Working life

Psalm 15 [The Message (MSG)]

A David Psalm

1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place?

How do we get on your guest list?

2 "Walk straight,

act right,

tell the truth.

3-4 "Don't hurt your friend,

don't blame your neighbor;

despise the despicable.

5 "Keep your word even when it costs you,

make an honest living,

never take a bribe.

"You'll never get

blacklisted

if you live like this."

I was already told that working life is way much worse than a life of a student. True enough, now that I've just gotten my 2nd pay slip, I realize the working world out here is, for optimistic ones, an exciting journey and for the not so optimistic ones, a scary path. More so if my work deals with people, their feelings and their lives.

I really appreciate people who guided me through this really big transition period of my life starting few months back. There were people who actually sat down and teach me how to face "the real world", what to expect, and what could I do to not have a shock of my life. and of course my mom's working atitude that inspire me the most. She is the one that showed me hard work is the core attitude to success. Then comes how smart we are, and how much wisdom and knowledge we have.

But all in all, the ultimate aim and objective is still the same. God's will.

Growing up in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, I've seen enough how people can chase after their dreams and desires without knowing how and where they are heading towards ultimately. I call it the rat race that I have to constantly remind myself not to get into. What is the point of running aimlessly with all other people when I know well enough that I have my future planned and authored by the Almighty God? What is the point of winning the race, bringing everyone else down and in the end finding myself exhausted and achieving what everyone wants to see me achieving instead of arriving at where God wants me to go?

God's rule is simple, listen and obey. The favor from God and people, the blessings and the supply will come when we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

I would walk straight, act right, tell the truth, not hurting my friends, despise the despicable, keep my words and be honest because I want to be invited to the Lord's dinner.

The Little Bits That I Can Do

" You are really a good Doctor" - Patient Ach. (SMS)

Deep down in me, I know how incompetent I am as a junior doctor. He did not know that I always get scolded for not being able to carry out orders, for not doing the right test for patients and many more scoldings that had happened earlier on.

I do not know what was the diagnosis, what was the problem, neither do I know how to treat him.

All I did was spending an extra 1.5 hours after office hour on my post call day listening to him, understanding his needs and giving him the support he might need, with a smile. In fact, we did not mention anything about the disease that he was having.

Then I realized, all he wanted was just someone to talk to, and someone who are willing to sit down and listen to him. But with the tedious working environment that we have, how many of us can afford to do so?

As a junior doctor, I cannot make much decisions on how to treat the patients. And with all the never ending job lists (and even PPK's joblists), reviews, rounds and assessment, I sometimes find it hard to even put a smile on my face. What more sitting down and talk to patients.

I have to always remind myself, by God's strength, to grab the opportunities to touch lives, to meet our patients needs and constantly improving ourselves in terms of my medical knowledge whenever time and strength allow.

Because that's the little bits that I can do for my patients, with a smile. =)

Life is short, so make it sweet.