California weather has been unpredictably cool and rainy with fantastic cloud formations, green hills and clean crisp air. We took our dog for a brisk walk in awe of the surrounding beauty. It was a Monday, President’s Day and I felt fortunate that my employer acknowledged this day as a holiday, aware that many colleagues at other offices were working.
We were driving across town when my cell phone rang. "Hello, this is Angelita ______ and I am calling because Jessica told me I had to have the hospital bed picked up by noon so that they could deliver the other bed this afternoon. No one has called me and I have to have my bed tonight", she said rather distraught.
I asked a few questions to try to understand more. I learned that Angelita was an older woman who did not know where Jessica called from nor her contact number. I explained that I was travelling in my car and provided her the telephone number of our home health office and told her the manager could assist her in resolving the problem. She thanked me and told me to drive safely. I could hear the sincerity in her voice.
Soon after arriving home my cell phone rang and Angelita told me that when she called the office, she was told that home health does not handle equipment orders. I inquired further as I signed in remotely to the EMR. I discovered that Angelita was not a patient on our service. I asked Angelita if she could tell me the name of her insurance provider and if she could locate her card and provide their telephone number. She sounded flustered and I reassured her to just take her time. Eureka! She found the card and phone number. I asked for her birth date, which she willingly provided and told her I would see what I could do.
I called the insurance customer service department and a live person answered the phone! She was able to locate Angelita in the system and commented that she was a new patient, hence the need to switch out the beds. I explained how important it was that Angelita receive the bed today. The representative indicated it was doubtful because she would need to obtain an order and authorization for the equipment. It was 4:00 pm and I said, " If you call right away the Dr’s office will still be open." I was familiar with this particular doctor’s office and I told her to ask for Thomas because "if anyone can make this happen, it is Thomas!" She thanked me for looking out for their patient and before ending the confirmed that she would call and update Angelita and she reassured me that she would call.
There was a time when I might have felt inconvenienced by getting a call on my day off for something that was not my job BUT not anymore. For when I get a call like this, where it is unlikely that a soul like Angelita would be reaching out to me, I know this is God calling, to work through me. In this case, He used my voice to help an elderly person in need and in the process I experienced a deep sense of joy.
The next morning when I arrived at work there was a phone message for me from Angelita saying, " thank you, I don’t know what I would have done if you had not helped me." She said she would say a prayer for me. I was so grateful for Angelita’s call and the blessing that she bestowed. I saved her message so that I can listen to it on days when I need to remember my true purpose.
This little story illustrates a very small gesture on my part. Yet it is a prayer of atonement for the times that I have not been listening and missed God’s call.
Reflection by Liz Sorensen Wessel
Photo: California Hills by ~liz
