I was led to an examination room and found myself sitting at the end of a cold, clinical table. I felt angry, impatient, and somewhat fragile in the insubstantial cotton robe.
There was a quick knock at the door, and the doctor breezed in with the nurse behind him. “Mrs. Davis!” he exclaimed, giving me a quick hug around the shoulder, “It’s been a while. How are you?” I was taken back by his tenderness and his hug, but still a little miffed, mind you.
But there was his face, smiling, encouraging me to speak.
“I’m fine.” I finally stuttered.
“Well, what can we do for you today?” he asked.
“Just a physical?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Just a physical.”
By replanning our lives around his values we can learn that “hurry sickness” is not meant to be our inevitable end. We can live peacefully and in harmony with God’s purposes. (Dr. Archibald Hart)
The Time of Your Life After I had endured the poking and prodding that always accompany a physical, he stood to leave and gave me another friendly hug.
And as he left the room I realized I was smiling. Not because he gave me what I thought I wanted, which was my lost time back—or an apology for taking it away, but because he saw me as I was, arms folded and impatient, and gave me what I really needed, which was a physician’s healing touch.
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