Nursing, is it god's work?

[jlsand]

The original poster is someone who doesfeel that it was a calling. I am asking that those who do NOT share the original posters sentiments please walk away from this thread and NOT use it as a forum to debate the issue.

This is not a new topic for debate, please, if you want to debate it start a new thread (or better yet, revive an old thread).

Ok here is a new thread.. read this..http://www.atheists.org/

[MickeymomRN]

Just sat here and tried to read every single post. But time restrains me from doing that. Lots of other things to do. Wanted to let that be known just in case someone thinks that I'm aggreeing or disagreeing with the way this thread is going.

Just wanted to say that overall I see a bunch of mature persons having a great debate over a number of subjects. Great to see that the rights of freedom of speech and religion (or lack of) is being granted to ALL and not a select clique. Bravo!

And I do agree that we can NOT shove God down someone's throats! God will work in His own way and in His time. It is these manmade religions and denominations that muddy the beautiful water that quenches eternal Life. I am not put on earth to brow beat someone with the Bible. I am here to follow His words and His examples. Love one Another! That's what I am doing. And that's what gets me thru my job somedays. I'm sure some of you have had incidences when you didn't want to deal with a patient. I try my best (not always do I succeed because I do have weaknesses) to treat them the way I would if it was I in the their shoes. And it all boils down to having compassion for our fellow man/woman. Just wanted to say that I enjoyed reading from everyone here a nice sampling of this earthly world.

[Jay-Jay, RN]

Posted by Angus:

I am sorry but I see too many nurses right now self promoting themselves saying nursing or a particular type of nursing being a holy calling, and making statements that, " it takes a special person," etc.

Bottom line if we disagree and there is anything remotely religious mentioned then the rule is keep mouth shut.

Posted by Jay-Jay:

Here are my feelings re: debates of this type. I like what Winston Churchill once said. I'm not sure of his exact words, but they were something like this: "I may disagree with what the honourable member says, but I will defend to the death his right to say it." This, IMO, is the essence of democracy.

Angus, you are obviously upset, and perhaps feel the mods jumped on you unfairly. I'm not trying to single you out, but do feel the need to respond to what I've quoted above.

The first quote above is from your first post in the other thread. I have a problem with it, because NOWHERE in her post does Nevada say that being a Christian nurse makes her superior to anyone else. You are reading into it something that just isn't there. If you look at it closely, she lists all the wonderful qualities that nurses need to do their jobs. When she does that, she is referring to ALL nurses, not just Christian nurses, because she continues in the next sentence: "If we are Christian..."

Second, what you said above re. keeping your mouth shut if you disagree with something someone has posted about religion simply isn't true. See my own quote above...those are my true feelings, which I posted earlier in this thread. However, when we feel strongly about a subject, we often post something hurtful, without realizing just how it is going to sound to the other person. Or, we let our own agendas take over, without really understanding what the other person is trying to say. I did this above, when responding to Donmurray. This can cause a lot of hurt feelings and misunderstanding.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is, when dealing with a hot topic such as religion, we all need to be more careful of the other's feeings. Read the other person's posts carefully before posting. Don't post if you're angry, wait until you've cooled off, and had a chance to rethink what you want to say and how it sounds.

Okay? Good advice for us all!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by Agnus

Bottom line if we disagree and there is anything remotely religious mentioned then the rule is keep mouth shut.

No don't keep you mouth shut if you feel the need to respectfully express yourself. But I've learned it's very difficult to disagree or argue or debate with someone who has the Word Of God on their side. Can't be done very easily. Choose your battles wisely is all I'm saying.

But, never keep your mouth shut if you respectfully need to talk. Just be prepared for what may occurr afterwards. But from your avatar, you've survived a flame or two. LOL

[Agnus]

It was reasonable to assume a Christian basis she made NUMEROUS Christianreferences to JESUS CHRIST in stating her position. I did not criticize her for being Christian.

Don't deside for me that I was upset. I am now.

I criticized her for promoting nursing to being a noble calling above other lines of work.

I attempted to get that point across once again in my last post. I am waisting my time here. Please, don't tell me not to read things into something, until you stop this yourself.

I criticize something said by someone who mentions God and there is a huge chip on many people's shoulder.

I say the word "Christian" as I picked up on a Christian bent and now you see a major religious war.

Don't keep my mouth shut! you say. Ha! Take a look at what you are doing.

For the last time I did not criticize her religion. I did not attack her for being christian. But why am I waisting my time I already stated that 2 x previously and the chip on your shoulder doesn't allow you to see that.

[WinkRN]

I needed to earn more $$ - nursing was a viable option. I took it. I was not "called". But, I have had many "spiritual" or "magical" moments since becoming a nurse. And I'm sure most of us would agree to that. God's work? Maybe, maybe not. Deeply touching and fulfilling at times - definitely. (Deeply frustrating, demanding, and causing me to wonder what the ##@ was I thinking becoming a nurse - for sure!!) Just my 2 cents.

[BBnurse34]

I would never be so pompous as to say that "nursing is God's work" raising my bratty kids and trying to turn them into decent citizens feels more like that!

However, there are many times that I greatly feel the honor of serving others.

[Agnus]

Originally posted by BBnurse34

I would never be so pompous as to say that "nursing is God's work" raising my bratty kids and trying to turn them into decent citizens feels more like that!

However, there are many times that I greatly feel the honor of serving others.

I concure it is a privilege to my way of thinking.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by Agnus

It was reasonable to assume a Christian basis she made NUMEROUS Christianreferences to JESUS CHRIST in stating her position. I did not criticize her for being Christian.

Don't deside for me that I was upset. I am now.

I criticized her for promoting nursing to being a noble calling above other lines of work.

I attempted to get that point across once again in my last post. I am waisting my time here. Please, don't tell me not to read things into something, until you stop this yourself.

I criticize something said by someone who mentions God and there is a huge chip on many people's shoulder.

I say the word "Christian" as I picked up on a Christian bent and now you see a major religious war.

Don't keep my mouth shut! you say. Ha! Take a look at what you are doing.

For the last time I did not criticize her religion. I did not attack her for being christian. But why am I waisting my time I already stated that 2 x previously and the chip on your shoulder doesn't allow you to see that.

This post came after mine, and it seems you are addressing me but I am very confused.

I was thought I was being encouraging to you to continue to speak your mind. I fail to see anything I said indicates I have a chip on my shoulder, as I was the first to agree with what you said in the first place.

"Take a look at what you are doing". This is the most confusing of all. I always feel free to express myself, sometimes I have to realize that though in expressing my views no one is going to be swayed to come to my way of thinking, so I have to state my views and let it go. I was using Christians as an example of people I never agrue with, if that is what is confusing you.

I think your defensiveness and was a bit inappropriate to what I had to say and I was misunderstood, but that's o.k. in a BB that happens sometimes. I am willing to look at what I had to say, but don't see how it warranted the response I got. Sorry.

[Agnus]

Third shift guy,

my post was directed at Jay jay. which is a post that came just before yours.

Anyway I am out of here

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by Agnus

Anyway I am out of here

Good idea. You have a lot of anger issue with this.

I misunderstood, but there was a reference to my saying "don't keep your mouth shut, which is why I responded the way I did. Sorry if I added fuel to the fire so to say.

I'm way out of here too. I've said all I've needed to say.

Peace. Choose your battles wisely I still say. :)

[Jay-Jay, RN]

Angus, I'm not going to go another round on this with you, though I do take exception to your comments.

I still disagree that Nevada was putting nursing above other professions in her original post. If you get that out of her post, well, [shrug] you're entitled to your opinion.

[Tilleycs]

Maybe Angus' point was that nursing shouldn't be over-romanticized? When I read Angus' original post, that's the "feeling" I got from it - that it's not more important than any other work out there, and ALL work is noble work. I do agree - we need good garbage collectors, software developers, restaurant managers, etc. just as much as we need good nurses. Kind of like, "If nursing is God's work, what does that make the rest of the people on the planet (and their work) who AREN'T nurses?"

Anyway, that's how I took Angus' original post. Does that make sense?