There was a man who went to his doctor for his annual check-up—to pacify his wife, who was a worrier. Waiting for test results, he fidgeted, bored, and was eager to get back to his desk for more important matters. Then he was called in to the doctor’s office for his report and be on his way. However, to his surprise, the doctor handed him a referral slip to a specialist in a huge hospital in a town some miles away.
Grumbling at further intrusion on his day -- indeed his week, he insisted he felt fine and refused to follow up. Huffing irritably, he went on his way. If he hurried, he’d have time to pick up coffee and a couple of Danish and still make his next appointment. Enough time wasted pleasing his wife. He’d risk a little heartburn, just a little snack to celebrate. Maybe his wife would relent on her health campaign and stop hovering, now that he’d seen the doctor.
A voicemail arrived from the doctor. He deleted it. A couple of days later a note arrived in the mail. He discarded it. He was fine; he’d know if he had a problem. He didn’t need someone telling him how to live. He was capable of taking care of himself; he wasn’t one of those weaklings who leaned on someone else. He preferred to look out for himself, period.
Perhaps you’ve heard this story or can guess his outcome.
Or perhaps it sounds familiar because someone in your life has been placing church bulletins under your nose, leaving you telephone messages from some friend in her church, hinting about some destructive habit, something that could endanger your life, a bad example they say could lead your children astray or land you in trouble if you don’t seek help.
What if they are right?
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