This week, as I pondered the topic for
this blog, I gravitated towards two opposing concepts: Healing
Attitudes vs The Divine in Exile. At one point, as I wrestled with
the philosophical fork in the road, I saw the connection ... or
rather, their mutual exclusivity. That being said, here we go:
A couple of weeks ago, my dear husband
had another doctor's appointment. He, until his injury last
September, had not been to a doctor in the entire twenty years of our
marriage. Since September, however, he has well made up for lost
time. The doctor on this occasion was his primary care physician.
It's one of those things that Medicare requires – that you have a
primary care physician. During the visit that day, we were greeted
with some interesting news, and I am quoting the doctor here: “The
human body was designed to live 50 years and doctors keep you alive
after that.” I was too stunned by the arrogance to launch into
scriptural statements, arguments of personal belief or anything. I
just sat there with my mouth open. He then ordered 5 vials of blood
to be drawn and told my beloved that even though his cholesterol was
fine, he (the doctor) was putting him on statins for the rest of his
life. Not, “I'm giving you thirty days to make some dietary
changes” but, “This is what we're going to do.” Period. That
was the only time he made eye contact. The rest of the time, he read
paperwork and initialed pages. We complied with the blood tests –
the doctor wanted to check his vitamin D level – it's all the rage
now, I imagine. We even got the prescription filled, since the
doctor's office called our pharmacy and they called us to pick it up.
The first pill was never taken. Nor was the chemical stress test
that he ordered. My husband and I both felt that these tests,
medications and chemicals were outside of our Father's will – for
US.
Rather than comforting, encouraging and
“educating” which is what the word 'doctor' originally meant, we
were distressed, agitated and confused. All the tests ordered so far
by the vascular surgeon who had done the repair on my husband's
injury had unremarkable results, so, why this fishing trip from the
GP? How could someone so completely disregard the Divine in the
creation and maintenance of the human frame? We were baffled at the
whole event. And saddened.
We put out some feelers with our
friends in the medical profession as to which doctors they would
recommend. We just could not see going back to this particular
doctor. One friend gave us a glowing recommendation of someone that
she saw professionally and for whom she has worked. We made an
appointment immediately.
We walked into his office and were
amazed at the difference between the two. Where doctor A had modern
and streamlined décor, a blaring TV and automatic doors, doctor B's
office was filled with handmade decorations and photos of them on a
medical mission trip(s). One painting depicted the many names of God.
WOW! What a difference! The personnel in Doctor B's office were
loving and caring. We even prayed with the office manager that day.
The attitude of healing – LOVE – permeated every corner.
Everyone had a smile, a kind word and the doctor took his time with
us, getting to know us and making sure he understood the medical
history in context. My darling husband, who sometimes embarrasses me
with his candor, asked the doctor point-blank why he hadn't retired
yet. The doctor was surprised by the question and then laughed. “I
love my work,” he said. “I am visiting with my friends.” Oh,
my! If ever there was a medical version of love at first sight, this
was it.
Where we had, with doctor A,
encountered coldness and people just doing their job, we now had, in
the case of Doctor B, been invited into a compassionate family of
wellness. We had experienced the distinction between the Divine in
Exile and Healing Attitudes. The term 'Divine in Exile' comes from a
quote I heard from Rabbi Martin Buber, of blessed memory. He said,
in essence (paraphrasing), that the Shekinah is the Divine Presence
dwelling in the human frame. The Shekinah is at home only where there
dwells a potent will for a covenant with the Almighty and an equally
potent STRIVING for the realization of the covenant with the
Almighty.
Y'shua said, “love your enemies,
do good to those hating you, and pray for those insulting you and
persecuting you so that you become sons of your Father in
heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45. So now, I have someone /
something else to pray for: May the hardened, arrogant heart of
doctor A be softened and turn toward his only hope for life and
salvation. May it be our Father's will to break the hardened heart
and caress it back to life, in Y'shua's Name. May the Divine leave
its exile and dwell with him, giving him new life, new hope and
revitalized insight and abilities. Also, May our beloved Father in
heaven, bless Doctor B with all this and more, always and forever.
So now it is time for some 'one on one'
time with the face in the mirror. What have I done or said that
would push the Divine, the Ruach haKodesh / Holy Spirit, into exile?
Have I been rude, knowingly or unknowingly? Have I been unkind?
Have I gossiped? Have I been self-righteous? Have I been arrogant,
ungrateful or mean? Have I strived, with all my might, to be in a
covenant relationship with You, my Creator, Redeemer, Bridegroom and
King? Oh Abba, why is the person I want to be always wrestling with
the person that I am? Psa
51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim, And renew a steadfast
(Strong's 3559, upright, faithful, stable) spirit within me.
Matthew 5, verse 46 continues: “For
if you love those loving you, what reward have you? Are the tax
collectors not doing the same too? And if you greet your brothers
only, what do you do more than the others? Are the tax collectors
not doing so too? Therefore, be perfect (Strong's 5046, complete in
mental and moral character / fully mature) even as your Father in the
heavens is perfect. Amein, and amein.
Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom --
Peace in the Name of the Prince of
Peace --
With Love,
Yocheved
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