"Whether you are a believer or not, you have a
need to explain to yourself how it is possible
that you have achieved physician status you have
attained today, if there is no God to begin with."
The closest and most credible evidence that American medical schools can publically point to, that connects medical students to religion in any significant manner, seems to be to offer a voluntary rotation for their medical students on pastoral care of hospital patients, at least at my medical school. Others may do a far better job than that.
I think that all physicians understand that the human body is the most miraculous devise ever created--so complicated in structure and function that we continue to marvel at how little we have learned about it, and how much more we seek to know and understand after all those centuries of research and attention.
The questions that continue to haunt us concerning the earth we find ourselves living on comfortably, the unexplainable ability of our body and brain to survive and improve our living circumstances, and the ability we were given to create another human being are mind-blowing.
There is no other explanation for all these incredible circumstances other than the existence of a supernatural creator that we call "God."
So, I ask myself why it is that this creator is so ignored in our education, medical schools and our practices? Perhaps we are unaware that the surgeons say a quiet prayer before each surgery asking the Lord to guide his hands, prevent surgical mistakes, and help the patient heal without
any complications.
Is it possible that 99% of physicians ignore God completely, during their medical careers? Maybe they have become so complacent with continually seeing these miracles of healing and their own ability at knowing how to cure disease, even using their skills to cure medical trauma that were unknown a few years ago, that there is no time to stop and thank God for anything, including
their family.
Personally, in my 40 years in medical practice, I have never witnessed a physician actually saying a prayer, out loud or silently, while in a direct vicinity of patients or in any other healthcare environment. What have you witnessed personally in your medical career about this issue?
Taking this one step further, one should always be asking whether prayerful thoughts cross the minds of most practicing physicians during the days in the hospital or their medical practice office business. About the only time that I have noticed myself either mumbling some prayerful words or thinking about religious help from above surfaced at the latter end of the month about breaking even in my monthly practice income budget.
Are your thoughts and beliefs about the Bible part of your daily
life and career?
At Christmas time we all in one way or another become involved with the thoughts and feelings about God and how He works in our lives and careers. The Bible has been the core of Christian beliefs for over 2000 years and is undoubtedly the most purchased and read book ever published.
This book's content has changed and improved the lives of millions of people over time in a world continually laced in conflict. There is no other source of prophesy, beliefs, and truth that comes close to what the 66 books of the Bible teach us about the ways of life that result in actual love and happiness. It is interesting that the Bible contains far more content about money issues and management than about being saved.
In essence, the 10 commandments of Christ enables each of us to follow as closely as we can with the promise of hope beyond death. In medical practice we witness medical miracles and cures that could never happen without the intervention of God.
Christ's intervention, which is allowed only because of our free-will to believe in Christ's human life, crucifixion, and resurrection, began before our conception and continues through our life and our careers. It continues to the degree that we believe in a living Christ that did exist back then and actually follow his advice found in the Bible.
As physicians we have been endowed with the talents and intelligence to treat and cure medical problems of our patients. We could not practice medicine safely and effectively without believing in God to begin with, a fact that is often overlooked by physicians themselves. And it is also something that is commonly never celebrated and that we forget to thank God for. This includes myself as well.
The Bible clearly states that God knew us before we were ever born. It's my belief that he selected the egg and single sperm at our conception. At the same time he instilled the talents, skills, and potentials for success in our lives, along with a purpose for our lives, before we were born. You may likely not believe that, and that's your choice.
I believe it because when I look back over my life, connect all of the events, decisions I've made, and can visualize the many ways that my skills and talents were preparing me for becoming a physician were there all along. When I survived an emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix at 7 years of age and stayed a week or so in the hospital for infection to cure up, I knew then that I had to be a physician, no matter what. That urge persisted through medical school. It was my
purpose in life. The Bible never states that we have only one purpose in our lives.
How did I know that I would have the brains and grades to get into college, get accepted to medical school, become a very good physician, or even be able to afford to pay for all this? I didn't. I was raised on a small working farm by my grandparents. It wasn't a punishment, it was a gift.
The only way I could be where I am today was the by the grace of God, not because of who I knew or what I ever did that made it happen.
I've discovered and believe that when we look back through our lives, especially in our medical careers, all of the changes we've made and circumstances that caused us to make the decisions we've made have resulted in divine intervention to keep us on the right track for
our purpose in life.
The interesting thing about reading the Bible that has surprised and overwhelmed me is the fact that I have read the Bible about 5 times since, cover to cover, and each time I read the same things again, my whole understanding and interpretation of those paragraphs are often different and more informative and believable than prior. Another thing, I read a chapter or so every day (about 20 minutes) since then, in the early morning, and find myself anxious to get to it each day. That's not the usual way it works for me when reading books.
My wife, Linda, felt the same as I about religion and the Bible. That's God's grace at work with some coaching by the indwelling Holy Spirit. My lifelong depression, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD from combat in Vietnam are 90% or more erased. In spite of the increasing world warfare, societal moral decay, increasing violence, and disintegration of our government, I feel much better than I have for years. Go figure!
Ways that religion can not only fit into your medical practice world but also become the essential ingredient that propels your income and persistent practice growth.
Yes, you thought I was going to continue talking about me and my stuff and here we are getting to the nitty-gritty stuff.
I can only tell you my opinions and thoughts about how religion might be of value to you in your practice. My benefit from real religion came to be after I retired from medical practice in 1999. I totally missed the most benefits that I would have had when I started private medical practice in 1973. But that was not my path at the time.
Religion, belief in Jesus, can be something that no other person will know about you unless you reveal it to them---not your office staff or hospital staffs or friends. However, when and if you reach a strong belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and you feel the effects of that happening in your life and medical practice, you will not be hesitant to show what you believe to anyone--it's a belief in your heart and your mind.
When that happens, you will truly see important things happen that seem to be out of nowhere, or maybe luck, or just unexpected. These will be supernatural in nature because you or no one else initiated these events. It makes you wonder where they came from and what caused it. You might notice in your CPA's monthly profit and loss statement that your income was like $20,000 higher than expected. Where did that come from?
Your patients are smarter than you think. Patient's immediately sense that you are more pleasant, answer questions more thoroughly, seem to smile more, and are more polite than usual. You will be doing all this without being conscious of the efforts--at least until your office staff comments to you about the changes.
Patients like to know that you are a believer as well as their doctor--more loyal patients show up--your religious beliefs are a marketing factor for retention of patients.
Also you will have less aggressiveness and anger, forgive others more easily, enjoy each day more than in previous weeks, and spend more time with your family and kids automatically.
For these events to take place and for God to start helping you more, you should... but not required to...
- Read the Bible every day as much as possible, and with the intent to understand what the message is being told to you--even just 10 to 15 minutes in a quiet place, no music, no TV,
no phones. - Say at least one prayer a day, quietly or loudly, whenever the chance presents itself--long or short--focus on thankfulness for good things that have happened--tell God point-blank what you want him to do for you--don't parrot the same prayer daily--pray for your family and friends health and safety.
- Go to church as often as you can--finding people who believe as you do is a great support and comfort--some become your patients.
----Professional Probe----
"Why is it so easy for our kids to see, feel, and sense
the presence of God and the comfort they feel and we
don't?
Have you ever had the opportunity to watch
an orthopedic physician hypnotize a small child and
set a broker arm of the child without any other anesthetic
or drugs and the child has no pain what so ever?
Have
you ever seen a surgeon "burn" specialist hypnotize a child
and change all of their burn dressings pain free?
If you have, you have to ask yourself how those things
are possible when it is something not taught
in medical schools."
Articles©2013-2022/CGG INVESTMENTS LLC. All rights reserved. #84, 3-16-22
