Author: Dr. Michael Johnson

I am more important than you, and my time is precious. You little people can wait!

You think I am bad now, I was even more arrogant before. A lot more self-absorbed than I am even now. I was content on buying the best looking suits, nicest cars and of course appearing to be busier than I really was. I was a young surgeon in one of America’s biggest cities and I was well liked, most of all by me, myself, I and my alter ego, Michael Dennis Johnson.

It was back in the day. It seems long ago for me now, but in reality it is not so distant. I was enamored by what I had become and accomplished.

It was not unusual for me to let patients sit in my waiting room while I read the newspaper in my office, just so I could appear to be busy and important. After all, I thought, they have come to see me and I dare not let them believe this is a casual meeting of equals. I am a surgeon and they need to know that.

So I would let them sit, for at least 20-30 minutes. My wife Kay, who served as my office manager, receptionist and…., conscience, would remind me of my arrogance and upbraid me for my ‘better than you’ attitude. Sometimes it worked and I would let the ‘little people’ see me in 10 minutes.

This attitude does not easily go away. In fact, it doesn’t disappear on its own, and it continues to rear its ugly head even now.

Imagine that just having the right pedigree of education, experience, and opportunities in life should actually make me more willing to serve. In fact, it has the exact opposite effect if not held in check by God’s agent, the Holy Ghost, and His other in the flesh side kick…, my wife.

Back in the day, I was arrogant and self-absorbed. I thought I deserved better, and even best because after all, I worked hard, studied hard and nobody else did. God was with me back in the day…, and even now, He reminds me that without Him I would still be living as back in the day.

Be humble. That is where we find grace.

James 4:6 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Either our God has an incredible sense of humor or bad timing. The modern day premise is converted to a promise. If ‘God opens up a door, He opens up another even better door. We have been seduced to think that God owes us something. If I search long enough, wait long enough, fast enough (and in the process lose weight), I will gain the privilege that is due me. God opens doors for each door He closes. I am learning it is often a trap door.

It is the blessing of deprivation. The privilege of poverty is what we are told to seek as we walk with Christ. It is the peace of not depending on the latest Wall Street report. It is the joy of asking God to help me rely on Him and then coming to the realization that He answers that prayer.

I quit a job to serve Him. He provides the increase. I deny an indulgence of perceived prosperity; He provides the necessity of perfect peace.

God opens doors to every desire I perceive, conceive, dream of or envision. He opens the door then He opens another door…., a trap door. Take the trap door. It is God’s choice for you. It makes you depend on Him. Ask Him. He will open the door.

John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

But made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant (Philippians 2:7)

The neighborhood boys are ringing my doorbell asking if my granddaughters can come out to play. (I dug a six foot deep pit for them under the welcome mat. I was planting a fruit tree). The insects are back so the birds aren’t fighting for the remaining seeds in the feeder.

The joys of spring are finally here. And yet I find reason to be upset. My neighbor’s grass is greener and worse than that, there is no fence.

I know the old adage; “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” I don’t really care about that. I am upset that my neighbor is not obliged to have a fence. The rules in the community in which we live forbid fences in the front lawns. So it does not matter that I take care to mow, mulch and manicure my lawn, it becomes indistinguishable from the unkempt, un-bracketed dandelion infested scrubland of the people next door.

I am not concerned that my neighbor’s grass is green or brown. I am upset that we have no fence. The best weather, no tornadoes, hail storms, floods or wildfires will not make me content if we have no fence. If I have to identify with people whose value, not values, are less in the eyes of society, I prefer we put up a fence.

That fence will keep me elite, exclusive and entitled.

Christ commands that I identify with those with crab grass, dandelions, and brown patches. I want a fence. Christ demands a gate.

John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Capital punishment needs to be refined. You could make a case for that if you believe in it as a necessary part of justice. If you are going to kill somebody for a crime, it should be clean, neat and safe. Currently this seems not to be the case.

If hanging, electrocution, poisoning by overdose medications, shooting, or even stoning is the method of choice…, to be fair, it should be an uncomplicated process.

After all we are not really seeking revenge, are we? Are we not looking for peace for the family, friends, and society at large for the harm caused by the accused and convicted? Supposedly we can all breathe easier when the one convicted is not breathing. Our hearts are lighter, when the convict’s heart is not beating at all.

Make the drugs safe so we can have a clean kill. Ask yourself. What stone would Jesus choose?

John 8:7 He that is without sin amongst you, cast the first stone.

We are called to a ministry of reconciliation, redemption, and repentance. Instead we pursue a culture of revenge, which does not glorify the resurrection. A clean kill is what Jesus never had. It was inhumane, unjust and we continue to punish the powerless and poor in the name of justice.

A clean kill would require us to look Christ in the face and cast the first stone.

The cracked lips and dry tongue indicated he was desperately ill, but I had done my part, or at least as far as I was willing to go.

He was very dehydrated. In fact he needed over 4 liters of water just to bring him back to near conscious state. I surveyed him closely. Took his vital signs of blood pressure and pulse once again and decided. I will only give him half of what he needs. Let someone else give him the other half. After all, why should I be responsible for treating him all the way?

Such is the dilemma of being a physician of faith and science. I know I am obliged to treat dehydration according to a protocol designed to save a life, not just to delay death. That sounds less than ethical, rational, reasonable and certainly is inhumane. Everyone would agree with that.

So why would I only treat someone’s physical needs and never address the spiritual and emotional component of their illness? Why give them half the required therapy? There is not a person who presents to me who has no spiritual need. No one has every prayer request met. No one has every burden borne or even presented to someone who is able or willing to bear it.

I dare not give half the required therapy. It is worse than malpractice. It does not reflect Christ.