My “Foolish” Brother

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”  Even if we were not familiar with this quote, we all know the truth of it from personal experience.  Run away from a fire, avoid fights and protect yourself from infectious diseases.

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Paul Nordstrom

May I introduce a lesser known adage?   “Thank God for fools!”  Thank God for fools who run into burning buildings when others are running away.  Thank God for those who inject themselves into a fight in an effort to bring peace.  Thank God for those who risk their lives to fight infectious disease so that it doesn’t destroy all of us.
My brother Paul has always been a bit of a fool.  When I was in high school I was mercilessly made fun of  on the school bus one day for being a Christian to the point of being spat on.  My brother Paul, who didn’t normally ride the bus, rode it the next day and “took care of business” with the trouble makers on the back of the bus.  Paul was kicked off the bus for the rest of the year for whatever he did.   All I know to this day is that I never had trouble on the bus again.
In college he came across a robbery and personally apprehended the thief until the police could arrive.  He has made a career of doing “foolish” work as a nurse practitioner providing care to federal inmates.  His foolish behavior has been rewarded with multiple advancements He is now the equivalent of a Lieutenant Colonel working under the Surgeon General.
But now the “fool” is going after Ebola.  While America is debating about whether to let West Africans into our country, my brother Paul is rushing in with an elite group of health care workers who are being deployed specifically to provide care to infected people in a region that is under trained, under resources, under equipped, and under served.  He doesn’t have to do this.  I believe he is acting in accordance to his faith and character.  As Dr Jennifer Myhre, who survived  an outbreak in West Africa blogged “Jesus would be more concerned about helping the sick in Liberia than castigating the CDC in America. He would be touching the contaminated, and comforting the mourners, and bringing hope.” ( ishttp://paradoxuganda.blogspot.com/2014/10/ebola.html.)
Soon, Paul will leave for Africa.   While I am appropriately concerned and prayerful, Ebola should be even more concerned.  A highly trained professional is coming your way who believes that the power of love is stronger than the power of your attempts to rob, kill, and destroy.  Look out Ebola.  This “fool” means business.