¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ¹⁴ Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

¹⁵ As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. ¹⁶ Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. ¹⁷ I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

Philippians 4:10-20

Dear God, this is one of the readings for the Catholic church today, and it’s verse 19 that struck me. The part about you taking care of me. Here’s why. I work for a nonprofit medical clinic in Texas, a state that, by far, leads the nation in percentage of uninsured. We are very proud of the array and depth of services we offer patients. We are a robust medical home for them. We’ve built our entire organization around the sad fact that Texas has measurably the worst health system in the country across a variety of factors (uninsured rate, maternal mortality, etc.). The communities we serve need us. What moe can we do for them?

Now, however, there’s a chance that the change in the state’s political leadership will impact our entire business plan and model. It might impact whether people think we need their donations, making an assumption that things are “fixed” now and we aren’t needed. I was thinking about all of this this morning because I, frankly, never imagined the attitude towards healthcare would change at the state leadership level in my lifetime. But here we are. New leadership that largely feels differently. How will this impact our strategic plan? This time next year, will we have fewer patients? Will we need to start seeing people with Medicaid if the state expands Medicaid? There is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in our community that takes government funds from the federal level to help unfunded patients. How will the new leadership in Washington D.C. impact their operations in our town. How will we need to cooperate with them to help others. There will still be work for us to do, but how much will it change.

This is everything that was on my mind this morning as I watched an interview with the incoming Texas Lieutenant Governor. Vikki Goodwin. What will happen? Should I be scared? Then I sat down and saw these words from Paul to the Philippians nearly 2,000 years ago. And the same God then (you) is the same God now (you).

¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

Father, first, I don’t want to make the supplying of needs from your glorious riches about me. I want to make it about our patients. I want to make it about our community. I want to make it about those in need around our state. I am not putting my faith in a Republican or a Democrat. A governor or a president. A county judge or a U.S. representative. A senator or a judge. My faith is in you. My hope is in you. I will consider tomorrow only as I try to discern how you would have work today so that I can worship you and love others tomorrow. I want to ask these questions today so I can discern your path forward for our organization as we live up to providing a safe, Christ-centered environment that gives our patients quality, coordinated, and affordable healthcare (our mission statement). Help us to selflessly and sacrificially live up to this. Help me to have insights. Holy Spirit, speak to me. I need to hear your. I need to see you. I need to find the cloud by day and the fire by night so I can always see the path forward clearly and selflessly. Help me be who you need me to be in this time.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen