In The “Medical Scene”

THURS., FEB. 6, 1997, 11:35 AM
WAITING RM, BELLEV. HOSP.

You shall have to try to put aside the TV noise as I come to you for a Teaching in this medical place. At this moment you assume Lenore, your life partner, is the “recipient” of a surgical procedure. There seems to be no real danger from this, but, also, this is the “scene” in which most people in your culture die. She will undoubtedly survive and her walking should be improved. Yet, for you, this is not a comfortable environment.

Your one encounter was not particularly traumatic, but it did not produce the return to functioning for which you have hoped. You hope that there will not be a need for you to return, as a patient, and you hope the same for Lenore… though her other knee may need the procedure that this one is experiencing. Yet you see the extent to which this is a busy institution, with many “patients”. Consider, though, that compared to the total population, in this culture and in the world, this is not exceedingly important. Corrections can be devised for dysfunctions, and these can be quite worthwhile. I am not opposed to increases in functioning or diminishing in pain.

I, the Holy Spirit, am not approving of much prolongation of individual lives. Ironically, I often am proud of medical personnel who serve patients in caring, loving ways. Yet too many old and dysfunctional lives are maintained, with much unnecessary use of energy. That is your cultural norm, but I needn’t approve. If individuals can live long lives without extensive (and expensive) medical care… and can function as helpful, loving people, even into old age… I approve. Or when a single procedure can restore a person to good functioning I smile.

It is not a disrespect for human life to allow death to occur when it is part of natural functioning. One critique I have of My own Scriptures is the occasional affirmation that death is a negative experience… something evil. I tell you again that physical death is a transition from this unique way of living to one more spiritual. Some of such “transitions” are not completely positive, but few of those who come over actually opt for what can be described as “hell”. There are many alternatives, and each of you will be guided to what you should experience “next”. Still, just as here in the earth, all do not follow their “best way”. It’s pretty complex, but you’ll see it much more clearly when it is “your time”.

At your age, the most important motivations and actions are those of awareness, appreciation, and service. Lenore’s condition urges you to appreciate her more, and to be more helpful to her. Yet this can mean that you can serve others less. Such is life, and though it may be somewhat frustrating it should be appreciated as a positive frustration, a choice of “servings”.

You have appreciated the courtesy and helpful attitudes and actions of hospital personnel this morning. Still, I also want you to appreciate that this, and other sites of this “institution”, have not been your “place to serve” in this lifetime. You have enjoyed and profited from your opportunities to guide learning and to encourage the acceptance of holistic perceptions. You can wish that you could have started this “journey” (12:13 / 12:25) earlier in your career… and you can be thankful that this was “your time” in history.

The surgeon has now told you that Lenore came through this procedure with her expected high performance. Her body now must readjust to the “intrusion” and the diminishing of the anaesthetic. You expected this “success”, but any hospital is a place where mistakes are made or where adaptations of patients to procedures are not as expected. You both are relatively strong old people, with service and appreciation opportunities still in abundance.