The Healing Spirit!

"Sometimes our own insufficiency is what God finds the most useful about us. James W. Moore tells of his own past to

illustrate this quirky divine preference for turning weakness into strength. While a seminarian, Moore took a course in clinical pastoral education. One afternoon the head nurse took him aside and told him that a patient, Mrs. Davis, was in dire need of pastoral counseling. She was facing serious brain surgery the next morning with the double liabilities of poor physical condition and a soured, self-pitying spirit. Her chances of survival did not look good. 

Overawed by the life-and-death responsibility his pastoral ability seemed to carry, young Moore decided to let Mrs. Davis do all the talking and serve as an active listening sound-board for her fears and anxieties. Unfortunately this plan was squelched when, at the last minute, Moore was told Mrs. Davis was not allowed to speak. In a panic, this young seminarian bumbled into the desperately ill woman's room, accidentally banging the door into the wall. He then lurched forward into the room and jarred the poor woman by kicking her bed. Mortified, he then launched into a stuttering, stammering series of platitudes and prayers, saying all the wrong things and feeling he had utterly failed to reach the woman's fears. Horrified at his inadequacy, Moore left quickly. 

A few days later, Moore was amazed to find Mrs. Davis recovering nicely and in remarkably good spirits. Even more incredibly this patient praised him and credited him with practically saving her life. But I don't understand. I felt so terrible; I was so ashamed. I did everything wrong, Moore moaned. That's just it, she replied. I felt so sorry for you! It was the first time I had felt anything but self-pity for months. That little spark of compassion ignited in me the will to live! And the doctors tell me it made all the difference."

[James W. Moore, Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991) 96-98.]

Mrs. Davis found what we all need to find, and I am not talking about the will to live; although, I pray you have the will to live life to the fullest. What Mrs. Davis found was compassion for another human being. This was the first time she was not consumed by her own struggles.

It is my belief the root of all sin is selfishness. You may be wondering if I am considering self-pity a sin, the answer is yes. Anything that takes us into the pit of despair is wrong because it can destroy our spirit as well as our relationships with family and friends, God's gifts to us.

Christians are not immune to self-pity and sometimes we find ourselves in the dark pit of despair. Life can be extremely difficult, but no one has to face his or her struggles alone. Christ told the disciples he was going away to be with the Father, but he was not leaving them alone. He would the comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with them. The same Spirit dwells within us and when we open our hearts and empathize with others the Spirit shines forth a healing grace to all who have eyes to see. 

I imagine Moore was feeling a little self-pity when he left Mrs. Davis' room, but when he returned, his despair was vanquished by the Light of Christ. The Spirit used Moore’s compassion to heal her and her compassion healed him.

May the Light of Christ Shine on you today and always. In Christ, Dr. Ed Judy