Surrender

 We were in church a few weeks ago when our pastor shared this story about his mother. It had just happened that week; she was visiting from Alabama when her health very rapidly declined and it did not look good. On so many levels, it moved me. 1) Where can I find a doctor like this? 2) How can I witness to God's truth in the world in my life like this man did? and 3) How like my father-in-law's recent healing this was? He had given up, done all he could and was saying his goodbyes and quit flailing and then he was healed.  Mostly, I just sensed God's presence in the telling.

This week, Fr. Kenneth's mom went home (to Alabama) and he shared this story in writing. I had to share it.  God is at work; He is alive; and He cares.

On the second Sunday she was hospitalized, a few of us gathered in her private room after church. I wasn't expecting to see her cardiologist, but an hour or so in he walked into the room with some residents, as they made rounds.

Dr. Mathew is a charming, articulate Indian man with a slight limp who I never saw without a sharp suit and tie. He said, "I know your son gave a lecture in church this morning, but now I have one."

He looked directly at my mother and said: "Have you surrendered yet?"

Mom looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"When someone is drowning, flailing around in the water and going under, when is the right moment to attempt a rescue?" Dr. Mathew asked. She did not answer.

"Right away?" I said, very unsure of myself.

"No, you must wait until the drowning man has stopped struggling, otherwise they will carry you down with them."

He looked at my mother and very firmly asked, "Have you given up, yet?"

She raised her hands and said, "I surrender."

Dr. Mathew said: "Tell HIM, not me!" Again, mom looked lost.

"He means God, mom."

"No, I mean a PERSON who is GOD: Jesus Christ! Have you read his words in Matthew? Why are you anxious? Why are you worried? Jesus says he clothes the fields with lilies. The birds sing to God and God is OBLIGATED, then, to feed them. Trust in him."

The residents looked like they were used to this but also clearly respected the old man. I smiled, on the outside and the inside. A true physician, this one, I thought.

He then went on to brilliantly lay out all of the cardiology and what they were attempting to do with medicines and therapies, as we all listened carefully.

As he left, he said: "We can do some things with medicine and surgery but only GOD can can heal."

-Fr. Kenneth Tanner