Doc
Matthew 14:29-30 - Then Peter got
down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw
the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" (NIV)
Some of my earliest memories are of visiting Doctor Wilson's surgery in
Springburn, Glasgow, where I grew up. The outside window had a plain sign
depicting the surgery hours, with two tall glass bottles (one red, the other
blue) at either side. When one walked into the surgery, the air was full of
antiseptic smells, which added a sense of mystery to the whole place.
The waiting room was square, with benches all around the oak-panelled walls. As
one entered, the first question one had to ask was, "Who's last?" You knew then
that it would be your turn to enter the doctor's office directly after whoever
answered. There was no need for tickets or appointments; one just appeared and
waited for one's turn to be seen.
Doctor Wilson was ancient. He had a gentle round face, with steel-rimmed glasses
propped at the end of his nose. He had one of the best smiles I can ever
remember, and he made each of his patients feel very special. He sat next to an
old writing bureau, where he wrote out all his prescriptions using a steel-nibbed
pen, with ink from a bottle.
On the wall above his desk were an eye chart and an old painting depicting a
biblical scene. There was a boat with fishermen on it, dark clouds in the sky,
and fierce waves all around them. A man looked as though he was panicking in the
waves, and he was desperately reaching up to another man, who was standing
serenely above the waves. It was, of course, Peter and Jesus, but what was that
picture doing in my doctor's office?
Years later, I realized that the picture was a symbol of the great work Doctor
Wilson did in our community. He was there to help men, women, and children who
were overwhelmed with sickness and disease, cancer and suffering. As the years
sped by and my mother's debilitating sickness took away her health and sanity,
Doctor Wilson was always there for us, ensuring that my dad and all our family
did not sink into the waters of despair and depression, and that the storms of
insanity and schizophrenia did not overwhelm us.
No matter what we go through today, Christ will be there for us, lifting us up
and helping us out. The storms of this life cannot overcome His power or love.
When we are sinking and we need Him, Christ will be there to offer us His hand.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Saviour of our souls and the One Who delivers us
from despair. Whenever we face trouble or are threatened with turmoil, You are
ready, willing, and able to help us from all that harms us. Be with us today,
and if we experience pressure, stress, or fear, hold out Your hand to us, and
enable us to rise above our troubles. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart traqair@aol.com
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca