I was standing at the hospital bedside scanning some medicines for my elderly patient. Her daughter sat there as well, much as she had the day before, because Mom was experiencing the typical confusion present in the hospital among the older population. She was finally coming back around to her usual self, and I was enjoying watching her personality emerge. She reminded me of my Nanny, who had passed away years ago, so I was happy for this particular assignment. Despite her recent confusion, anxiety, and restlessness, we had gotten along swimmingly somehow. As her daughter had called me a “Godsend,” I had told her matter-a-fact, “we just get along like peas and carrots.”
“Did you say you’re a missionary?” My elderly patient suddenly asked.
I chuckled to myself. I had said no such thing. I mean, it wasn’t unheard of, as I had been a missionary twenty years ago. Despite the passage of time I still remembered it like yesterday. I could recall all the miraculous things I witnessed, the people I encountered, the souls brought to know Jesus, and especially the ones who didn’t. I could also remember when my time on this particular journey came to a close. Over half of the people I had met and worked with in this organization were continuing in the traditional mission field. Some more going to Africa, a place I’d always wanted to go. They felt the call to a life of mission work, but the call I was feeling wasn’t the same.
As much as my young, twenty-one year old mind wanted to serve on the foreign mission field, my heart wasn’t in it. I felt the Lord urging me to return to the United States, to finish my nursing degree, and to serve Him there.
Years went by, lots of ups and downs, periods of being a prodigal daughter, and periods of returning to Him. All of this flashed through my mind as I stood there at the hospital bedside, and I considered my life now as a Travel Nurse.
I answered back to her, “I guess you could say I’m an Atypical Missionary.”
I then explained how when I sought a new assignment across the country to work as a nurse that God would open doors and close doors. I trusted His hand, and I went wherever He said to go. It wasn’t like He boomed in a deep voice from the clouds, “I need you in South Carolina, Brie,” but rather that I prayed for Him to get me where He needed me most, then I trusted where the chips fell when it came time to choose an assignment. If San Antonio, Texas didn’t call for an interview, I didn’t take it personal. I took it as a closed door.
When it came time to go on the job, each and every day, I prayed. I said, “Lord, go before me and make the way. Give me good patients and a good day.”
When I prayed “good patients, good day” I didn’t just mean an easy assignment where nothing crazy happened. I also meant good, as in His will. I trusted I would receive the patient assignment I was meant to have. Sometimes that meant the angry, noncompliant and chronically ill twenty year old man. Maybe it meant the dying mother, or perhaps other times it was the mentally altered elderly lady. I followed His lead, and I served each patient like I was serving Jesus.
Well, that’s probably more how I try to be. I know for sure that I get flustered, frustrated, and tired. I get angry and fed-up. But my goal is to treat each patient like the Lord would want, so when I see myself getting frazzled I try and remind myself that I am where I am for a reason, and with purpose.
I’m an Atypical Missionary.
And I reckon as Christians we all are.
It’s easy to think your life doesn’t matter in the grand scheme. A stay-at-home mom can feel useless in God’s kingdom purposes, missing the fact that she’s an Atypical Missionary too. She’s serving on the mission field of parenting. She’s raising up a new generation of Christ Followers, teaching them to love as He loves.
A bank clerk may feel fruitless in the mundane, day-to-day tasks, not realizing a smile and cheerful greeting may be the only kindness a customer has seen in a long time. That teller is an Atypical Missionary.
It’s a profound blessing to be an Atypical Missionary on a mission field that’s easily ignored. We assume it’s the unreached people groups who need to hear most about the Lord, and we miss out on the service we can provide to hardened hearts that think God has forsaken them. Those hurt by religion may not know about the unconditional love of Jesus until they see it through you. A man whose image of God is distorted by the poor example of an earthly father, may only learn the true Father Heart of God by his buddy’s Godly example of fatherhood on a daily basis. You leading a life for Christ is mission work.
A tired teacher worn out by state testing requirements and the lack of discipline given to children at home might miss the fact that she is in essence the only shining light of love a child may experience. She’s an Atypical Missionary helping save a life and mold a future.
How many of us save a friend from committing suicide by giving them a hug when they needed it the most? How many of us by handing a five dollar bill to the homeless man on the corner inspired him to reach out for help? How many of our small acts of everyday kindness can be multiplied in a pay-it-forward, ripple effect? How many of us are the hands and feet of Jesus without even realizing it?
You can be a missionary without traveling outside the country.
You can serve the church without being a deacon.
You don’t have to hold a particular title to be of service to the Lord.
You don’t have to be a preacher, pastor, or minister to share the word of God with others.
You can be an Atypical Missionary right where you are. You don’t have to wait for God to put you in the right place. Perhaps He already has. Perhaps you’re serving His kingdom purposes right this very moment, and you don’t even realize it.
We don’t have to wait, saying, “God, send me and I’ll go.” Instead we can say, “I’m here. Use me now.”
Virginia Turner says
This really is a Blessing to me.Thank you .After 54 years of marriage my MOM of 86 years is living with me and my husband. My brother just dropped Mom off and that was that. she only had the clothes on her back. Terrible,unbelieveable. But we are adjusting. they spend almost all of her money. they lived in Calif and we live in ARkansas. BUT my husband and i both Love the Lord and our kitchen table is our altar and open heaven. our home has always been open we have 5 children ,21 Grandchildren and Now we have 20 Great Grandchildren. we are truly Bless. we pray for our country,President,Peace of Jerusalem,and All of Israel. Mom did not want to be here BUT The LOrd knew what she needed Now she is in Church everyday!!. we are sold out to Jesus and the Kingdom and MOm has Blossomed. Thank you For sharing. Virginia Turner 09/25/2018
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much. May God bless you abundantly!
Lisa Pierce says
This was such a joy to read! You are such an inspiration to me. God bless all your endeavors!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Dave says
The church we used to attend in Gotha, Florida which is just on the outskirts of Orlando has a sign over the door on the inside of the main entrance which reads, “You Are Now Entering Your Mission Field”! We often equate being a missionary to going out of our country but America, my current home state, my town, my county, my local address needs missionaries desperately! In the world of political correctness it is often frowned upon in some work places to share anything spiritual especially from the bible but you can live it just in your treatment of others and the disposition you display in doing your job! I remember distinctly a guy that was on my crew at what was then Downtown Disney and he always was so nice, honest and helpful! Being a prodigal at the time I know now that guy was placed on my crew to influence me as to what a sold out to God christian looked like and acted like! I still hadn’t returned fully to the Lord when I retired from Disney in 2001 but the memory of this wonderful man goes over and over in my mind as to how God used him to influence me because God knew that I, being a preachers son, had seen my loving Godly preacher man daddy hurt so much by members of his congregations and I too had been hurt by church members when I made an attempt to join my loving wife in church right after we moved to Florida! So yes, we are missionaries right in our own home and especially when we face the public in our daily travels! Don’t give up! Run the race knowing God is with us! I never had a chance to thank this man for his sharing God’s love with me his boss and I do hope I have a chance to do so in heaven! He made a difference by just living Jesus!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much for sharing this. You’re absolutely right. 🙂