Surrender

Empty atrium.

It's quiet in a research hospital on weekends.

Chairs sit empty.

A lone young man walks distractedly through the garden; his oxygen strapped to his back,
his bald head hidden by a white cap.

Even in a weekend hospital, there are the beeps and whir of elevators, muffled sounds of floor activity. Occasionally someone chats on a cell phone.  A family member wanders through on the way to the cafeteria.

I'm on my way to the library and step into the chapel.

But this is a sacred spot.
Here is quiet.
Here is peace.

NIH Chapel

Surrender- to give oneself up,  lay down arms.

  Synonym- 

Yield- to give forth or produce by a natural process or in return for cultivation: This farm yields enough fruit to meet all our needs.

- to give up, as to superior power or authority: They yielded the fort to the enemy.

I knelt and prayed for Leslie, for her family. For those they love, for those who love them. For all of us who suffer.

We surrender. 

Leslie wrote about surrender.  People responded with "Don't quit fighting the cancer." Surrender doesn't mean to quit.

Surrender means to lay down your arms. So lay them down. Lower the fist, thrust angry at heaven. Lay open the arms, grapped so tightly across your wounded heart. Unclench your fingers, the fingers full of fear. Release shoulders that carry the weight of worry . 

Let your arms relax, loose by your side. Feel the weight as they hang empty. Relax your tight fingers, release the palms. Stretch your hands open and experience the possibilities of open hands.  Extend  stiff fingers as tension drains out the tips. 

Now, cup those ready hands. Soft, gentle. Like a innocent child eager to hold a tiny fluffy chick or a soft bunny. Tender, open - with wonder we hold our hands cupped to receive. 

The cupping is our action.  The gift is His choice.  This is surrender. 

This chapel is small, warm, inviting.
He is waiting.
He is here.

Sometimes the gift is strength for the battle. Or grace for relationships. Maybe we need wisdom for the future or patience for the day. Love for the moment.  

Open hands ready for the gift.  Surrendered.