Doctors are supposed to get things right. We interview patients, perform an exam, analyze and process data and reach a conclusion. Patients depend on us to make good decisions and reach accurate diagnoses. For the most part most of us do a pretty good job. We get things right most of the time, more because most common diagnoses are straightforward and most patients have common conditions than because of any brilliance on our part, but we are trained to figure things out. It is what we do.
In spite of all of our training we still make mistakes in thinking. This may be rare in our professional lives but it is common in our personal lives. We can be as selfish and short-sighted as anyone and we are more stubborn and arrogant than most. We have grown so accustomed to trusting in our intellect and ability to figure things out that we are blind to errors in our thoughts and conclusions in the rest of our lives. We forget that no amount of education and experience can change the fact that we are human and humans make mistakes.
We make mistakes because we are broken people. Selfishness, judgment, pride and anger are a part of who we are. If we are going to become loving, kind, giving and understanding people we are going to have to change. This change cannot come from within us. Relying on our broken thinking to solve our problems will result not in healing but instead in different ways of expressing our brokenness. So what do we do?
We need to quit trusting ourselves. We need to question and challenge out emotions and conclusions and be willing to change. Most of all, we need to ask God to help transform us into the people we need to be.
Understanding our universal brokenness and need for change is the topic of a series of lessons I have uploaded to my vimeo page, www.vimeo.com/bartbarrett. The first lesson has been uploaded and more will be available in the coming weeks. The series is intensely personal. I share some areas of personal brokenness I have dealt with over the years and how God has helped me overcome. I pray that my struggles will be a source of encouragement for others.
- Bart
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