Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Digital Detox (04/24/14)
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TITLE: Let the Healing Begin | Previous Challenge Entry
By Graham Insley
05/01/14 -
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John cleaned his teeth using one of the latest electronic toothbrushes -- it beeped at ten second intervals so that the user gave each section of the mouth a good massage and clean. The hot water in the shower was given at a very precise, preset temperature as soap, shampoo and conditioner were fed in perfect quantity from the dispensers on the wall. John’s life was digital.
The GPS in his car warned him of any road hazards and holdups ahead, making sure that his digital wristwatch beeped exactly 7am as he walked through the automatic opening front doors of the hospital. A heavy day of surgery lay ahead.
Fortunately he had the latest and greatest, microchip controlled, technically excellent, state of the art medical equipment to make his job of saving lives as easy and certain as it could be.
He knew that once an operation was over, nursing staff and an excellent support team would monitor every facet of the patient’s recovery – again supported by what he believed were the world’s best digital inventions. Blood pressures, sugar levels, heart beats and body temperature were closely watched on screens arranged around the beds of recovering patients. Nothing was left to chance.
But John was a wise and gifted doctor who knew that the digital world was a well that could soon run dry. He had learned an important lesson years ago – when all else fails turn to the non-digital, old fashioned and most reliable source of power – prayer.
John had made a point of having every, non-essential digital thing removed from his office. His clock had to be wound up by hand, his secretary removed the need for a computer on his desk and his telephone looked like it had been transported through time from the long, distant past. He called it his 'back to basics' reminder, his digital no-go zone.
Before every surgery, John would go into this office and seek his Lord about the coming procedure. Opening his Bible to the Psalms, raising open eyes to the ceiling and open ears to the Spirit of His Father, he never considered any operation was safer or more closely monitored than when his 'Dad' was on watch. And through these times of prayer, John had learned another very important lesson – the digital world did not guarantee a good recover. Old fashioned prayer and patient attitude were far better tools in this area.
John often sat beside his patients, open Bible in hand, and prayed for them as they lay unconscious in their beds. Reading Psalms gently to seriously ill patients, recovering in Intensive Care, was one of his favorite things to do and the most successful medicine he ever prescribed.
When a patient feared for their life, grieved the loss of a limb or cried torrential tears, the digital world went into complete melt down. A machine or monitor that can bring comfort to the soul does not exist. At times like these a loving spirit, a tender hand, the eyes of understanding and a mouth of gentle truth will always outperform the most super of all computers.
John’s world was digital, but his faith was analogue.
John would be the first to tell you, “When the chips are down and it all comes to the crunch, throw everything digital out of the window, sit down quietly with an open Bible and talk to God. It will detoxify your life of haste, hassle, and modern, new age thinking – it will replace it all with good old fashioned faith, quiet and rest.”
Let the healing begin.
Psa 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. (KJV)
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.(KJV)
Footnote. While I have labeled this as fiction, this is actually based on the professional attitude and career of a very real character and close friend of mine.
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It may seem strange to write a comment on my own entry, but there is a purpose.
I just want to let everyone know that the inspiration for this story was our very own Dr. Dave Walker.
As a highly trained medical professional, Dr Dave tells many stories of God at work when the medical experts were struggling. His book 'God in the ICU' is full of such stories for those who want to read more.
Thanks Dave and blessings all, Graham.
I realize you based the concept on a real person, but you also created a wonderfully appealing MC who is wise and faithful. A man after God's own heart, some might say. You tell his story so well and make me want to meet Dr. John.
Excellent work!
God bless Dr. John.
I loved this.
God bless~