IMAGE BEARER

“Which way do I put the stethoscope in my ear.”  This is the question asked by a medical student who participated in examining children at a daycare.  Most medical students study textbooks making them very knowledgable. Cambodian medical students have minimal opportunity for hands on medical experience.    Their lack of hands on experience creates difficulty when taking the textbook information and integrating it into a real live patient.  Hearing the heart beat with the first and second sounds of then entering the ear at a more rapid rate than the textbook describes bring joy and fear simultaneously.  Joy for actually

hearing the sounds.  Fear because the uncertainty of differentiating between normal and abnormal.  

Watching the students interact with one another to come to a reasonable clinical judgement bring joy to my heart.  Even now I see in my mind the ecstatic expressions on their faces. 

In effect we all are students who continue to learn about many issues in life.  Let us know first of all that we were created in God’s image and through His grace and mercy we will live a new life in Christ.  The knowledge of being created in God’s image is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom

Wandering in Chaos

Wandering in the middle of the chaos of life draws out many attitudes.  As a physician I have a tendency to look at life from cause and effect perspective.  Taking a history, performing a physical exam and the prescribing medicine to assist a patient to good health gives a physician satisfaction.  Seeing a patient improve brings encouragement to the physician as well as the patient.  Often I feel that because of my training as a pediatrician, I have conquered the disease for my patient.  My self sufficient attitude places the result in my lap.  When my health is good because of the good food, sleep and exercise and I take credit for the cause and effect.  

In the world of life in Christ what is cause and what is effect.  As I read the scripture cause and effect in the unseen world of Christ's work opens the perspective of what is not seen, but yet I act as if people's lives have changed because of what I have done.  My self centered thoughts neglect the work of Christ in changing the hearts and minds of people.  Scripture reminds me of people around the world praying that my life will be centered in God's will.  I must fall on my knees and thank God for the prayer of His people.  I must rejoice in knowing that God has given me everything I have. The prayer of God’s people encourages those who serve the true and living God.  I tend to forget that dynamic and believe that I am the one who does the work.  In the unseen world of God working and molding His people into His image we do not see until God opens our eyes to our selfness and we allow ourselves to see Christ in our fellow believers.  God’s spirit works to transform attitudes.  God’s spirit convicts us of self centered attitudes.  Often we do not see the effect in ourselves, but others see the effect of the work of Christ.  Keep praying for us that God will open my eyes to begin to see more and more transforming power of God.