young woman, an only child with a baby boy too. Least she was able to give her parents a grandchild. It makes you feel so detached and helpless when you find out about these kinds of things, especially when you aren't really close with them, or really know them personally, but know them enough to recognize their face and the people they affect in your own family.
As the day went on, I went to church and welcomed a visiting priest...the archbishop of Peru. His story about the dedication of such a poverty stricken town and about how much in dire need they are of churches and priests and the commitment and faith and love of God these people have and the sacrifices they do just to hear God word touched me so deeply that I felt guilty about not being enough of a believer in my faith. Why can't I be that committed or that grateful? We have so many churches here, and despite the poverty levels they are in, we are exceedingly wealthier then thousands of churches and dioceses in the world where food is scarce, and people are abundant. I felt the need to give, and here I was with the money I scraped for in my room overturning every stash I might have had only to find everything completely dry. I became desperate and eventually found something and left for church. When the Archbishop came with ask for donations, it was one of these rare occasions where I really wholeheartedly wanted to give out to these people. Maybe because his story reminded me of my own native country and the elders and provincial people who probably do the same. There, armed in the pews with nothing but my collection money, I desperately hoped for a miracle that my bag had some kind of extra money somewhere...even though I knew it was really a slim chance. Lo and behold I find some money tucked away in the farthest corner of my wallet flattened beyond recognition. I curiously check and realize I did have enough to give and was happy. I guess it was God's will for me to help, just as it was God's will for me to teach then and to help children now. Maybe he has a plan for me. I still don't know what exactly that is, but at least I feel some kind of direction. With that, it makes me happy.
I decided to draw alongside him to keep him company instead of looking over his shoulder. I soon ended up with a drawing of Cloud Strife of Final Fantasy VII, although I never really played that game or really looked at that particular character, it ended up looking a bit like him. Not much later, we hear another patient singing (incorrectly) the Barney song. I see him smile and we kind of laugh, because well I guess it's silly. I ask him if he knew what the other patient was singing, sure enough, despite the incorrect lyrics, the melody gave it away, "Barney" he says. And I finally get him to talk. I ask about his favorite shows and apparently he is quite fond of wrestling (WWE), Power Rangers, and Dragon Ball. Now, although I don't watch any of these, I've had my fair share of experiences seeing maybe a good few episodes at random times in my life (sans the wrestling...I never watch the stuff). So, I was able to use the little knowledge I did know about the three things to keep a conversation going. I finally got him excited and he was enthusiastically talking. He's a great kid. Oh, and if you're wondering where I got the Wrestling knowledge, blame my grade school classmates (guys of course), my ever so pretty high school friend Janice who loved Shawn Michaels, and my sweet friend Bert who gives me the 411 on the latest WWE info with Carlito Caribbean Cool -_-. Btw Bert, my patient agrees with me that Carlito is retarded. Sorry sweetie =P. He apparently likes HBK? LPH or something and the Undertaker (I thought that guy died a long time ago @_@). And apparently Hulk Hogan is STILL wrestling! Crazy man. Hollywood Hogan hehe.
Now, moving out of the hospital, I nearly forget to mail my friend's birthday card, so I walk out to campus and drop of my mail. On the way I have some random frat guy try and get my attention...twice. I pass them as I am headed off to campus. I assume they are calling someone else. And as I return, I get the same guy trying to get my attention and of course I walk on by like I didn't hear anything. Sorry guys, but you're too young for me, and even if you were old enough, I don't respond to cheap requests for attention.
I eventually get home and help my mom make a ribbon for one of her friends'/coworker's viewing. She passed away on Friday after a battle with brain cancer and later heading off into a coma. She was really nice to my mom too. I pray that her family will be able to get over the shock and are doing okay. My mom's other coworker's daughter is also terminally ill and is currently in hospice care. After taking her to USC med, there was really nothing they could do for her. It is tragic to know, especially since she was such a beautiful and young woman, an only child with a baby boy too. Least she was able to give her parents a grandchild. It makes you feel so detached and helpless when you find out about these kinds of things, especially when you aren't really close with them, or really know them personally, but know them enough to recognize their face and the people they affect in your own family.
As the day went on, I went to church and welcomed a visiting priest...the archbishop of Peru. His story about the dedication of such a poverty stricken town and about how much in dire need they are of churches and priests and the commitment and faith and love of God these people have and the sacrifices they do just to hear God word touched me so deeply that I felt guilty about not being enough of a believer in my faith. Why can't I be that committed or that grateful? We have so many churches here, and despite the poverty levels they are in, we are exceedingly wealthier then thousands of churches and dioceses in the world where food is scarce, and people are abundant. I felt the need to give, and here I was with the money I scraped for in my room overturning every stash I might have had only to find everything completely dry. I became desperate and eventually found something and left for church. When the Archbishop came with ask for donations, it was one of these rare occasions where I really wholeheartedly wanted to give out to these people. Maybe because his story reminded me of my own native country and the elders and provincial people who probably do the same. There, armed in the pews with nothing but my collection money, I desperately hoped for a miracle that my bag had some kind of extra money somewhere...even though I knew it was really a slim chance. Lo and behold I find some money tucked away in the farthest corner of my wallet flattened beyond recognition. I curiously check and realize I did have enough to give and was happy. I guess it was God's will for me to help, just as it was God's will for me to teach then and to help children now. Maybe he has a plan for me. I still don't know what exactly that is, but at least I feel some kind of direction. With that, it makes me happy.
posted by shine
at
Sunday, August 07, 2005
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