A friend of mine recently went into the hospital for a surgical operation. Afterward, she told me about a conversation she had with her doctors. Meeting with her surgeon and her anesthesiologist before surgery, this retired lifelong Sunday school teacher couldn’t resist the temptation to give them both a Bible lesson. “Let me ask you, doctors,” she inquired, “who do you think performed the first surgery?” As the doctors pondered this, looking a bit puzzled, my friend answered: “God.” (Though when she said the word, it came out in about three syllables.) “God,” she continued, “was the first surgeon. He took Adam’s rib and made Eve.”
“After this,” added my friend, “every surgery has been performed by humans. And as you perform my surgery this day,” my friend concluded, “may God guide your hand.”
Now I realize many of my fine colleagues in the medical profession are of the “secular persuasion.” A lot of this “God” and “Jesus, our Savior,” and this Hallelujah stuff we just don’t relate to. I get that. On the other hand, perhaps we need to honor People of Faith, like my friend Ruth: People who have faith that God is guiding our hands.