Welcome to My World: San Antonio Update

Monday, October 20, 2008

San Antonio Update

Since I've been here over two weeks now, I suppose I can give my take on this area of Texas:

THE GOOD: wide open 4+ lane freeways, traffic delays are minimal, 60-65mph speed limit on freeways even in the heart of downtown, some extremely cool shopping areas all of which have movie theaters nearby, they have SeaWorld and a SixFlags, the Alamo's here, and new homes start at about $100,000.

THE BAD: lots of one-way roads including the frontage roads (the ones that parallel the freeways) which can add a lot of extra backtracking distance to your trip and wasted gas, the traffic lights are not that responsive to traffic conditions which take FOREVER to change green even when no one else is on the road, there are only two entrances to Ft. Sam Houston open 24/7 which makes the trip longer getting onto and off of base, EVERYTHING is under construction (the airport, the freeways, the side roads, etc), and the residents (the people I interact with on a daily basis) are a little more type-A personality-wise than my last rotation which adds stress to my day.

3 comments:

Mary said...: I just LOVE working with those kinds of people. There is even a nurse on our med-surg floor that all the students cringe if we find out she is working...but she seems to be nicer to the male students...yeah, it's totally fair!

I hope everything works out, and the experience is bearable!!

Are you working at an Army hospital?? I know our friends did some of their rehab after iraq in Tx...just not sure which area.; October 20, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Mike said...: Yes, I am. Fort Sam Houston's Brooke Army Medical Center sees a huge number of injured soldiers from Iraq and unfortunately a disproportionate high number of burn victims and amputees because of their specialized additional facilities they have to offer these soldiers the best care possible due to the nature of their injuries. I've come to the the conclusion that there is no injury more disfiguring cosmetically than burns. It can get pretty depressing at times being around so many of them. My heart goes out to them: both in gratitude for their service, and sympathy for an injury that will forever be a major social barrier for them aside from the post-traumatic emotional and psychiatric barriers they already face.; October 20, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Mary said...: Do they have an address to send the wounded soldier's Christmas cards??
I was thinking about doing a Christmas card drive so we can send our thoughts of love and appreciation during their recovery.
Can you find out??; October 26, 2008 at 2:02 PM

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Spiritual Thought

The Lord’s prophets have always called for UNITY. There are principles we are following as a people which are leading to greater unity.

One of those principles is revelation. Revelation is the only way we can know how to follow the will of the Lord together. It requires light from above.

A second principle to guide our progress to become one is to be humble. Pride is the great enemy of unity. You have seen and felt its terrible effects. Just days ago I watched as two people—good people—began with a mild disagreement. It started as a discussion of what was true but became a contest about who was right. Voices become gradually louder. Faces became a little more flushed. Instead of talking about the issue, people began talking about themselves, giving evidence why their view, given their great ability and background, was more likely to be right.

Happily I am seeing more and more skillful peacemakers who calm troubled waters before harm is done. You could be one of those peacemakers, whether you are in the conflict or an observer. One way I have seen it done is to search for anything on which we agree. The great peacemaker, the restorer of unity, is the one who finds a way to help people see the truth they share. That truth they share is always greater and more important to them than their differences. That same principle applies as we build unity with people who are from vastly different backgrounds. The children of God have more in common than they have differences. And even the differences can be seen as an opportunity. God will help us see a difference in someone else not as a source of irritation but as a contribution. The Lord can help you see and value what another person brings which you lack.

That leads to another principle of unity. It is to speak well of each other. Think of the last time you were asked what you thought about how someone else was doing in your family or in the Church. For instance, suppose someone asks you what you think of the new bishop. As we get better and better at forging unity, we will think of a scripture when we hear that question: “And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.” Realizing that you see others in an imperfect light will make you likely to be a little more generous in what you say. In addition to that scripture, you might remember your mother saying ”If you can’t say anything good about a person, don’t say anything at all.”

That will help you look for what is best in the bishop’s performance and character. The Savior, as your loving judge, will surely do that as He judges your performance and mine. The scripture and what you heard from your mother may well lead you to describe what is best in the bishop’s performance and his good intent. I can promise you a feeling of peace and joy when you speak generously of others in the Light of Christ. You will feel, for instance, unity with that bishop and with the person who asked your opinion, not because the bishop is perfect or because the person asking you shares your generous evaluation. It will be because the Lord will let you feel His appreciation for choosing to step away from the possibility of sowing seeds of disunity.
-President Henry B. Eyring, Oct 2008 General Conference

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Monday, October 20, 2008

San Antonio Update

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