by Carmen Andres

Dr. Mark Greene is dying, and in some of his final moments he looks up to see his daughter Rachel standing beside his bed.

Mark: Hi.

Rachel: Hi.

Mark: I was just dreaming about you.

Rachel: You were?

Mark: The way you used to love balloons. Remember how much you loved balloons?

Rachel: No.

Mark: I used to buy them for you, and right when I handed them to you, you let them go. It drove your mother crazy.

He looks at Rachel and motions to her.

Mark: Sit with me. Sit.

She comes closer and sits next to him on the bed.

Mark: I was trying to figure out what I should have already told you, but I never have. Something important, something every father should impart to his daughter. I finally got it.

He pauses.

Mark: Generosity. Be generous. With your time. With your love. With your life.

Rachel: Okay.

Mark: I’m sorry, Rachel. I’m so tired.

Rachel: It’s okay.

Mark: Don’t cry for me.

Rachel: I won’t.

Mark: Be generous. Always.

–From the “On the Beach” episode of ER (text from tv.com and youtube)

ER—NBC’s long-running medical drama—is wrapping up its final season. As older characters return for cameos and storylines in the final episodes, I can’t help but think of one of my favorite episodes from the series (from which comes the above scene), “On the Beach.” That episode was the final one for Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), who finally succumbs to a brain tumor. He is a man at the end of his life who has realized and settled on what life is all about.

And how much his words remind me of God’s heart and desire for us. To pay attention. To “be in the room” with whomever we encounter.

To love:
Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
—Jesus, in Matthew’s account (5:14)

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.” —Jesus, in Luke’s account (6:35)

Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes! —Peter, in one of his letters (I Peter 4:7)

The older I get, the more I believe it all comes down to this, to love. We get so swept up in the must-be-dones, agendas and worries of life that it becomes all too easy to forget. But it’s scenes like this one that invite me to remember.

(Image: NBC)

by Bethany Spanier

Yesterday I had a doctor’s appointment that I showed up to on time at the start of their afternoon yet still had to wait 20 minutes before getting seen. So as I sat in a much-too-quiet waiting room, I chose to not bury my nose in a magazine but instead try to notice the people around me. I first noticed that I was the only patient in the waiting room, so I noticed the receptionist.

She was a brown-eyed girl in her twenties with long dark hair. She wore blue scrubs and had a nice manner with people on the phone. She hadn’t quite finished her lunch as I could hear the crunch of chips behind the wall she would retreat to to grab a quick bite. She looked coworkers in the eyes when she spoke with them and the patients as well as they finally started to file in.

I had to take rather quick glances because she was mindful of my presence in the waiting room as well and I was trying to avoid that awkward mutual glance … the one when you both accidentally look at each other at the same time without meaning to and then with embarrassment, quickly revert your eyes back the floor.

As other patients sat down, I noticed them as well. The silence was never broken by any of us and felt similar to standing quietly in an elevator with people. But at least for 20 minutes of my day I was intentionally thinking of and noticing others – giving my mind a break from the hours of thought revolved around myself =)

So I’m sitting at Borders with my girls (Rachel and Alli). I’m done with my book “The Great Emergence” by Phyllis Tickle. Fricking amazing read! I’ve finished the work I needed to do. I’ve got U2’s new album playing on my headphones, and now I just realized I haven’t really noticed anyone around the last 2 hours we’ve been here (except for the loud group of old ladies playing dominos at the table near by). But now I’ve got a few minutes to notice and pray.

The young lady behind me eating her homemade lunch and typing a paper on her laptop. Stressed. Typing frantically. God help her to finish her paper well. Help her to do well in her classes this semester. Help her to actually learn something that matters.

The two middle-aged women engaged in deep conversation as long as we’ve been here. The one I can see keeps putting on a smile, but her eyes belay something different, a deep hurt. I’m consciously trying not to eavesdrop so I have my headphones on, but something is going on there. God give her peace, protect her family, give her hope and joy. Guard her heart.

The young Hispanic woman with the nice smile working at the coffee bar. Even with a line of customers she kept her smile and even talked with Rachel and Alli. God, thanks for her joy and friendliness. Give her success today in her job. Help her supervisors notice what an asset she is. May she have a good amount of tips today. May she have enough income to pay her bills.

The old man with suspenders and a walker coming towards me slowly. We look eyes. I smile. He smiles back. I pull out a headphone and ask how he is. He smiles bigger and asks how I am. God ease whatever pain he’s in. Give him dignity and comfort in his old age. Help others to recognize what an asset he is and to esteem him. Surround him with people who care, who help, who love. Be with him in a tangible way today.

Time to leave but it feels good to think of others for a solid 15 minutes. And it feels good to know that God is thinking about them as well. That somehow I’m joining with Him in His thoughts.

I was amazed afterward at what a spiritual experience it felt like. Almost like worship Imagine that.

-Darrin