Patients who come for cataract surgery at my place of work are often from different ethnic backgrounds.  Many of them don’t speak English.  Oh we do fairly well with pointing and explaining some things with hand gestures.  But there is a lot of information that needs to be communicated where hand gestures just don’t work and that is why they are told ahead of time to bring someone to interpret for them.    So what do you think is going on when I ask a patient’s attending friend or family member who is also the designated interpreter this question with the following answer:  “Would (s)he like orange juice, apple juice, or some water to drink?”  And they answer, “Yes, okay okay.”  Uhhh … no.  Or I might ask, “Is your mother diabetic?”  And the response is, “ … “  followed by a blank stare and then, “Yes, okay.”  Really??

If you don’t speak English and you need an interpreter … Why do you bring someone who doesn’t speak English?????

If you were going to go fight in a battle, wouldn’t you take someone with you who you knew could fight?  If you were going to climb to the roof of your house, wouldn’t you take someone with you who knew about roofing a house?  If you were going camping in the woods, wouldn’t you take someone who knew about pitching a tent and building campfires?  If you were going dress shopping for a big event, wouldn’t you take someone with some fashion sense?  If you were having a surgical procedure, wouldn’t you take someone to get medical directions in case you didn’t speak the language?

Ugh.

Folks, I am sorry to unleash my frustration, but when considering EYE surgery and keeping your VISION, don’t you think you would need to know some details?  I know – I know – perhaps these individuals did not have any friends who were fluent in English.  And on the positive side, I must say that most of the non-English speaking patients at least know how to say “Thank you.”  I have had my share of sincerely spoken “Thank-you’s” that even included a gentle hand squeeze, sweet hug, or peck on the cheek.

It made me think 🙂

When faced with a critical decision or circumstance in your life, do you go alone?  Why would you do that?  If health issues are creating havoc in your life or the life of your friend or loved one – or if you have a rough day of work ahead of you that follows a short night of sleep – or if you have studied day and night for an upcoming difficult academic test – or if you have more tasks to do than you have time for – or if you are called upon in any of so many areas of life where the going seems scary or extra-challenging – why aren’t you bringing your interpreter with you?  God can strengthen and go along with you and help you through.   With Him, all things are possible!  He is your very best advocate!

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to try to take God with me wherever I go.  I’ll let him ride shotgun and I know he’ll take the wheel when I can’t interpret which way to go.

Why would I go alone?
Why wouldn’t I want an interpreter?

Just Laurel

John 15:5 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.