1953 Nurse Sharron with Patient Faye
I always wanted to be a nurse.
A Florence Nightingale who swooped down on those hurting
and made them all better with Mercurochrome,
a pat and a smile.
A vision as missionary nurse
evolved as various missionaries
spoke at our church
over the years.
I’d heal those poor children
and never ever take pictures of their misery.
Bad enough they should suffer so
but to use their suffering to wring compassion
from complacent Christians in North America
seemed unforgivable to my child mind.
It still does.
How can one wield a camera
in the face of such
humility?
©1999 Sharron R. McMillan
hernibs 