Cultivating Hearts of Service

This weekend I had the privilege of traveling to Colorado Springs to attend the Women in Medicine and Dentistry annual conference. It was my first time surrounded by other women physicians for whom medicine is a calling to serve Christ through healthcare. What a joy it was to meet them, share meals with them, worship and pray with them! I especially loved getting to know some of the medical students who are just beginning this exciting (and demanding ... and life-changing!) journey.

Surrounded by mountains and rock formations that included the Garden of the Gods, it was easy to step off the treadmill that is modern healthcare to take in the fresh air, sunshine, and beauty that help revive the soul. The conference was in Glen Eyrie Castle (did you know there are castles in the U.S.?). It was breathtaking, and the bear sighting (cub included!) just hours before our bonfire added a touch of adventure.

While at the conference, I had the privilege of addressing my colleagues to speak about ways to cultivate hearts of service in a busy practice. I spoke mostly about our need to abide in Christ while caring for people, lest we try to give what we don't have ... striving to meet overwhelming needs while running on empty. We studied John 15, recognizing Jesus' insistence that we remain in Him. "Remain in me," says Jesus. "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

I also spoke of my role model, Mother Teresa, whose compassion and selfless love for people continue to inspire and beckon me to become more like Jesus. I reminded my new physician friends (and myself!) that our walk with God in healthcare is a journey. Although we all have days when we wish we'd done better, we can trust God's promise to bring to completion the work He began in each of us. As we continue to surrender our lives to Him, He will surely give us His Spirit, empowering us to fulfill our calling.

When ministry gets tough, we must call on God and remember the words spoken by the apostle Paul in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

This week, our country is blessed to host Pope Francis, a man who is showing the world Christ-like humility as well as a servant heart. I am thankful to God that there are people we can learn from as we continue to let Him mold us into the likeness of His Son. What a privilege it is to serve Him! May we all continue to keep Him at the center of our lives!

Seek Him!
Dr. Mari

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:4

Changing the World ... One Person at a Time

Last week six doctors gathered at one of their homes to begin planning for the first Orlando chapter of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. These associations "exist to motivate, educate, and equip Christian physicians and dentists to glorify God by living out the character of Christ in their homes, practices, communities, and around the world." Now that's a mission statement I can internalize and resolve to live out!

As I contemplate the things we need in order to live out the character of Christ in our personal and professional lives, my thoughts turn to the patients I've seen this month. You see, for the first time in twelve years I'm working at a secular clinic. I recently met a young man with HIV and depression who feels spiritually and emotionally lost. Two weeks ago I met a man in his fifties who hadn't seen a doctor in over six years because of fear -- so he now has very advanced diabetes and heart disease. I met a woman with panic attacks who has no community to speak of, and a young man in the midst of a disappointing and painful divorce.

How can I possibly help restore wholeness to these broken lives while neglecting the emotional, relational, and spiritual elements that affect their health and well-being? It is not possible -- not if I want to really help them.

Twelve years ago, a simple prayer began a transformation in me whereby I stopped being one more doctor and started to grow into a Christian physician. To me, that means that I started living out my faith in every area of my life, not just my private prayer life. Although faith is intensely private and grows by leaps and bounds in the intimacy of personal prayers between an individual and God, faith that changes the world is often public. And I have chosen to go public in spite of my fears.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." What a shame that a man who stood for non-violence, peace, and unity had such an opinion of Christians. As followers of Jesus, we must not simply walk alongside Him passively or follow at a distance. Our calling is to become like Him, and that happens one day at a time, one action at a time, one thought at a time, and one prayer at a time - as we stay close to Him.

It is so critical to find mature Christian mentors who can challenge, encourage, and help to keep us accountable and on track. It is even more compelling to become one of those mentors. 

In modern, Western healthcare, it is so easy to become discouraged and apathetic by the challenges we face every day. Yet, we have the awesome privilege of being Christ to those in need, often during their most vulnerable and terrifying moments. It is my hope and prayer that, as I treat hurting people, they will leave thinking, "I like your Christ, and I'm starting to like Christians. You look so much like your Christ."

In Hope and with Joy,

Dr Mari

I published a devotional for healthcare professionals and caregivers in 2012. Visit my author website to read more about Walking with Jesus in Healthcare.