Grace Community Christian Church

 

Archived Things Above

Jealous Doctors? (6/18/98)

It was one of those questions that just pops into your head for no particular reason.

I'd been there countless times before, but had never really considered how it must make Dr. Graham feel to see all the people who go into the other doctors' offices. You see, five physicians share a building there in Parkdale, on Prince Edward Island. And all the patients share a common waiting area. There are five windows & five counters, and a sign above each window identifying each doctor.

Which means that at any point during the day, any of the doctors can look out & observe people going into offices other than their own. I leaned over & whispered in Mickey's ear.

"Pssst! Do you think Dr. Graham ever gets upset that people go to other doctors besides him? Don't you think it hurts his feelings to see all these people out here, & know that some aren't here to see him at all?"

"Oh, dad," she muttered, obviously hoping no one else had heard my question, "don't be stupid! He couldn't possibly see all these people, even if he wanted to!" She went on to lecture me concerning workloads & fatigue factors & the certainty of careless diagnoses & treatments that would result from one doctor trying to treat everyone. For an eleven year old, she was quite insightful, even if her dad wasn't.

Actually, she'd given just the answer I was looking for. I pulled out my pocket New Testament & asked her to read Eph. 4:11 & 12: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

Now it was my turn to lecture.

"Mick," I said, "the church is supposed to be just like this doctor's office. My job as a 'minister' isn't to personally take care of everyone myself, but to see that everyone learns to take care of each other. And rather than be threatened, I should be thrilled when that happens."

And then I gave her an assignment: "Next time you're in church, I want you to picture a great big sign over the pulpit that says Dr. Dewar. Then, picture all around the walls signs of the other 'doctors', too: Dr. Weeks & Dr. Craig & Dr. Matthews & Dr. Coffin, and so on & so on & so on."

For we are all practitioners in the Great Physician's clinic of life.


Jim Dewar --