Worlds Colliding

It was a family event.

A dinner, hosted by the director of clinical patients for all of St. Lukes & Elks staffing.

A large, foothills Boise home. The type of home that would be perfect for raising a large family in...perfect for entertaining. Homey and eclectic, yet elegant.

The room; filled with doctors, or soon to be doctors. (Not sure why, but we were almost the only PTA student present, the rest were PTs) Their spouses...mostly doctors as well. :) Lots of children to our kids delight. They made fast friends and spent most of the evening in the sprawling backyard, chasing the dogs and playing in the rain.

I met wonderful people, it was overall a very good experience, yet I hadn't prepared myself for the feelings that would keep coming up to the surface of my heart, and throat.

I'd meet another mom, someone I had something in common with, we'd strike up a conversation, perhaps based on the house plant both our babies were grabbing for and I'd begin to feel like I might find a corner to fit into this new "medically charged" world.....Just about that moment, I'd turn around and see a very beautiful, professional, familiar Idaho news anchor sitting in the seat beside me and I'd be immediately jolted back to the reality that this social network is nothing like what I'm used to. Nor will I be used to it any time soon.

I spent half of my morning in pajama bottoms that Liam threw up on. (Not to be gross, I DID finally change and shower)

I sat at my dining room table with my 6 year old and thought up stories of why E and R weren't getting along in the word "very" and couldn't say "er" because they were mad at each other....Instead they said "e" and "r".....

I snuggled into Liv's bed with her at 2pm when her arm was hurting and we made silly talk until she fell asleep in my arms.

I cannot tell you the insertion and origin of all the different muscles.

My name tag tonight didn't say Dr. Nellie Coleman.

But, I've decided I'm ok with that. I'm ok that we've been welcomed into this new circle with open arms and we're learning the ropes as we go. There was no one looking down their nose at our family choices, everything I felt was from ME.

I'm ok that I bring my life's work and experiences with me wherever I go, and they brighten my life because of it.

I'm ok with the knowledge that my opportunity to expand my education is rooted firmly in 1st grade concepts right now, but that my chance WILL come, and I plan to seize it. Not because that will give me purpose, but because I actually desire the challenge.

It's still a collision of worlds right now in my mind and heart. One that I'll have to adjust to. There's a lot of intelligent, accomplished, professionals out there (Very gracious and welcoming too!), but in the end, they're just people. With needs and hearts, facing (or ignoring) the same reality that I face too. That education, achievement, even social standing, in and of itself may be impressive, but if it's not under the Lordship and relationship of Jesus Christ as savior and redeemer, it's meaningless. It can not save. There is nothing new under the sun.