The Poor

Poverty Map

Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

    for yours is the kingdom of God."

Luke 6:20 (NIV)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, 

so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

The naming of Pope Francis (3/13/13), a Jesuit from the global south, was a remarkable act with and because of his focus on the poor.  Could it be that the poor will be a “blessing” and a healing agent?   Could it be that the mission of the church to the poor will be a healing moment of a God who is at work in the world?  Will Pope Francis be a “healing agent”?

There is no question that the poor have generated concern and debate within and outside the church.  What seems missing in the conversation is whether or not we are “with the poor”.  Being present with them is the Christ-like response and His mandate.

For healthcare and specifically global healthcare, let us affirm that we are with them where God is at work.   Let us join with the church universal in being “where God lives”!  Let us pray for wisdom in how we respond in both our hearts and our acts as partners in the Kingdom of God.  Help us to see our poverty and become rich with the blessings of the poor.   

Marvin

References:

Wikipedia - Map of Poverty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Percentage_population_living_on_less_than_1_dollar_day_2007-2008.png

Debates about the Poor:

TED Talks - Hans Rosling & Esther Duflo

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Steve Corbett, Brian Fikkert

Selected Posts: 

11/18/12 - Healing Communities - “For the Greater Glory of God”

4/23/12 - Rx - Ubuntu

3/12/12 - “Standing Firm” and Pilgrimages

1/16/12 - Burdens and Benefits

11/14/11 - Healing Agent Education

4/17/11 - The Mystery of Healing

1/23/11 - Peace from Above

12/24/10 - The “Telos” of Christian Healing Agents

Restoration

“New Creations” Holland Farmers Market, Holland, Michigan

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!   2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

“Our Christian response to the questions of theodicy should not be to seek to find apologetic explanations, or to passively submit to suffering, but to join the protesting and suffering God in fighting to end human misery and injustice.   A theology of the cross is a theology of protest. We focus on the cross in the hope that one day there will be no more crosses.” by Derek Flood

Derek Flood in his book, “Healing the Gospel: A Radical Vision for Grace, Justice and the Cross”, makes the argument that healing is best understood in the nature of restoration.   He argues that this is the message of the New Testament and the message of Easter is when Christians acknowledge a cosmic restoration of God’s grace.  That is the basis of our Hope!

 “When will life be meaningful again?” is a common plea in response to the spiritual dislocation of illness.  When that time occurs, we can accurately state that restoration and healing have occurred.  Maybe a more accurate statement is that life takes on a new meaning and in some ways one that is “more meaning filled”.  

So God’s healing restoration is not just about returning to “life as it was”, but a new creation.  God’s act of grace on the cross changes everything for those who suffer.  We have a new identity by the unexpected and unmerited entry of God’s example in our lives.  

Have a blessed and healing Easter.

Marvin

References:

Flood, Derek (2012-08-06). Healing the Gospel: A Radical Vision for Grace, Justice, and the Cross (Kindle Locations 1953-1955). Cascade Books, an Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Previous Related Posts:

God’s Grace - 10/30/12

Healing Presence - 1/3/13

Suffering - 2/11/13

Seniors

"Young and Old", Tenwek, 2012

In the Last Days, God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.”     Acts 2:17 (NIV)

In the recent movie, “Quartet”, we are invited into the complicated stories of the lives of senior retired British opera singers.  There is one scene of a lecture by the protagonist, Reggie, about the nature of opera with the young who are visiting the retirement home.  It turns out to be a wonderful conversation.

Like the senior professional singers, how can we hear the stories of senior healthcare professionals?  One answer is that they require specific policies if they are to continue to practice.  It could be inferred that there is no specific utility or importance of these seniors in a culture of the newest and most advanced technology.   What the “Quartet” suggests is that their art lives on in profound ways because of the their stories and struggles.  A commentary about the lives of these seniors by the young physician for the retirement home in the “Quartet” reveals their contribution:  “Their love of life is infectious.  They inspire us.”

So instead of just seeing senior physicians as a “credentialing” issue, maybe our art and history can also inspire the young but it must be more than education.  I pray that our dreams will be fulfilled in the lives of the young as healing agents.  

Thanks be to God for all who practiced their art and their faith as service to God and his creation.

Marvin

References:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441951/

Porreco RP.  The senior obstetrician requesting obstetric privileges.  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.  206(3):183-6, 2012 Mar.

Related Posts:

Gift Reflections, 10/3/11

Healing Agent Education, 11/14/11

Techniques and Transformation, 2/1/12

Kingdom Learning, 2/25/12

Vocation & Retirement, 7/3/12

“Burnout” and a “Path Report” - 8/12/12

Residential Learning, 3/2/13

Residential Learning

Guest House at Tenwek Hospital, 2012 

We start our empathy learning in our homes from those we love and who love us.  There is evidence that there are genetic components, but we get to practice these responses with assistance in our homes.

Medical education is primarily a “problem-based” approach and located within the academy.  Unfortunately, this approach is associated with decreasing empathy in the learners.  So how can we find an educational response that promotes empathy in the learner?

In a recent edition of Christian Century “Roommates and Friends” describes an innovation in seminary education.   A space, “Friendship House” was established to provide housing with ministry to and with the disabled.  It is a beautiful and innovative example of healing learning!

I have only experienced a few places that are similar residential learning environments.   One example is a mission station like Tenwek where students can live in community with those they serve.  This guest house is a intergenerational and interdisciplinary space.   These residential spaces are powerful environments to learn and share the wonderful and difficult stories of healing.  

Have you experienced innovative, creative, empathetic healing learning environments?  I would love to hear where you have learned those empathetic skills.

Marvin

References:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/understanding-how-children-develop-empathy/

Neumann M et al Empathy decline and its reasons: a systematic review of studies with medical students and residents.  Academic Medicine.  86(8):996-1009, 2011 Aug

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2013-02/roommates-and-friends

Related Posts: 

Pupils/Patients - Teacher/Doctor, 2/14/11

Gift Reflections, 10/3/11

Healing Agent Education, 11/14/11

Techniques and Transformation, 2/1/12

Kingdom Learning, 2/25/12