In a recent medical show there was a breakdown. The doctors who usually covered the ICU were both sick, and every other department was understaffed as well. Nurses were scrambling to care for patients, all of whom needed quality attention. 

An oncologist, a surgeon, and the medical director all responded to the emergency, and hesitantly dove into the decisions and actions that were needed. It was not ideal, and yet all of the patients were eventually stable. 

When things calmed down, the head nurse told a story to the medical director. She had been planning to quit, because of issues like being short handed. But now she decided to stay. 

It was not that she wanted an easy job. Her intention was to serve patients, and she did it well. But the isolation that emerged out of fewer staff made it untenable for her. Seeing other doctors leap in to help was the response she was looking for.  

I find it reassuring that her commitment came not from an absence of hard work, but from the community created by facing it together. It reminds me not to aspire to an absence of struggle, but to hold on tightly to the people who are sweating with me.