The Satnav, the Eagle and the Nurse.

Yesterday we planned to meet brother-Bryan and niece-Virginia. We’d agreed the location and the time. Ms Satnav sounded confident as we started our journey.

She took us along unfamiliar country lanes… to barriers across the road and a ‘Road Closed’ sign. We turned round, drove back several miles, and tried a different route. Half an hour later Ms Satnav played the same trick on us again – directing us to another ‘road closed ahead’ sign…

Eventually we met up with Bryan and Virginia, caught up with family news and had a lovely day. Our family are certainly more dependable and personable than Ms Satnav!

Recently I read: ‘…those who hope in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles…’ An encouraging picture – effortlessly gliding like a strong eagle through ‘hope in the Lord’.                     

I remembered the grandad joke: What’s the difference between unlawful and illegal? … One’s against the law, the other’s a sick bird. The ill eagle can’t soar high!

This morning I was reading in Isaiah about blind watchman and silent guard dogs…

Misguiding satnavs, ill eagles, blind watchmen, silent guard dogs remind me of ‘about as much use as a chocolate teapot’ and the feminist quote ‘a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle’.

Lat night’s local news told of Kim Helm, a paediatric nurse at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre who is retiring after five decades of service including forty-one years in children’s renal nursing. The reporter spoke of Kim’s long-term relationships with families, guiding many children through dialysis, transplant, and recovery.

‘I do feel as though I’ve made a difference,’ Kim said. ‘And that feels good.’

It was good to see Kim’s evident compassion… It was good to see Bryan and Virginia and be reminded of close, loving family relationships… My prayer this morning is that I won’t be a misfunctioning satnav or ill eagle; rather I will be fit for purpose – at my work, in my family, with my God.