061119 What is your original GPS?

About 2 months into our ministry at Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church the senior pastor whose congregation shares our space asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?” We had already taken him and his wife out to lunch only a week before and I thought we had answered the important location and identity questions before. I wasn’t quick enough to give my GPS (global position service) reference. The internet lists “ron smith Montgomery AL” on page six with my Alabama-West Florida Conference identity among the myriad of other Ron Smith’s in the world. My brother Gary and sister-in-law Ona who met with us this Monday with reports of Ona’s breast cancer status at West Point, Georgia didn’t have more to contribute to our identity than addressing the general skepticism of the world. I cannot rely on my own existence to place my presence. There must be others who triangulate where I came from and what my original entrance into this age is about.
Do you remember Dr. Denmark? Of course not. You weren’t there when I was born. She delivered me from my mother’s womb and then cared for me as an infant. Dr. Denmark is America's most experienced pediatrician, and longest practicing doctor. It is estimated that she personally treated over 250,000 patients over 75 years of active practice.
At age 108, Dr. Denmark- though semi-retired due to loss of vision- still conducts phone consultations from her daughter’s home in Athens, Georgia. Born in 1898 in Bulloch County Georgia, she was graduated from Tift College (now defunct), attended Mercer University, and completed her medical training in 1928 from Medical College of Georgia.
As the first intern at Egleston Children’s Hospital the same year, she admitted the first patients. She was instrumental in developing- through research and testing on patients- the pertussis vaccine (whooping cough) in the 1930’s, for which she received the prestigious Fisher Award in 1935. The recipient of many awards, Dr. Denmark was most recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Emory University in Atlanta for her outstanding humanitarian work on behalf of children’s health.
Generations of Georgians have seen Dr. Denmark for medical care. Her story has been featured on CNN/TIME, 48 Hours, The Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, in USA today, Good Housekeeping, People Magazine, Parade Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Focus on the Family Physician, and numerous additional local and national publications.
In 1971, Dr. Denmark published a book titled: "Every Child Should Have a Chance". She now lives at 150 Morton Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30605.
My earthly presence has physical significance because such saints as Dr. Denmark helped me to survive and thrive here. My original GPS is set even though others may question it from their own position of assumed authority.
Dear Heavenly Father, bless all those who have brought us into this world and who sustain us with their skill, inquiry and steadfast loving kindness. Please show us the way and help us to follow it so that we may be the ones You birthed and created. Help us to dissuade others from discounting our worth and our ministry in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.