Reality Bites.

This past Halloween weekend I worked my first three shifts in a row. This was my costume..

yes, I took this picture in the staff bathroom..

The people in the hospital, for the most part, are really kind.  They are helpful and don't get impatient when I ask 50 times what the code is to the medications room.  It's a small hospital, so everyone knows everyone, and they have heard about "Megan, one of the travelers from Pittsburgh".
The policy of this hospital is that travelers get pulled first to other units, if there is a need there.  Just an FYI for you non-medical people, this isn't always something we want to do.  When you have a specialty that you are interested in and comfortable working in, it's not fun to get pulled. I've been pulled a lot already.  But the people in the other units make it easy to get pulled.  And even fun??

Today was my day off, so I went to the beach for the afternoon. To my excitement I found a free parking section.  The beach wasn't totally empty, but there were few people there. The sun was out, it was misty and beautiful.  Peaceful.

Did you know there are squirrels on the beach??

So there I was, on the beach.  Enjoying the sunshine. Smiling. Reading. Texting friends from home.  Walking to the water. Sitting.  Playing in the sand.  Eating lunch.  Laying on the beach blanket. Burying my feet.  Watching joggers go by.. And repeat.

Suddenly a man came up and stood in front of the blanket I was sitting on.  He began talking to me, despite my cues that I did not want him there.  I said goodbye a few times.  At first he was just talking about the bible (he saw I was reading it).  He said something about being glad that I was beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.  He asked me if I had a boyfriend and I said yes.  Then he said some nonsense about, "good, because I don't want you to think that because of your size, you're not beautiful." and "don't think, 'oh I'm fat, no one could love me'"....

what?

He said some other things that were weird and slightly inappropriate. Finally, he left.  I was pretty shaken up.  I don't know what his intentions were, but I was incredibly uneasy.  There were people near, but a good 200 yds away.  And most of my things were sprawled out on my blanket. 

I'm about to get a little spiritual..so prepare yourself...

Things in life can be wonderful and incredible, but this isn't a perfect world.  There are awful people, and illness, and danger. 

I don't know what you believe in, but the bible tells us that because of sin, this world God created was tainted..

Something like a lovely afternoon at the beach can be ruined by an encounter with a stranger. 

A great apartment can be ruined by bugs...(ugh, we have an itchy infestation..)

And other things I'm sure I don't need to convince you of. 

But there is hope.  There is a Heaven.  And we can go there, because of Jesus.  

Okay, shake it off.  Tomorrow is a new day, full of new graces for us.  Now, I know a little more about where I can go, and where I shouldn't.  And I'm even more grateful for protection and God's plan for my life.

PS I was praying for you all on the beach today... Thanks for reading :)