Some reflections on the past term:

I still don't know what I want to do in life.

After three surgical terms and six years of wanting to be a surgeon, I am tempted by physician training (and lots more study). I would often hear other people asking each other what discipline they wanted to specialise in, but here I am unable to even decide between medicine and surgery.

It is important to be passionate about your job.

One of my students said to me "Dr X was very funny... but I don't think I learnt that much from him". Looking back to when I was at his stage in training, I can distinctly recall my then clinical examination tutor, who has since become something of an academic hero for me. It's true that I respected him immensely for his wealth of knowledge and conceptual thinking, but I am not sure that I would rather work for him. As much as I love learning, even more important in the work force is a good role model. Dr X, who teaches as much philosophy as he does medicine, is clearly passionate about his job. And so despite the long, arduous hours, and the workplace bullying, I was very lucky to work for a boss who could always make me laugh, and who was always there to support and encourage me.

It is important to socialise with your colleagues.

Think back to your school days- wouldn't school have been a lot more dull without all of the social events? I can speak from experience, because I was one of the most antisocial students at school. I can probably count the number of times I hung out with friends outside of school hours. The same goes for working life- I hardly ever make it down to our social club for friday night drinks. But the one or two times that we have had end-of-term social events, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. And it is so much nicer working with friends, than with colleagues.

Life is fraught with ethical decisions.

So many times, people have told me stories about ethically tricky situations. For example, what do we do if somebody has cheated the system and is an illegal immigrant so that they may seek medical attention for life threatening diseases? Pretend not to notice and treat them at the cost to society? Report them and boot them out of the country? How do we respond to such situations?

I have written enough ethics essays to remember the four ethical principles. The ethical principle of justice would suggest reporting to the authorities. However, I have also pledged the hippocratic oath, promising to treat all who are in need. As far as I know, the hippocratic oath has no national boundaries. Finally, I remember the teachings of the New Testament. There was once a good samaritan who found an injured man by the roadside. He took him to an inn, paying from his own pocket for the injured man's care and safe recovery.

What would you have done?

waiting to hear God's voice

when i was young, i had all the time in the world, and nothing to fill it with. i daydreamed constantly, doodled, read every book i could get my hands on, and i reflected. i still remember my very first proper diary. it was a pink, tweety bird diary with a lock and key. i filled it with all sorts of mundane and petty thoughts, kept records of who had wronged me, and in the front cover i wrote carefully, in large letters, "this diary belongs to Olivia".

it's funny, i had all the time in the world to write, but nothing to write about. that didn't really stop me from trying. it was a means of occupying my time while i waited to grow up.

now that i am in my 20s, i have all sorts of distractions to fill my time, with none leftover for writing.  reflecting is much less pleasant; every time i stop to look at myself, i have become more impatient, more ill-tempered, more unforgiving, and wholly more unpleasant to be around. these days, i avoid reflecting if i can help it. my habits have changed, but the busyness only serves to hide that i am still waiting.

still waiting to see where life will take me, what i will achieve (that's the word), and perhaps most importantly, who i will become.

sometimes i wonder, if i have been on a life-changing mission trip, is it God's will for me to commit my life to the mission field? or is God a God who would take a girl 7400 km away from home to remind her that when victory is assured, it is the journey that must count?

because you see, part of the journey is in the waiting. and the waiting part is where our faith finds room to grow.

birds of a feather

When we first moved to Australia, we were told by the real estate agent that the elderly lady who lived here before us used to feed the Kookaburras every morning.

I was very disappointed when I did not find this to be true. At least, they did not come to visit me every morning.

In quite a short space of time, we have had a lot of birds come into our lives.

First, there was Maggie about a year ago.

Then, Sherbie came into our lives and filled it with colour for a wonderful six months.

And now, Kookaburra #1 and #2 have started visiting us daily. They sometimes take meat from our hands.

Kookaburra #1 and #2 in our garden :)