Sculpting His Dream

    I was watching a movie today about a military doctor who was assigned a patient with severe dental and lip deformities, as a result of a terrible automobile accident. The surgeon took extraordinary measures to assist his patient, and spent multiplied hours planning the initial and subsequent operations that would be necessary to correct her deformities. Never in his life had the physician devoted such caring effort or taken his responsibility so much to heart.

    And though his patient was gruesome to behold, and though her injuries were the worst he’d ever seen, he painstakingly went about his task. And for those several months and years he assumed a duel role; that of physician and prophet. For he could see the invisible as though it were visible. And that energized him during periods of his own disappointment and his patient’s disbelief.

     Oh, yes, the little patient often lashed out at him, wavering between despondency, anxiety, discouragement and outright rage. Sometimes his patient’s immaturity surprised the doctor, and he could only shake his head. But nothing deterred him from his task, and over many months, and years he performed countless surgeries, and with each operation his Dream took shape. For with each operation his young client seemed more confident about the ultimate result.

     The surgeon was doing the kind of breakthrough, innovative work that have never been attempted, and his associates and friends were often skeptical of the final outcome. More than once someone accused him of “playing God." Their remarks were critical and cynical in tone, but the physician chose to regard them as compliments.

      But our little heroine’s injuries became less and less obvious, less hideous to those who beheld her. And with time the results of her unfortunate accident were almost imperceptible, until all that was left was a slight scar on one edge of her recreated lips. And her joy, and the reciprocal joy of her surgeon overflowed, and seemed to fill up the world around them.

     Well, my readers, the young patient determined to give back something of what she had received, and she began to impact one here, and bless one there. And I think I forgot to tell you. Before her injury, this little lady had been a nurse. She returned to her duties with more vigor and more enthusiasm than she’d ever felt before. For having once been a patient, she could empathize far beyond the theoretical. Dream had taken on reality. Fog had taken on flesh.

     We have been given a rare opportunity; an opportunity to play both Physician and Prophet. Physician and Prophet to those who languish without hope in this world.

     There are those in our midst who will never excel, nor attempt to do so. There are those in our company who will be content to squander their God-given hopes and dreams. There are those who will make the cemetery richer, for all the unfulfilled or unfinished Dreams that lie dormant in their dead bosoms.

     So my message to you is to look for That One; That One Person among many who displays the kind of unexplored, just under the surface potential to be singular, to be great, to be used of Our Lord. Look for that man or woman who can be shaped, molded, impacted; for the one who, though sick or sad or even a bit selfish, has a pliable and contrite spirit and who is marginally and increasingly ready to assume their God-given place on the earth.

     Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty is a verse: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teaming shore. Send these the homeless tempest tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

    Our mission is to people like that. The tired, the poor, the huddles masses, the wretched refuse, the homeless. And we have been given a Lamp to light their pathway. And we offer them a Golden Door; a door that leads to freedom.

    But many will refuse our comfort, and many will drift away. But if we can touch just one at a time. If we can make a difference in one life at a time. We may not be able to change the world, but we may be able to change the world of One person.

     Pour your efforts into all; everyone who seeks ministry, who seeks help, who pleads for deliverance. Do this. Do this.

     But look for That One; That One who seems to provoke you to do a little more. That One who not only needs a little more attention, but who, by words or actions, places themselves in your hands and bids you mold them into something lovely. Look for That One. Give your best efforts to That One.

      For you are both a Physician and a Prophet. So reminiscent of that doctor who bestowed his best labor on the little patient. God bids you pour healing suave in their wounds. He gives you Dreams in the night on their behalf, and provokes you to see the invisible and impossible.

     Someone, a very dear Someone once looked intently at me and said, “You must have seen something in me”. And I responded, “Indeed I did." Another precious Someone once mused, “You almost sent me away” and I replied, “I’m so glad I didn’t."

     One dear lady, a former client and now a co-laborer, said something recently that will always remain with me… “You’re the one. You inspired me to Dream my Dream." I paused a moment, and I could not speak. For her thanks came as a result all the intense time and effort I’d bestowed upon her, over the course of many years. Such momentary interactions must come directly from heaven for they inspire us to higher and more noble pursuits.

    Dr. James Dobson, whom I have met, and spoken with, told a story on his radio program that is so poignant and has such a clear message for Dreamers. He related having won a regional trophy in tennis while a student a particular California University. The award was placed in the school trophy case, and Jim remained proud of his accomplishment, even after he graduated and started a family. For all he knew it was still there.

    However, one day he got a package in the mail, and he noticed a friend’s return address. He hurried to open it, and to his surprise found a tattered, careworn, old trophy inside. It was his, for it bore his name. A large crack had been repaired, and a note accompanied the article.

     “Dear Jim, I was jogging near our old campus the other day, and as I passed by a dumpster, a gleam caught my eye. I stopped and looked into the trash, and I recognized an old, broken trophy. I was surprised to see you name on it, and I retrieved it and had it repaired. Thought you’d want it."

     Well, the great man was abashed. His trophy had been thrown out with the trash! Dr. Dobson ended his broadcast that day with… “Life has a way of trashing your trophies!"

     Our Dreams must be about Eternal Trophies; the kind that last. Sunday morning is a special time for me, for it gives me the opportunity to gaze across our local congregation. On pew after pew sit people I’ve influenced, for good and for God. But it’s not about me. It’s about the opportunity to influence. I’m so grateful to have touched these precious lives. And one day I will bend the knee before the throne of God, and happily lay my Trophies at the feet of Jesus.

    We must diligently trade the good for the best. And honestly it’s no tradeoff. Jim Elliott once said, “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim was a pioneer Dreamer. He was among a group of five missionaries and their wives who went looking for “One’s." During the 1950’s these dedicated pioneers were determined to reach a small group of Indians known as Aucas in Ecuador.

     Nate Saint, the missionary pilot, flew over the Indian village for days on end. Various gifts such as beads and Bowie knives were dropped from the plane. The excited villagers scooped them up, and the Americans’ hope was renewed on a daily basis. They determined to visit the villagers. Nate landed the light aircraft on a sand bar and The Five awaited the arrival of “their friends." Their meeting was not long in coming.

     It’s all history now, and we know the end from the beginning, but it was anything but the mundane stuff of history to the missionary wives. For all contact was lost, and the radio receiver only crackled with static.

      A rescue plane was sent out, and the truth became clear. Several bodies were seen on the sand bar and on the river bank. On closer examination, the pilot recognized the bodies as those of white men. History would reveal that all five missionaries were murdered, without ever having gotten to the Indian village.

     That might have been the end of the story. For lesser men (or women) it would have been. But these were no “light weights." Elizabeth Elliott, Jim’s wife, was determined to make contact with “These Ones." She was determined that Jim not have died in vain. Betty Elliott began to study the Auca language; tutored by a former Auca village woman. Through a series of interventions and maneuvers she made her way into the lives of these very misunderstood Indians. Ultimately, the Auca tribe accepted her, and she devoted years of her life to this small group of forest dwellers.

      Time would make it clear that the villagers struck down the missionaries out of fear. Elizabeth and the tribe developed a great love for one another, and this lone woman changed their lives dramatically. And the rest of the story? The village chieftain gave his life to Christ! The very man who ordered the death of Betty’s husband was saved under her ministry. But that is not all… This fierce and stubborn man became a Christian minister! This One was worth it all. This One went on to influence many others.

    Only Eternity will reveal how many hard-won Trophies were rescued out of Ecuador’s dark jungle so many years ago.

    Where are you investing your Best Efforts? Are you earning trophies or are you salvaging Trophies?

 

(By William McDonald, PhD. "A Dream Book", Chapter 3)