I just came back from getting my immunization for my trips out to Vietnam, China and Kenya. Christina went with me because she needed her shots for our Kenya missions trip in December.
It was a very illuminating experience to say the least.
The health professional that helped us was great. She was very informative and friendly. But as she was going over all the “possible risks” in Kenya my mind was churning. How in the world can we be that “protected” from all the diseases and possible accidents out there? She was reading off the CDC “recommended” immunization and also from the U.S. Travelers Health recommended list.
I couldn’t help but to think – “I don’t need half of the things that she is mentioning… it is not like I have never been out of the country before.” She was recommending that we go to the dentist before we leave because dental care is very poor in developing countries. She was also recommending that we get insurance for emergency evacuation. We asked what that was for – she said, “Just in case you were dying and you need to be flown out to the States for medical attention.” I think probably by the incredulous look on my face, she said that she is only recommending it but that it was not completely necessary.
Afterwards, I was thinking how we all long to be safe and protected. But can we really be 100% safe? There are too many unknowns and factors. Now, please don’t misunderstand me, I am not recommending that we go to the other extreme and endorse being reckless with our health and careless with our human responsibilities. But where do you draw the line?
It just reminded me that my life is truly in the Lord’s hands. As I have said many times before, “we are immortal until we have accomplished everything God has called us to do.”