Meredith

There is a new U.S. T.V.-series that my co-residents and some of our consultants are talking about --- Grey's Anatomy. It is a mock title from one of our textbooks during Med school, Gray's Anatomy. The show is about the life of a surgical intern (or first year resident, locally), including their personal and emotional issues. The whole series revolves around 5 interns, particularly the main actor, Meredith Grey, to which the series was aptly named after. I'm really impressed by the writers because of their accuracy regarding medical terminology and the “props” they used.
However, there is one character that I can relate to regarding his emotional struggle --- George O'Malley. He is one of the five interns who is portrayed as a dependable, intelligent, sometimes gullible guy. It's not that trait that I'm referring to, for the record. Anyway, he is in love with Meredith but doesn't have the courage to say so because of her strong personality and her involvement with their Neuro-surgeon. Meredith treats him as one of his close friends since he rents in her house along with another co-intern. He was even thought of as being gay because he lives with 2 female interns and share their bathroom. He has no girlfriend during the early part of the season which makes the suspicion more likely. However, he proved them wrong eventually. He seems to try to impress Meredith indirectly, but is fully aware that he can't compete with the consultant she is madly in-love with, who by the way is married to their OB-Gyn consultant. He is witness to her escapades, heartaches and struggles. Despite all these, he fully supports her and just like his other friends is willing to go the extra mile. George eventually had a girlfriend, an orthopedic surgeon, who really likes him. But still, he can't seem to get over Meredith and he would choose to prioritize her above her girlfriend. There was a time when Meredith was depressed and George was left comforting her, eventually transference occurred and they found themselves making love. While in bed, Meredith suddenly breaks out in tears for no reason. George was offended because he knew she was thinking of her lover. That incident severed their friendship. He had no choice but to pack his bags and leave Meredith’s house. The third season of this T.V. series will hopefully resolve this issue.
Being a George O’Malley is somewhat pathetic. You have so much talent and knowledge to give, but are afraid to share it because of the stereotype that people around have attributed to you. You are even capable of loving, maybe more passionate, but fear rejection and losing an important friend. What makes the situation complicated is that the person you are attracted to (Meredith) is in-love with another who is far better. Oh, the irony of love life. Why is it that for some reason we fall in love with another who is not interested in us? There are a lot of times that even if we have invested our time with that special someone, still we don’t get their approval, considering the fact that we have been there for them during times when she is at her lowest. Just so not to lose them out of our sight, we hide our true feelings and the “George” in us comes out, doing silly things to help please that person and conceal our emotions. However, some friends will push us to take the risk and confront the issue. They see a different outcome from what you realistically imagine. Sometimes you are tempted to really put the issue to a close. But the insecurity chokes you and finds yourself walking back. In the end, you are left on the sidelines watching your Meredith in the company of another. Then, there’s a nagging voice telling you, “If only…”
All of us have “Meredith’s” in our lives. We have played the role of George once, twice or maybe right now. It may sound a bit sad playing his role, but the good thing is, like any other T.V. series, there’s always another season to look forward to. I hope my next season will be to my favor.

Proper Timing

"1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
(Eccesiastes 3)

A cliche passage to most of us, yet still holds meaning & power in certain issues of our lives.
In one of my duties in the hospital, a colleague of mine heard me complaining that our duty was "toxic" (in lay-man's term: busy) and getting worse by the minute. She told me that all things has an end to it. Our duty will eventually end after 24 hours and we can finally hit the bed to rest. There is wisdom to what she said and that was the inspiration I got when I reread this passage of scripture. However, its application does not end there, it also addressed personal issues in my life. It reminded me that its probably time for me to "mend". I have had so many heartbreaks in the past and I feel so scattered. I had a closure with a person in my recent past, but it dawned on me that I need to have a resolution within myself. A "time to gather" has to commence for a genuine healing to take place. We have a choice whether we remain in a certain "time" or move on with God's time.