Have you been to the doctor’s office lately?  Did you have to wait long? What a luxury to have a job that provides insurance benefits and have the resources to go to the doctor if we are sick.

Last week one of the young men we are working with was sick.  Not I’m-gonna-die-tomorrow sick… but he sure felt like he was.  No insurance yet.  No job yet.  And the clock is ticking… We’ve put him in a studio apartment for a few weeks and he needs to have a job by then.

So how can he get some basic health care so he can get back on his feet?

Will the unfortunate timing of this illness cost him the opportunity to get back on his feet?

The folks at Mission of Mercy were there for this young man. Mission of Mercy, a nonprofit organization, seeks to restore dignity to all people by being an instrument of “healing through Love,” and by the reciprocal sharing of God’s mercy with those we serve.

We pull in to their mobile location and about 90 minutes later we leave.  Checked-in, triaged, seen the doctor, received prescription on the spot (not the script paper… but the actual medication!), was given his follow-up instructions by an RN and was free to leave.  All through the process my friend was treated with utmost dignity and respect.  He was prayed with by the people caring for him.

What all did this cost?  Well the price was free - but it certainly cost something.

These folks are disciples of Jesus Christ… and the cost of discipleship is high.  Luke 9:23 says “If anyone would come after me, they must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”   Often we read this Scripture with a bit of moaning in our tone in a response to something we really don’t want to do and it becomes “our cross to bear”.

That is not what this Scripture means.

What it means is what the people at Mission of Mercy are actually doing.  They have been called out by Jesus Christ and have responded.  They have devoted their time, money, and lives to serving.

I want to say I am grateful for the good folks at Mission of Mercy.

Grace & Peace,

Mike Ricker