«Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, “Here am I Send me”(Isaiah 6:8).
Florence was born on the 20th of May 1820 to an upper class family. Her father who studied at Cambridge University, taught her philosophy, modern languages, mathematics, and science. But in those days, women had little opportunities to practically apply their knowledge, thus Florence’s spirit of service was suppressed by the customs of the time. However, when she was eighteen, she felt she had been «called by God» for a special task. She wrote the following in her personal diary: «God called me in the morning and asked me would I do good for Him, for Him alone, without the reputation.» She was not sure of the type of service she had been called to, but little by little, she understood that her vocation was caring for the sick. Motivated by her convictions, Florence confronted her family and the social conventionalities in order to be useful to mankind. In 1854, when the Crimean War broke out (between Russia and an alliance formed by the Ottoman Empire, France, Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Sardinia), she had the opportunity to implement her scientific and analytical knowledge. Leading a group of thirty-eight women and promoting hygiene in healthcare, over a short period of time, she reduced the mortality rate in hospitals, from 40% to 2%. Known as «The Lady with the Lamp» for her nightly rounds while caring for the sick, Florence Nightingale’s light (founder of modern nursing) continues to be a source of inspiration today.
Just as Florence perceived God’s calling, the Bible mentions many others who were called to serve the Lord: Moses, Gideon, Isaiah, the disciples, and everyone on earth, of every nation, tribe, tongue, and people (Rev. 14:6). You and I are called to serve God. Will we allow prejudice to win and ignore the invitation? Will we use social conventions as an excuse to decline heaven’s invitation? Are we willing to do good in God’s name no matter what the results?
Meditate today on God’s personal call for you to serve. Have you discovered the area in which you can serve Him best? Remember that today, God relieves suffering through human hands, and He is still asking: «Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?» Dare to say, «Here am I! Send me.»