Sorry for my absence recently. I was on the island of Maui keeping up on my required CME (Continuing Medical Education). Maui wasn’t required but the education was.

One physician presenter spoke of Carl Rogers–apparently a famed Psychologist, who listed three requirements for being a good physician and truly helping those patients who seek you out for care. These requirements were genuinity (I couldn’t find that word in the dictionary but we know what he meant), empathy, and unconditional positive regard.

I immediately had to agree, as these were the same words of wisdom I had learned from the Bible. Romans 12:3 “…Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…” (genuinity, recognizing that I am no better than the patient)

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (empathy and compassion, actually trying to understand what the patient is suffering and putting myself into their shoes)

And 1Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (unconditional positive  regard, remembering that each patient is created in the image of God and is personally loved by God just as He loves me)  

I went all the way to Hawaii to be reminded of these great truths. Sorry you had to just read it from me.