Perplexing

          I have been here in San Antonio almost four weeks, spending the week days in the rehabilitation center with Beth and the weekends resting at the house. Beth continues to be a delight to serve and I am continually amazed that God allows me to serve her during this time.
         It amuses me when I realize how perplexed the staff has become by my presence here. I can't count how many times I've been asked if I'm Beth's sister. They cannot comprehend why someone like me who is not related to Beth would choose to come from Ohio to spend several weeks in this hospital-like environment. (Sometimes I wonder if they think I am homeless and find the hospital bed more comfortable than sleeping under a bridge). They just can't seem to place me in any of their boxes of typical visitors.
     One nurse was particularly perplexed by her inability to understand this and she appeared to feel that my presence represented criticism of her care. This women's insecurity and inability to place me caused her to snap at me one evening while I was helping Beth. She told us she would go and get the "expert" and promptly came back with a nurse tech to replace me (I wasn't offended I just went back to sleep!).
       But I think the reason many people here cannot understand why I would do this is that they don't understand Jesus. Of course I would lay down life in this small way for my friend because that is what Jesus did for his friends and I am just trying to follow Jesus and be an imitator of him. Jesus teaches us that anyone who wants to save his life will lose it but he who loses his life will find it. This is so very true, I am finding my life by "losing" it. It is through putting my life on "pause" and serving Beth at this time that I experience the Lord's delight.
  If people are surprised by my willingness to do this little act of service how much more astounded will they be when the realize what Christ has done? And how much more amazed when they understand how he laid down his life for his friends-for us?
   But I won't blame them for being unable to place Jesus in any box. He doesn't fit any specific structure, formula, or model. He perplexes me with his inescapable love. And what an adventure it is to follow a Savior who continues to astound me with his reckless love that cannot be understood!