Angels in the Light

Last week, I spent a lot of time sitting in a chair. I wish I could say I was looking up the answers to all life’s questions, but I was left asking more. Did I hear G-d answer any of them? NOPE.

Today, I’m up at 0400 sitting in a dim corner. I remember Florence Nightingale would walk the hallways with only a flickering candle to check on and minister to wounded Crimean soldiers. To many, Florence is recognized only as the Lady with the Lamp, but many Crimean soldiers called Florence the Angel of Crimea (Howell et al., 2020; Onion et al., n.d.).

It was the summer of 1996 when I walked into a patient’s room and they said, “You brought the angels with you.” Not long after, my patient died. As a Registered Nurse, this was my first death. Similar events like this have occurred over the span of 25 years. In fact, TWICE, I’ve seen the dead come back to life. Only one was old enough to ask, “Did you meet G-d?” But I didn’t ask. With my researcher brain on, I wonder “What, if anything, was significant about these two events?” [Pause] The families were praying.

[Another pause] But other families pray and people still die. This brought me back to another significant moment in my life. Two months ago, I was walking with one of my dearest friends from nursing school. She is one of those confidants you can share your deepest thoughts with. So, I decided to ask . . .

Me: Gina, does G-d talk to you?

Gina: No.

Me: [Sigh] . . . and then she told me something very special (Not verbatim, but close to it):

Gina told me sometimes when her eyes are closed and she’s praying she feels like He’s holding her (like a child). While G-d doesn’t directly talk to her it’s as if He’s saying “It’s okay, rest. I’m taking care of you.” Gina didn’t need to see or hear to know He existed. She felt His love, knew His love, and loved Him.

Forty-three days later, Gina died. I’m heartbroken.

Then, in that chair, I remember a book I bought at a used book store in Nashville, Tennessee, a few months ago. What did I buy? Angels. The author of this book, Billy Graham. Pastor Graham says “[Angels] are God’s messengers whose chief business is to carry out His orders in the world” (p. 22). “Hebrews 1:14 calls them ministering “spirits” (Graham, 1994, p. 23). So I’m led to believe angels are among us, guiding the way. Sometimes angels accompany folks to heaven, and maybe through words spoken by friends they help you find the G-d you don’t really know.

For some reason, I believe the number 43 is significant. When I Google “The number 43 in the Bible” I learn book number 43 in King James Version (KJV) “. . . is the gospel of John . . . John’s account is unique in that a large portion of the book conveys teachings reserved only for the Lord’s closest disciples” (para. 2).

[My lip quivers and the tears flow] Florence and Gina were one of G-d’s finest disciples. Their work on earth, guided by angels, was to comfort and touch the hearts of many!

Reflecting on the Evidence

1. How, if at all, do you address the metaphysical and/or spiritual needs of those you interact with? Explain your answer.

References

Biblestudy.org (n.d). Meaning of Numbers in the Bible and the Number 43. https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/43.html

Beck, M. (2022, July 25). Florence and the Lamp. Time Traveling Nurse. https://timetravelingnurse.blog/2022/07/25/florence-and-the-lamp/

Graham, B. (1994). Angels. Word publishing.

Onion, A., Sullivan, M., Mullen, M. (2022, March 22). Florence Nightingale. https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/florence-nightingale-1

Wilkerson Funeral Home and Crematory. (2022). Dr. Gina Ice Woody. https://www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Dr.-Gina-Ice-Woody?obId=25297652

Related work written by Gina, myself, and our colleagues as well as a video with Gina’s picture in it:

Howell, A.S. (Producer & Director), Beck, M.S. (Executive Producer & Writer), & Matthias, A. (Writer). (2020). The Year of the Nurse and Midwife: What would Florence Nightingale say Today? [Film, Educational Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGEK13Lvn0s&t=44s

Beck, M.S (2015, April 11). Performance and scriptwriter for Florence Nightingale. In G. Woody (Director), Scout out Nursing [Community event]. East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States.

Woody, G., Schwartz, M., & Green, B. (2011). Reenacting the past and revealing the present to influence the future of nursing. [Poster]. Sigma Theta Tau 41st Biennial Convention, Grapevine, TX, United States.

Woody, G. Schwartz, M.R., & Green, B. (2010). Scouting out nursing. Reflections on Nursing Leadership, 31(3), 5.

Dedication

Dr. Gina Ice Woody, DNP, RN my forever friend and colleague!