A Lighthouse at Highway Seven
To escape the heat of the day, my son and I were bicycling at night. Our headlights and rear red lights shine almost as bright as a car. We cycled through old downtown Lenexa and were heading west. Soon 95th turns into Prairie Star Road. At 10:00 at night, the traffic was very light. We moved quickly and silently, slicing our way through the darkness. Our bikes are extremely light and well-tuned. The bike chains get special cleaning and lubricating so that changing gears is quick and accurate. Coupled with the condition of our bikes, was that on this route, the pavement was very smooth so that we were able to ride as though we had a sail and the wind was sliding us along the surface of the sea.
We approached the bridge over Highway 7 and then, all of a sudden, there it was, standing proudly, unobstructed by any other structures, was the Shawnee Mission Outpatient Pavilion. Its lights beamed out like lighted fingers of hope reaching out to serve. It also made me think of the beacon of light from a lighthouse. With the light comes hope and healing. I’m not quite sure why, but seeing the SMMC Pavilion reminded me of the story of the Good Samaritan.
My son and I frequently ride this particular route (even during the day) and it’s always a special treat riding by the SMMC Outpatient Pavilion. I must confess, it’s extra special riding at night and seeing the lights shine out so brilliantly. It is truely a noble service to give hope and healing to people.
John Haynes, MS, MBA, is a retired school psychologist and a current volunteer at Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC). He served as a Hospital Corpsman at the US Naval Academy and served on the USS Sanctuary Hospital ship in Vietnam. In addition to his volunteer work at SMMC, he's actively involved in the community through the Shawnee Kiwanis Club and the Kansas Trails Council. His interests vary from backpacking and mountain biking to investment analysis and business management. He and his wife have two sons.