Editor’s note: As Loma Linda University Health continues a massive construction project to build the new Medical Center and Children’s Hospital towers, the chaplains invite members of the campus to pray and fast each Tuesday, asking for God’s guidance and wisdom as we continue to grow. Below is a devotional from a series in News of the Week based on the biblical book of Nehemiah, in which Nehemiah faced a massive building project of his own.
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“Remember me, O my God, for good.” Nehemiah 13:31b
It’s that time of the year again at Loma Linda University Health; we welcome the classes of 2017-2020 to our campus. They have arrived with confidences, aspirations, ambition, anticipation and perhaps some trepidation. For some this place has become a home away from home, for others this is their first foray to a strange land.
This group will find themselves striving to learn and acquire the requisite skills to serve as health care professionals at a momentous time in our organization’s history. We are in the midst of several structural changes — the construction of two new hospitals, another parking structure as well as the coalescing of our organization into One Loma Linda. While some parts of the transformation will be obvious, others will be subtler and not as perceptible to the students or us.
We have spent the last several months reflecting on the story of Nehemiah as it chronicled the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem. This project was also momentous, and there were forces at work from without and within to delay or halt the progress of the construction. There were those who personally derided the project and even went as far as sending a negative and untruthful report to Nehemiah’s employer, which caused the work to be halted. When that didn’t work, there were plots hatched to cause physical harm to the project manager and the workers. Truly this was a challenging time to rebuild the walls.
The same could be said about our projects. We may not all be privy to the outside forces that attempt to derail the mission of our organization, yet we can be assured that they exist. Perhaps you have experienced some internal trials that have caused you to become distressed or disheartened about meeting the goals of your department. What can we take away from Nehemiah’s experience? There are two lessons that come to mind — He was personally committed and he had obstinate faith.
As we embark upon the academic year 2016-2017, we too need to remain committed to the mission and vision of the organization — departments, schools, etc. Is it truly that simple? Well, yes and no — Nehemiah wasn’t only unswerving; he had tenacious faith. He made time for personal devotion and prayer, which can sometimes get neglected or minimalized as we go about the business of Loma Linda University Health. While we have much to do in the upcoming months, may we continue to pray, encourage each other and work together to indeed continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.