Over the last few weeks, I have been cleaning up / updating our database of CEN contacts.  In the cases in which we hadn’t heard from a doctor for a while, I would do some research and see if I could find out where they are.  In the process, I encountered a sizeable number of ophthalmologists who have passed away over the last 5-10 years.  Periodically, I would read their online obituary.  One day, I decided to read a group of them at one sitting. Here is where it led me…...

"…to live a life worthy of the Lord." (Colossians 1:10)

Each person has a unique story, but collectively I found that some of the ophthalmologists lived fairly long lives – on into their 80s or 90s – while other’s were tragically cut short due to an accident or illness and died in their 30s. Some had come from humble beginnings. Others were 3rd generation doctors. Some had bounced around the world. Others grew up and lived in the same area where their family had lived for five generations.

I found that ophthalmologists tend to excel in things other than medicine. They excel in sports, the arts, and academics. Many of them love to take part in outdoor activities – hunting, fishing, playing sports – and many love aviation.

Each of the ophthalmologists had influence. They may have made a significant contribution to ophthalmology by inventing something, starting a hospital or clinic, or creating a non-profit organization to fight a type of cancer. They may have been a missionary overseas for several decades and made an impact on a community in an underserved area of the world. They may have served their country in the military. They may have taught a Bible study for 60 years or volunteered in the community. Of course, they all had influence in their families.

Some of the phrases or words used to describe these men and women were:

“Timelessly served…”
“He was a gentle gentleman…always put others first”
“Innovative”
“Caring”
“Compassionate”
“Always helping others”
“Used training to help others”
“Tutored children for years”
“Loved to engage in discussion on the fine points of the Christian life…”
“Well known for his kind and gentle spirit, humor, and love of God”
“Serious, adventuresome, avid reader, religious, intense, charitable, moral and ethical, a Renaissance man with a constant thirst for knowledge.”
“He was a selfless, loving and righteous man. He was extremely compassionate, patient, humble and gentle. ”
One obituary said, “He loved to hear his patients say ‘Wow Doc, I can see!’”

I know these doctors weren’t perfect and people typically say nice things at funerals, but these men and women had something in them that was good…It appears that they had a desire “to live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing him in every way” (Col 1:10).

How does that happen? What propelled these doctors to live the type of life that could be described as caring, compassionate, and giving,…reflecting the character of Jesus?

It got me thinking about Paul’s prayer for the Colossians. Maybe the four things Paul prayed for the Colossians shaped the lives and propelled those doctors to live the way they did – knowledge, wisdom, endurance and patience.

We are born ignorant. We need to grow in the knowledge that Paul is praying for - knowledge of God. It does not come naturally. How would you define this type of knowledge? A friend of mine shared with me something that has helped me: Knowledge is the understanding that there is a larger story unfolding of which I am a part. It is a story that contains many chapters, many of which are difficult. But it is a story that will end well. And my story fits within this larger story. I believe Paul is praying for the Colossians (and us) to understand this important truth. We are part of something grand no matter how it may appear at any given moment.

Then Paul prays for wisdom. Again, we aren’t born with wisdom. As one has said, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child." Foolishness must be driven out or it simply gets rearranged as we get older. What is biblical wisdom? In light of the above definition for knowledge here is my understanding of wisdom: learning how to navigate the choppy and unchartered waters of the larger story in a way that promotes not my story but the story of God…who He is, while accepting who I am.

If we contrasted these definitions with their opposites…ignorance and foolishness…the ignorant would say, “There is no story other than mine. My commitment is to see to it that my story takes center stage. Or, if there is another story, it takes a back seat to mine.” The foolish would say, “I’ll arrange how I live and relate so that my interests are always central…mostly in subtle ways. I will care about you only as it compliments my personal agenda.”

So, it appears that to be mature, we will need to combat ignorance and foolishness with knowledge and wisdom. Combat knowing…and this is really important to grapple with… ignorance and foolishness often masquerades as knowledge and wisdom. And it can happen subtly (In our thinking and in our churches.).

As Paul continues to pray in chapter one, two more things top his agenda. They are found in verse 11. He prays that these people will have both great endurance and patience. They go hand in hand. We will need to endure for it is a long haul, and we will need patience for this same reason. We will need patience with God because often it seems He is not moving fast enough in me, my children, or in our world. We will need patience with others since it appears people change little or, at best, too slowly. And, we will need patience with our judgmental selves and the lack of progress we are making if we are honest. Patience and perseverance. Perseverance and patience.

The journey of faith is a long one. Sometimes reading obituaries along the way can help us. We need the help of each other, living or dead, to get back on the road while also helping each other from taking shortcuts. Hopefully at the end, we will hear God say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”“

Let’s join Paul in laboring for one another.