Throwaway

I don't understand the allure of becoming addicted to "happy perscription pain meds." So far, they haven't made me very happy nor have they alleviated much pain; however, they have provided for some interesting eyes-closed entertainment ie dreams. I think my favorite thus far has been my uncle giving me a tour of the plumbing on his latest architectural project: a life-size reconstruction of Noah's Ark while a few of my relatives and a former African missionary chatted about how my long-since-been-sold horse has grown a thick coat of hair. I had no idea Noah's Ark had "indoor" plumbing...

Of course being off of my feet for the past few days has given me ample opportunity to think about others who have been off their feet. I don't understand the faith of many of the people Jesus healed, who somehow managed to recognize that their spiritual health was more important than whatever physical ailment caused them so much physical and emotional pain.

And then there's the rich man and Lazarus, the Lazarus who laid at his gate each day covered in sores, too weak to even fend off the dogs who licked his sores. Yet everyday the rich man ignored Lazarus, to the rich man he was invisible, a throwaway member of society. We were discussing this parable last Sunday and I've been thinking about it the past week. Who are the throwaways in my life? Obviously, our society considers the homeless and drug addicts throw aways.

What about immigrant/migrant workers? What about the mentally ill? What about the disabled? What about the sullen teenager behind the register at the local grocery store? What about the veteran wandering the campus at Mountain Home? What about the pregnant 18 year old about to give birth to her second child? Or the drunk twenty-something down in the trauma bay cussing every doctor who comes within two feet of him? What about the single mom or elderly widow at church? Are these people who mean nothing to me or to the rest of society? Should they? And what about those who seem to like being seen as a throwaway or worthless? How should I view those people? I still have a lot of thinking to do...back to the couch...

Just Read: Not All of Us Are Saints: A Doctor's Journey with the Poor, David Hilfiker, MD