Being a Spiritual Doctor

This section is not pertinent to everyone but it is to me and so I thought that I would make some comments based on my own experience. I was raised in a Roman Catholic home, attended a Catholic parochial elementary and secondary school, and truly became a Christian when I was 12 years old. Lois was raised in the Brethren Church, a strict Christian denomination quite different to Roman Catholicism in that there is much less structure, no liturgy, but an equal emphasis on the primacy of faith in Jesus Christ and His message of salvation. When we married our faith was strengthened by the union, and as I started to practice medicine my faith became an integral part of my work.

This section is about how my spirituality affects the way I practice medicine. It all begins with my calling. I believe that God created me as a unique person, for a unique purpose. I believe that this is true for everyone. Each of us has a blend of talents and skills that equips us for our God-given purpose, and life is spent discovering and then fulfilling that purpose. When we discover our path we will know it, in the same way that we recognize a path in the woods. It “feels” right, it is taking us in the right direction, and we have the gifts and talents required to walk the path well. In addition, at a more subliminal level, we will sense the fulfilment, a feeling that the road is “right”. In my own case I believe that my particular purpose is to minister to people who are ill, to relieve their anxiety and suffering, and to comfort them. My particular gifts and interests have always been in surgery, and this has been born out over the course of my career. My entire path from my amazing ancestry of medicine, to elementary school and then through high school, medical school, residency, research and fellowship has led me to this particular career. My subspecialty interests have been a perfect match to my particular talents. In saying this I am humbled and thankful that God has blessed me with such grace and that He has directed me to this particular role in His plans. I am also aware that God has plans for each and every one of my patients, and that those plans included me! This is such a humbling realization. I am acting for God and am an instrument of His mercy. Knowing this, I see patients…all patients, as children of God and I love them whatever their appearance, attitude, personality. I see patients in the corridors of the hospital, in the elevators, in the waiting rooms, and I see the anxiety, the fear, occasionally the hostility in their eyes. This governs the way I interact with them, as I seek to comfort them, to reassure them and to be the best doctor that I can be for them. Its why I am here. It’s God’s purpose for me.

A large part of this belief system is an awareness of the providence of God. This means that everything that happens to us happens for a reason. It is a part of God’s plan, known in its fullness only to Him but which we discover dimly for ourselves, often by looking back and seeing the purpose in the choices we made and in the events of our lives. The sequence of our lives can be seen as either God’s providence in action, or a series of random coincidences. To me, the combination of talents, opportunities, surprises, mishaps and blessings is the former. This realization strengths my faith, makes me a better doctor and lets me know that I am doing God’s work. It allows me to be content in the knowledge that this is where I was meant to be. My story is not yet complete however, and Lois and I face a series of important decisions about retirement, where to live, and what to do. We are occupied by concerns about our scattered family, our love for our homeland, our health, and the possibility of my continuing to work. Like all of us, we must develop a plan, and consider a series of options, given the opportunities that exist. We decide what looks best to us, while being prepared to change plans quickly according to factors as yet unknown. Above all we pray about the future and look for God’s purposes for us in the time left to us.