The process of watching a baby-turned-toddler as he or she learns how to discover their voice is fascinating to me. I would like to say I dusted off old memories of my daughters growing up, recalling the days of a time gone by in these formative moments and parental memories.
Unfortunately, the rooms of my mind are filled with too many cobwebs in an attempt to bring back the past.
My wife and I are blessed with eight grandchildren and over the last 10+ years we have watched each of them grow, learn, and mature as the opportunity has provided itself.
Our youngest grandson, Leighton, recently turned two and he is a trip. He is in constant motion and parrots every word he hears.
In between periodic in-person visits at our daughter’s house or our home, we get to interact frequently via video chats on the phone. As soon as my wife answers the phone, I hear Leighton in the background saying, “Where’s Papa?”.
Score one for the little guy as he endears himself to my heart.
In a flash of time he went from communicating along the crying-cooing-facial expression-body language spectrum to one where he, like all babies, began to make audible sounds on the road to forming words and ultimately sentences.
A child’s initial vocalizations are innocent enough. When they get the hang of it, they often become louder in an attempt to capture one’s attention.
In many ways a baby or toddler is saying, “I have a voice and it’s time to use it.”
I echo the sentiment – I have a voice and it’s time to use it.
I have decided to throw some paint on the wall. Whether one cares to take it or leave it is up to you. It’s your choice.
As I let what is inside of me come to the surface to be expressed, my sincere desire is to be a voice to those who are currently walking in similar shoes. There are times in each of our lives where we have to say enough is enough!
As I write this post I still am employed in a non-clinical capacity for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, a very large health care system in south central Pennsylvania.
My employment status and that of many others will be drastically changing today.
In late May 2021, the entire workforce was informed via an email blast of management’s decision to require COVID 19 vaccinations as a condition of employment.
We were given a deadline of September 1, 2021 to comply with the mandate or face termination of employment for reason of non-compliance.
Quite honestly, it blindsided many of us. It was a tornadic wind gust which came seemingly from nowhere.
The back story is creatively and succinctly described by author and blogger, Kelly Rose Waller in a series of (4) posts found here.
Kelly has a voice and she is using it. Quite honestly, her thoughts have been a breath of fresh air to me and others during this time.
I will make an educated guess that similar emotions and thoughts have been played out in the lives of other employees faced with this mandate as they have been played out in my own experience.
In short, it has been a roller coaster ride of emotions with twists, turns, sudden drops, and being hurtled upside down as myself and others have been flung along the rails at high speed.
At first it was shell shock with “Why are they doing this?” the unspoken, but very present question.
I am not a doctor nor am I a virologist. For now, I will avoid commenting on the medical pros and cons of the shots.
Personally, I have read and listened to many qualified experts on the matter and I have arrived at my own conclusions. I adhere to the belief, after assessing the risks and potential rewards, that I alone should have the freedom to choose what goes into my body.
My employer SHOULD NOT and DOES NOT have a voice in this matter as far as I am concerned.
I have made my decision as an intelligent adult living in the United States of America and leaning on the Constitution which upholds my right to refuse based on Informed Consent.
I have a voice and I will use it.
I will not be a test subject for a medical experiment. Period!
It would be very easy to go on a rant about the many real or perceived injustices in this situation.
In my frustration or anger it would not be hard to fire off a statement similar to, “Take this job and shove it up your South Dakota!”
However, I feel I must take the high road as my conscience, convictions, and faith in Christ tell me I must.
In 2020 during the height of the pandemic, front line medical personnel were lauded for being “health care heroes”.
Banners were hung on buildings to declare this far and wide. TV spots and billboards applauded the efforts of nurses and doctors during this time. These were well deserved accolades for those who went far beyond the extra mile. Nothing should take away from the heroic efforts these people made in the service of others.
Those same health care heroes are now faced with a decision.
Take the jab and remained employed.
Refuse the jab and join the ranks of the soon to be unemployed. They are greeted with a proverbial slap in the face as they deal with the pressure and tension of complying or not.
This pressure is very, very real.
Many of us have watched a movie or TV show where the storyline and script renders the statement, “It’s not personal, it’s just business.”
Given this ill-advised mandate by the hospital system no matter the real or supposed business reason, trust me when I say it is personal.
Very personal.
A couple of months ago I spoke with a young woman who found herself in the eye of this storm. Her cry was very personal. She is both an employee of the health system and also a student in the affiliated Health Sciences College. She was looking down the double barrel of the shotgun.
She could comply with the vaccine policy and all would be well. Don’t comply with the policy and face not only unemployment, but also the fact of repaying thousands of dollars in tuition reimbursement for her education.
To put the icing on top of the proverbial cupcake, she was also faced with a personal decision associated with complying or not as she wants to start a family. The information she referred to left her hesitating on compliance as this could be a very real and potential health danger with respect to a potential pregnancy.
Personal?
Indeed!
I would love to invite any of the leaders of the health care organization to join me or others for a cup of coffee to listen, really listen, to the stories being told.
These stories would not be ones where they would get an earful, well deserved or not, but ones where they would actually hear the heart of the people.
I read an online post this morning that paints a very vivid picture of what one person is experiencing. Although edited for length, let me share some of the heart of the matter which I read.
“I woke up this morning with tears in my eyes…Tuesday is my last day…I have literally loved my job and working with the people I worked with over the years…I care about people and want them to have the best experience when they walk into the hospital and know that we truly care…we are a work family…these people really care about the people they serve…these are the ones losing their jobs…some have served 10, 20, 30 years…I’m so heartbroken they have to leave their jobs that they totally love and give their hearts to…this has been the best job I have ever had (non-clinical role)…I love going into work…I love trying to be that person in the patient’s life that makes them feel they are in good hands and things are going to be OK…I am so proud of all of you for standing up against this organization…remember, Christ has already won the victory for us…we are overcomers.”
Raw enough? Absolutely!
Personal? You bet!
These are only a couple of repeated stories I have heard over the course of this journey.
There are more. Many more!
If the cup of coffee did not suffice, I would welcome any leader to sit at my table over lunch as this husband and wife mull over the options of what to do next. They can get a front row seat to the painful, uncertain conversations that we, and many other couples and employees are having with their loved ones.
The emotions range from anger to denial to disbelief. They beat against the shoreline with a constant and deafening pounding.
These leaders would see the angst on the faces of real people as tearful conversations give way to fear and a periodic encouraging word. The would feel the raw emotion as most of the employees love what they do or at a minimum do it well enough not to be fired for cause.
To be fired for exercising a constitutional right. Hard to swallow.
There are times in life where one has to intentionally make a stand despite the apparent consequences. For me, this is one of those times. I am not looking to charge the hill, planting the flag, and drawing attention to myself.
Quite the opposite. I never have been nor ever will be a conformist. God has made me who He created me to be. I am taking a stand on principle and what is right in this particular situation.
Constitutional rights are being violated. A choice is before me. Comply or take a stand.
If you think it is an easy decision to make, think again. Quite to the contrary.
As the calendar slowly and assuredly closes in on the deadline, despite the consequences, I choose to STAND!
In fact, today is that day!
I am reminded,
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV)
Hard word?
You be the judge. I say if the shoe fits then wear it. I have a voice and I am glad I decided to use it.
I shared a few thoughts with my co-worker friends via an email I sent to them recently.
“As to the next chapter moving on from here, although I do not specifically know how the story might unfold at this time, I rest in the fact that I serve a God who has transformed former uncertainties into new realities. He alone is my provision and I simply expect that I will land on my feet with His help and guidance.”
A few weeks ago one of the executive pastors at our church spoke a wonderful word of encouragement. She spoke of her frequent running routine and a spot on her favorite course which equated to, in her words, a “hard mile”.
It was the place in her own experience while on the run where she could choose to give up and quit or continue on the prescribed course. Either choice was a viable option.
However, she spoke of pressing on and through the obstacles which presented themselves. As she closed the message, she asked those in the audience to stand if they were experiencing a hard mile in their jobs or other life situations.
Jackie and I rose to our feet at this holy invitation. Others joined us. She then asked those not standing to loudly applaud and cheer those of us standing on with shouts of:
“You can do this.”
“You can run the race.”
“Come on, you are winning!”
“We pray the wind of the Spirit would be at your back. We pray the water of the word would refresh you. We pray the Father’s beckoning love would see you all the way through the finish line.”
Emotion simply overwhelmed us as our church family has walked this journey with us and their support has been a much needed pillar to lean against.
To hear the cheers of those urging us to the finish line what was a defining tearful and prayerful moment. I am including a link to this message if you care to listen to it. The message starts around the 58 minute mark.
I pray it will encourage you.
To those in the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health family facing the consequences of non-compliance with the vaccine mandate policy, I would encourage with a few brief, closing thoughts.
Your identity is not in the job you are about to lose. Your identity, if you choose to accept it, is as a precious son or daughter of the living God.
He sees you as He made you to be, not by what you do.
Despite the current stress and strain this situation has imposed upon all of us,
Your Father is at the finish line cheering you on in this hard mile.
Do yourself a favor and take a moment to view this 1992 Olympic moment of a Great Britain athlete, Derek Redmond, experiencing his own difficult, hard mile.
It presents a visual of your Father cheering you on at this time and it illustrates how he will carry you when you need Him the most.
Absolutely a God breathed picture of the Father’s love for you!
You, yes YOU, matter to Him more than your employment status.
A better door is about to open for you.
Allow forgiveness to take root and know that He who began a good work in you will bring it forth to completion.
I invite you to take hold of this verse and make it your own,
“Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)
I encourage you to run the race for the applause of One!
Finally, allow the words of Christ to seep into your heart,
“I leave the gift of peace with you, my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts. Instead, be courageous!” John 14:27 (TPT)
Life seems to present it’s fair share of Red Sea Moments. Many of us are experiencing our version of one given Penn Medicine’s forced mandate.
Author and blogger Michelle Cushatt, hits the nail on the head with respect to Red Sea moments:
“I’ve been here before, in the middle of impossible situations. And every time—EVERY SINGLE TIME—my God has shown up. Fear is a waste in the face of such a Deliverer. Besides, I’ve discovered a delicious little secret about Red Sea moments:
A miracle waits in the middle of it.”
Michelle Cushatt
To my readers, thanks for hanging in there with this unusually longer post than normal. There was a lot to unpack.
Those faced with these pressures mentioned above could use your help. Specifically, please keep all of us and our families in your prayers.
If this post resonates with you at all, please consider sharing it.
If any of you are so inclined to contribute to a legal defense fund on the behalf of the employees, no matter the size of the amount, you can do so via the PA Informed Consent Advocates website.
To learn more about the specific issue described above, feel free to check out this interview recently shown on Brannon Howse Live via Frankspeech.com.
Many thanks and thanks for listening.
Bruce