Ronnie, a handsome looking eleven-year-old boy, is one of my "special" patients. I have known Ronnie since he was five years old, some time after he developed sudden liver failure and required a liver transplant at a nearby hospital. His surgery was quite successful; however, because a suitable sized organ was not available at the time, Ronnie received a liver that was much too large to fit properly in his abdominal cavity. As a consequence, the surgeon had to to leave the abdominal muscles open, so that the liver, jutting prominently from his belly, was carefully covered only by his stretched-out skin and a small amount of underlying tissue. I followed Ronnie for several years while he lived with a relatively unprotected liver, and was quite relieved when he was finally big enough to undergo additional surgery and have the defect corrected. Needless to say, the extensive surgeries left Ronnie with quite a few abdominal scars, but Ronnie never appeared to be too concerned about them, as his belly was almost always concealed by clothing.
During the office visit, I discussed with Ronnie and his mother his recent health, his medication prescription, results of his recent appointment with the transplant surgeon, his family, his friends, and how he was doing at school. All seemed to be well. The physical examination was also quite satisfactory. As I filled out some paperwork for the family, the mother casually asked me about "this small whitehead under Ronnie's left eye that wouldn't go away". I admitted that I did not notice it before, and examined his face more carefully. Indeed, about an inch under his left eye, there was a very small, pearly bump that was no more than 1-2 mm, or about one-sixteenth of an inch in size. There was no redness, bleeding, scratches, or discoloration of the surrounding skin. Having seen the same kind of lesion many times before, I smiled, and did my best to provide reassurance:
"Ronnie, that little bump under your eye is a very common thing called "molluscum contagiosum". A lot of kids have them, and I probably had them at some point. It's caused by a virus, and usually they will go away completely after a few months without any treatment. You don't want to scratch or pick at it though, because it sometimes may spread to other parts of the skin. Just leave it alone, and you'll be fine."
I got on the computer and showed Ronnie and his mother drawings and pictures of the lesion, and the mother knowingly recalled that she once had several of those on her chin before that was treated with either chemicals or liquid nitrogen, and that it left a scar for a while. The mother seemed content to leave the lesion alone, since any treatment of the lesion may actually make it look worse.
Unfortunately, Ronnie suddenly became tearful and upset, and demanded that something be done to get rid of that "ugly" thing, which actually was barely perceptible to the casual eye. He didn't care that treatment might leave him with a worse looking scar, or that it might be very painful. He wanted it gone, and he wanted it gone IMMEDIATELY. I had no choice but to go ahead and refer him to a dermatologist, and felt a bit embarrassed that I couldn't handle such a simple, harmless skin problem.
Overreaction? Definitely. On the other hand, when it comes to hearing God's word, we are commanded to pay attention to the slightest detail:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-25)
God's word reveals His perfect character, exposes our iniquity, and defines his direction and will for our lives. If we are "doers of the word", it compels us to respond, and what we see will be much more than a tiny spot under the left eye.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
A Matter of Consumption
"Diego, I'm going to do a little test on you in order to get to know some of your habits. We'll start with a game just to get you warmed up. OK?"
"Uh, OK."
Diego came with his mother to have his stomachaches checked out. After a couple of minutes of casual conversation, I learned that he likes to play basketball, but eats way too much fast food.
"You like to watch NBA basketball on TV?"
"Yeah."
"Great. For the warm-up exercise, I'll give you 30 seconds, and I want you to name for me as many NBA basketball teams as you can come up with. Ready? Go!"
I noted the time on my watch, and within a couple of seconds, Diego started to rattle off a list of team names:
"Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Mavericks, Heat, Cavaliers...Hornets, Thunder, Magic...."
"Good job. Now, the fun part. I'll give you 30 seconds again, but this time I want you to name for me as many vegetables as you can possibly think of. Go!"
"Uh, carrots, broccoli..."
He was off to a good start, but stalled considerably after the first two vegetables, and eventually only added spinach and tomatoes to the list. He later confided that he hated spinach. Diego seemed to consume NBA basketball on TV much more than he consumed vegetables.
I was teaching Sunday school to the eighth graders at church a few days later, and decided to play the same game with the students, with a twist. I asked them to list for me all the Bible verses that they were familiar with. Sadly, most could not come up with more than one or two verses, and half the class mentioned John 3:16. It was evident that their consumption of God's word was woefully deficient.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
If we truly love God, we will have no trouble loving His words and commands, and will know many of them as if they are on the back of our hands. Meanwhile, turn off the TV, and pass the vegetables, please.
"Uh, OK."
Diego came with his mother to have his stomachaches checked out. After a couple of minutes of casual conversation, I learned that he likes to play basketball, but eats way too much fast food.
"You like to watch NBA basketball on TV?"
"Yeah."
"Great. For the warm-up exercise, I'll give you 30 seconds, and I want you to name for me as many NBA basketball teams as you can come up with. Ready? Go!"
I noted the time on my watch, and within a couple of seconds, Diego started to rattle off a list of team names:
"Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Mavericks, Heat, Cavaliers...Hornets, Thunder, Magic...."
"Good job. Now, the fun part. I'll give you 30 seconds again, but this time I want you to name for me as many vegetables as you can possibly think of. Go!"
"Uh, carrots, broccoli..."
He was off to a good start, but stalled considerably after the first two vegetables, and eventually only added spinach and tomatoes to the list. He later confided that he hated spinach. Diego seemed to consume NBA basketball on TV much more than he consumed vegetables.
I was teaching Sunday school to the eighth graders at church a few days later, and decided to play the same game with the students, with a twist. I asked them to list for me all the Bible verses that they were familiar with. Sadly, most could not come up with more than one or two verses, and half the class mentioned John 3:16. It was evident that their consumption of God's word was woefully deficient.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
If we truly love God, we will have no trouble loving His words and commands, and will know many of them as if they are on the back of our hands. Meanwhile, turn off the TV, and pass the vegetables, please.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
A Matter of Confidence
"What did you find, Doctor?"
The mother was in her usual anxious self when I greeted her in the GI lab after her teen daughter's endoscopic procedures. Jenna had been complaining of stomaches for years, and recently the pain got to the point where she stopped going to school. She was getting depressed, not sleeping well, and also started to complain of headaches and pain all over the body. Her recent laboratory test results were largely normal, and physical examination findings did not suggest the presence of any serious disease. I was quite certain that Jenna had a "functional" disorder such as fibromyalgia. These conditions mostly present with various types of pain and discomfort that are not due to infections, obvious inflammation, cancer or any disease that requires surgery, and test results are almost always negative. I was quite reluctant to perform additional studies on her, but recently indicated that I would consider performing GI endoscopies on her if the results, which I expected to be normal, can provide the family reassurance that Jenna does not have any other serious disease. She ended up getting both an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (scoping from the mouth) and a colonoscopy (scoping from the rear end).
"Jenna handled the procedures pretty well. Here's a copy of the photographs that I took inside her." I handed the mother the endoscopy pictures, and did my best to explain the findings. "This picture is from the first part of the small intestine...this one from the stomach looking toward the intestine...from the stomach looking up toward the esophagus...from the lower part of the esophagus...from the area of the large intestine next to the appendix...the rest of the large intestine...rectum...." I paused for a moment.
"Basically all the parts of the digestive tract that were visible on endoscopy were completely normal. Jenna does not have ulcers, does not have infections inside her stomach, does not have bleeding, does not have polyps...does not have cancer. I hope that you take this as good news, and the negative findings were basically what I expected before going into the procedure."
"You're sure that the tests were negative?" Jenna's mother asked, staring blankly while her daughter, still under the influence of sedative medications, giggled unintelligibly in the gurney beside her.
"I've learned in medicine never to actually say 'never' or 'always', but I'm as certain about this as I possibly can be. I did take some biopsies during the procedures, and the results should be available next week to further confirm that Jenna does not have a serious organic disease."
My confidence in what I said was based on what I learned in medical school, in my residency training, in my pediatric gastroenterology fellowship, in my work experience, in books, in journals, in discussions with families, colleagues and mentors, and in attending numerous national medical conferences. The only thing that would further increase my confidence would be if God actually told me that it was so. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if the mother wanted a second opinion.
Is there anything in which I can have true confidence? Being one who has lived under God's grace as a Christian for many years, I have full assurance of my salvation. Jesus said,
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:37-40)
The first of two diagnostic questions that are taught in Evangelism Explosion training is, "Have you reached the point in your spiritual life where you know for certain that if you were to die tonight you would go to heaven?"
My answer is yes. I'm even more certain of it than I am of Jenna not having cancer.
The mother was in her usual anxious self when I greeted her in the GI lab after her teen daughter's endoscopic procedures. Jenna had been complaining of stomaches for years, and recently the pain got to the point where she stopped going to school. She was getting depressed, not sleeping well, and also started to complain of headaches and pain all over the body. Her recent laboratory test results were largely normal, and physical examination findings did not suggest the presence of any serious disease. I was quite certain that Jenna had a "functional" disorder such as fibromyalgia. These conditions mostly present with various types of pain and discomfort that are not due to infections, obvious inflammation, cancer or any disease that requires surgery, and test results are almost always negative. I was quite reluctant to perform additional studies on her, but recently indicated that I would consider performing GI endoscopies on her if the results, which I expected to be normal, can provide the family reassurance that Jenna does not have any other serious disease. She ended up getting both an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (scoping from the mouth) and a colonoscopy (scoping from the rear end).
"Jenna handled the procedures pretty well. Here's a copy of the photographs that I took inside her." I handed the mother the endoscopy pictures, and did my best to explain the findings. "This picture is from the first part of the small intestine...this one from the stomach looking toward the intestine...from the stomach looking up toward the esophagus...from the lower part of the esophagus...from the area of the large intestine next to the appendix...the rest of the large intestine...rectum...." I paused for a moment.
"Basically all the parts of the digestive tract that were visible on endoscopy were completely normal. Jenna does not have ulcers, does not have infections inside her stomach, does not have bleeding, does not have polyps...does not have cancer. I hope that you take this as good news, and the negative findings were basically what I expected before going into the procedure."
"You're sure that the tests were negative?" Jenna's mother asked, staring blankly while her daughter, still under the influence of sedative medications, giggled unintelligibly in the gurney beside her.
"I've learned in medicine never to actually say 'never' or 'always', but I'm as certain about this as I possibly can be. I did take some biopsies during the procedures, and the results should be available next week to further confirm that Jenna does not have a serious organic disease."
My confidence in what I said was based on what I learned in medical school, in my residency training, in my pediatric gastroenterology fellowship, in my work experience, in books, in journals, in discussions with families, colleagues and mentors, and in attending numerous national medical conferences. The only thing that would further increase my confidence would be if God actually told me that it was so. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if the mother wanted a second opinion.
Is there anything in which I can have true confidence? Being one who has lived under God's grace as a Christian for many years, I have full assurance of my salvation. Jesus said,
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:37-40)
The first of two diagnostic questions that are taught in Evangelism Explosion training is, "Have you reached the point in your spiritual life where you know for certain that if you were to die tonight you would go to heaven?"
My answer is yes. I'm even more certain of it than I am of Jenna not having cancer.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Scooter the Pruner
I was never fond of eggplants, or aubergines. In fact, it is the only vegetable that I actually dislike, but it wasn't for lack of trying. After weeks of overexposure to weekend television gardening and cooking shows with my lovely wife early in our marriage, I somehow drove home one evening with some bell pepper seedlings and a potted Japanese eggplant. I guess the Frugal Gourmet must have subliminally suggested against my better judgment while I was at the garden shop that a properly prepared eggplant parmigiana could actually be quite tasty. Being a neophyte gardener, I didn't actually seriously believe that the seedlings would survive under my hands anyway, so chances were that there wouldn't be any eggplants on the dinner table.
I was almost correct.
Scooter, our rambunctious Labrador mix, was furiously yapping with excitement when I brought the seedlings into the backyard garden. After sternly warning her to stay away from the plants, I carefully dug well-spaced holes in a plot next to the garage, added planting mix, plopped the seedlings in place, watered, and warned Scooter again to stay away from the plants. "Scooter, you can run circles around them. You can even pee and poop next to them. But if you try to pull them out...grrrr!" I scowled and bared my teeth, thinking that she got the message.
The verbal deterrent lasted about 20 minutes. The bell peppers escaped injury, but the entire Japanese eggplant seedling was bitten off just above soil level, leaving only a frayed stump behind. I didn't think that it stood a chance, but watered it a bit more, and left it alone. On subsequent days, what remained of the eggplant seedling sprang to life, sprouted out multiple branches, and within a few weeks became a sprawling, fruit-bearing monstrosity. We had enough Japanese eggplants to feed an entire village. We gave them to our friends, and I'm sure that our friends gave them to their friends. It turned out that while Scooter nearly committed auberginocide, she actually pruned the eggplant and caused it be more productive than otherwise possible. The bell pepper plants remained unscathed and did well, but their production paled in comparison.
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher and atheist
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2)
It is comforting to know that God is in charge of our lives when we experience hardships and circumstances that are beyond our control. It sure beats the alternative of atheists being fortified by near-death experiences.
By the way, I still am not crazy about eggplants.
I was almost correct.
Scooter, our rambunctious Labrador mix, was furiously yapping with excitement when I brought the seedlings into the backyard garden. After sternly warning her to stay away from the plants, I carefully dug well-spaced holes in a plot next to the garage, added planting mix, plopped the seedlings in place, watered, and warned Scooter again to stay away from the plants. "Scooter, you can run circles around them. You can even pee and poop next to them. But if you try to pull them out...grrrr!" I scowled and bared my teeth, thinking that she got the message.
The verbal deterrent lasted about 20 minutes. The bell peppers escaped injury, but the entire Japanese eggplant seedling was bitten off just above soil level, leaving only a frayed stump behind. I didn't think that it stood a chance, but watered it a bit more, and left it alone. On subsequent days, what remained of the eggplant seedling sprang to life, sprouted out multiple branches, and within a few weeks became a sprawling, fruit-bearing monstrosity. We had enough Japanese eggplants to feed an entire village. We gave them to our friends, and I'm sure that our friends gave them to their friends. It turned out that while Scooter nearly committed auberginocide, she actually pruned the eggplant and caused it be more productive than otherwise possible. The bell pepper plants remained unscathed and did well, but their production paled in comparison.
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher and atheist
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2)
It is comforting to know that God is in charge of our lives when we experience hardships and circumstances that are beyond our control. It sure beats the alternative of atheists being fortified by near-death experiences.
By the way, I still am not crazy about eggplants.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Snowplay at Weed
"Daddy, can we play in the snow a little longer?"
It was a cold December afternoon during a family road trip to Portland, Oregon. My children were only five and seven years of age, and growing up in the Los Angeles area, the only snow that they had played in so far was the machine-made stuff at local winter carnivals. There was only a couple of inches of packed snow on the ground, but this time the stuff was real, and the kids were busy pelting me with snowballs, building snowmen and lying on the ground making snow angels. I reluctantly agreed that we'd stay a little longer.
My wife stood next to me, and seeing the snow-capped mountains, exclaimed how beautiful the scene was, and dashed off with the camera to take a better shot. I admit that I was also drawn in by the splendor of the surroundings, and was thankful for incidentally finding this patch of snow-covered landscape.
Eventually it was time to leave, but the kids were having too much fun to get in the car. I had to remind them that we still had a long way to drive that day, and that we couldn't spend the entire afternoon at a the freeway rest area.
Yes, a rest area. Somehow, the roadside potties by Interstate 5 near the California/Oregon border became a major winter vacation destination. We pulled the car into the rest area at Weed, California, for a quick potty break. It became a very long potty break, and we made sure that everyone had a chance to use the toilet a second time before we left for good.
Christians often describe our earthly existence as a journey, as we are reminded that there is a destination that is far more appealing than where we are right now:
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Jesus said to his disciples during his last supper with them:
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3)
None of us will live forever in this life. Some experience journeys of suffering and torment, and wish that their days are shortened. Others' lives are full of earthly pleasures and success that they loathe the notion of ever departing from them. Nevertheless, the journey will continue, and for those who call Jesus as Lord and Savior, our destination is far greater than Portland in December.
It was a cold December afternoon during a family road trip to Portland, Oregon. My children were only five and seven years of age, and growing up in the Los Angeles area, the only snow that they had played in so far was the machine-made stuff at local winter carnivals. There was only a couple of inches of packed snow on the ground, but this time the stuff was real, and the kids were busy pelting me with snowballs, building snowmen and lying on the ground making snow angels. I reluctantly agreed that we'd stay a little longer.
My wife stood next to me, and seeing the snow-capped mountains, exclaimed how beautiful the scene was, and dashed off with the camera to take a better shot. I admit that I was also drawn in by the splendor of the surroundings, and was thankful for incidentally finding this patch of snow-covered landscape.
Eventually it was time to leave, but the kids were having too much fun to get in the car. I had to remind them that we still had a long way to drive that day, and that we couldn't spend the entire afternoon at a the freeway rest area.
Yes, a rest area. Somehow, the roadside potties by Interstate 5 near the California/Oregon border became a major winter vacation destination. We pulled the car into the rest area at Weed, California, for a quick potty break. It became a very long potty break, and we made sure that everyone had a chance to use the toilet a second time before we left for good.
Christians often describe our earthly existence as a journey, as we are reminded that there is a destination that is far more appealing than where we are right now:
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Jesus said to his disciples during his last supper with them:
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3)
None of us will live forever in this life. Some experience journeys of suffering and torment, and wish that their days are shortened. Others' lives are full of earthly pleasures and success that they loathe the notion of ever departing from them. Nevertheless, the journey will continue, and for those who call Jesus as Lord and Savior, our destination is far greater than Portland in December.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Unequal Friendship
There is no doctor who commands from me greater respect than Dr. Frank Sinatra. Despite sharing the same name with the late famous entertainer, Dr. Sinatra bears little resemblance to the leader of the famous "Rat Pack" of Hollywood stars. He is a pediatric gastroenterologist, an internationally known expert in childhood liver diseases, and for many years was the director of the pediatric gastroenterology training program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles/University of Southern California. Dr. Sinatra is deeply devoted to the training and development of young doctors under his charge, and I am forever indebted to his several years of hands-on mentorship. He also played a few years of minor league baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, loves horses, is often rather self-effacing for someone of his professional stature, is committed to his family, and enjoys Italian opera. The one time that Dr. Sinatra really got mad at me was when I brought a UCLA coffee mug into his office. I should have known that he was a die-hard supporter of USC Trojans athletics.
I would love to be like Dr. Sinatra when I grow up...someday.
I still remember my first meeting with Dr. Sinatra after I started my training. He reached out his hand, and offered while warmly gazing at me with his sparking eyes, "Glenn, call me Frank."
I have known Dr. Sinatra for over 18 years, and have spoken with him on countless occasions, sometimes as a colleague and friend. However, I have never called him Frank. I simply respected him too much to call him anything other than Dr. Sinatra. We may be friends, but it is an unequal kind of friendship.
A similar unequal friendship was also offered by Jesus to his disciples:
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:12-15
Indeed, Jesus called us his friends, but this does not necessarily mean that our relationship with God is equivalent to those with our friends at the office, school, gym or even at church. The authors of the New Testament, including those who walked with Jesus on earth, never lost sight of this, as they never called Jesus "friend". I am Jesus' friend because he chose to lay down his life for me and befriend me. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and that will not change no matter how long I know him.
I would love to be like Dr. Sinatra when I grow up...someday.
I still remember my first meeting with Dr. Sinatra after I started my training. He reached out his hand, and offered while warmly gazing at me with his sparking eyes, "Glenn, call me Frank."
I have known Dr. Sinatra for over 18 years, and have spoken with him on countless occasions, sometimes as a colleague and friend. However, I have never called him Frank. I simply respected him too much to call him anything other than Dr. Sinatra. We may be friends, but it is an unequal kind of friendship.
A similar unequal friendship was also offered by Jesus to his disciples:
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:12-15
Indeed, Jesus called us his friends, but this does not necessarily mean that our relationship with God is equivalent to those with our friends at the office, school, gym or even at church. The authors of the New Testament, including those who walked with Jesus on earth, never lost sight of this, as they never called Jesus "friend". I am Jesus' friend because he chose to lay down his life for me and befriend me. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and that will not change no matter how long I know him.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Special Occasions
Most of my clothing occupies about one-third of the walk-in closet in the master bedroom. It includes about a dozen well-worn dress shirts in various colors, several pairs of dress pants and slacks, about twenty neckties, a green sport coat that I purchased for a special dinner event twelve years ago, miscellaneous clothing that my brother-in-law no longer wears (but my wife thought that I would want), various casual stuff, and a two-piece suit. I am particularly fond of the suit, as it is a gift from my father almost twenty years ago when I was in Taiwan for a short-term medical missions project. It was hand-made by my father's tailor, and it is the only tailored suit that I have ever owned. The simply designed dark single-breasted wool suit has only been worn a few times a year, but has served me well in job interviews, weddings, funerals, graduations and special dinner parties. It has been impeccably maintained over the years, has only been dry-cleaned, and likely will remain quite serviceable for several more years, provided that I maintain my figure, and only wear it for special occasions, in the same way that vintage Ford Model T's are only taken out occasionally for Sunday morning drives.
It is natural for us to regard certain events as being more special or important than others. At school, daily reading assignments and homework are mundane, but final examinations and term papers require special attention and preparation. A major league baseball game in late spring is only a game, but come World Series time, every game, every inning and every pitch becomes of great importance. Getting dressed for work is no big deal, but getting dressed for a wedding, especially if it is one's own wedding, is sufficient cause for anxiety attacks.
What about getting ready for church on Sunday mornings?
It wasn't long ago when being in one's "Sunday best" meant that he or she is dressed up in a fashion that is appropriate for going to church, where believers gather before the presence of God. However, as churches are increasingly reaching out to "seekers" who may be uncomfortable with the idea of visiting houses of worship, there has been progressive emphasis on making the church experience more inviting, friendly and comfortable. The house of worship, where the focus was rightly on God, has become a community of believers, where people, rather than the Almighty, now occupy the center of attention. Instead of trembling before a holy God, the new image of our deity is one who is "with us", "in our hearts", demands little of us, is not intrusive, and is available to our whims whenever we feel like it. As we pay less thought to gathering before the holy Creator of our very existence and more on bringing "seekers" to the "community of believers", it is natural to become more casual in our church attire. After all, why dress up if we're just getting together with friends, right? After all, didn't Jesus himself say to the disciples that he called them friends?
On the other hand, there was no mistaking the holiness of God when Moses led the Jews in the desert:
And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever."
When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying 'Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain." Exodus 19:9-13
Although as Christians we now live under grace rather than under law, the holiness and awesomeness of God remains unchanged yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. While I may not necessarily put on my suit next Sunday, I nevertheless need to approach the house of worship with expressions of reverence that is fitting before the throne of the Almighty, both inside and out.
It is natural for us to regard certain events as being more special or important than others. At school, daily reading assignments and homework are mundane, but final examinations and term papers require special attention and preparation. A major league baseball game in late spring is only a game, but come World Series time, every game, every inning and every pitch becomes of great importance. Getting dressed for work is no big deal, but getting dressed for a wedding, especially if it is one's own wedding, is sufficient cause for anxiety attacks.
What about getting ready for church on Sunday mornings?
It wasn't long ago when being in one's "Sunday best" meant that he or she is dressed up in a fashion that is appropriate for going to church, where believers gather before the presence of God. However, as churches are increasingly reaching out to "seekers" who may be uncomfortable with the idea of visiting houses of worship, there has been progressive emphasis on making the church experience more inviting, friendly and comfortable. The house of worship, where the focus was rightly on God, has become a community of believers, where people, rather than the Almighty, now occupy the center of attention. Instead of trembling before a holy God, the new image of our deity is one who is "with us", "in our hearts", demands little of us, is not intrusive, and is available to our whims whenever we feel like it. As we pay less thought to gathering before the holy Creator of our very existence and more on bringing "seekers" to the "community of believers", it is natural to become more casual in our church attire. After all, why dress up if we're just getting together with friends, right? After all, didn't Jesus himself say to the disciples that he called them friends?
On the other hand, there was no mistaking the holiness of God when Moses led the Jews in the desert:
And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever."
When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying 'Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain." Exodus 19:9-13
Although as Christians we now live under grace rather than under law, the holiness and awesomeness of God remains unchanged yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. While I may not necessarily put on my suit next Sunday, I nevertheless need to approach the house of worship with expressions of reverence that is fitting before the throne of the Almighty, both inside and out.
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