Category: Christian compassion
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Where is God in the midst of suffering?
In healthcare, we often encounter patients who do not get better. Despite the best we have to offer, some patients continue to suffer or die. And the question they ask is, “Where is God in the midst of this suffering?” What do we say? This question stumps many of us, even compassionate doctors and nurses.…
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Love in action
In SIM we think a lot about how to integrate faith and good deeds. In our Western mindset these are often separate. One of our missionaries returned home this week and told us that in her country, Christian medical doctors put “faith” and “work” in separate categories. So it is difficult for them to imagine…
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Social concern by evangelicals in the 1800s
Social concern by evangelical Christians was a high priority before 1900.
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A new era in Roman healthcare
We take for granted that compassion is a natural response to the suffering of those who are ill. But compassion was not well-developed as a virtue in Roman culture. Rome had not developed a culture of compassion; “mercy was discouraged, as it only helped those too weak to contribute to society.” Family members may come…
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A cheerful heart is good medicine
In medical school I learned that the death of a spouse is a risk factor for one’s death, and many times the surviving spouse dies near an anniversary of the sad event. The connection between our soul and body is closer than we can imagine. The book of Proverbs says it this way: “A cheerful…
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Too much to do? Time to re-examine our own assumptions!
Stress and burnout are recognized themes in medical missions. One source of stress is the sheer magnitude of physical needs; one billion people in our world have no access to a trained health worker and healthcare workers often stand in the gap. In the face of overwhelming need how do we maintain healthy margins? Overextended,…
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Finding meaning as a Christian in mission
Kathryn Butler is a trauma and critical care surgeon who recently left clinical practice to homeschool her children. She teaches at Harvard Medical School, and has contributed to the literature on surgical critical care and medical education. She and her family live in the woods north of Boston. This is her journey from medical mission…
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Zeal without Burnout: Seven keys to a lifelong ministry of sustainable sacrifice
We want zeal in healthcare missions, but a zeal from being called, not driven. Here are some quotes from a helpful book.
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Permission to mourn, anyone?
We work in the midst of a mountain of suffering and death. Do we take time to care for our souls? Do we allow ourselves to mourn?
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The LORD, a God merciful and gracious
Last week I wrote about a possible erosion of compassion in our healthcare service. Those of us in healthcare as a profession can be inundated with the suffering in this world. And beyond the physical aspects of suffering there is the question of meaning. Even more painful than suffering is to suffer something that…
