The Great Flood & Great Coffee

Last week our church building had a terrible, no good, very bad day.  A 4' inch water line froze in the wake of record-setting temperatures of negative double digit air temperature with wind chills of -40F.  Thankfully it set off the alarm at the church and one of our church's leaders found water gushing into our fellowship hall.  Because of the location of the burst pipe and a comedy of other errors, the pipe ran for 5-6 hours dumping an estimated 300,000 gallons of water into our church building.  Needless to say, the damage was extensive with a water line on the walls a foot off the floor. 

Water in auditorium

 

We don't know the extent of the damage as all of that continues to be worked out.  In the meantime, our church called an audible and moved a few hundred yards west to the campus of Rochester College where we met in their theater. It was much tighter, required much more patience in order to get in and out of the building, and at least in my opinion was an absolutely wonderful morning.

Too often our routines dictate our lives and to be honest, they make lousy masters.  Our dayplanners and calendars are a myriad of appointments that boss us around often robbing us of the creativity, spontaneity, and energy that give our lives purpose and meaning.  Church is no exception. Often times we sit in the same places, have the same conversations with the same people, and go through the motions. Today was not one of those days. People were forced out of their comfort zones and into a place where new possibilities and opportunities are possible.  In fact, God seems to do some of his best work when his people are away from their preferred locations - wandering in the desert, exiled as captives to a hostile nation, etc. For those willing to listen, God may just show up with reminder that His work - proclaiming his kingdom, loving your neighbor, offering a cup of cold water - is no more tied to a building than he is. His mission and his calling remain.

One of the ways we were reminded of his mission today (and one of the huge perks of meeting on a college campus) was that next door to the meeting hall is Kibo Corner, a coffee shop with outstanding coffee staffed by some of our church members whose profits support Kibo Group International, a nonprofit based in Uganda that works in community development and drilling of wells to provide much needed water. Today, all proceeds from Kibo Corner and from a bake sale (with ridiculously good sweets) went to Kibo Group to help support a couple in our church who are moving to Uganda to lead this organization. And yet, a displaced church was able to raise $3,300 to help support this couple! :) Who knows what is possible when we allow God to interrupt our routines and remind us of his mission? And sometimes he seems to prefer using small things like coffee and cookies rather than large buildings and organizations.






** Of note, we do not typically offer our three boys cupcakes and cookies before church. Today was the exception! And yes the boys were wired! :)

Conversations ~ Liberation Theology & Medicine via "In the Company of the Poor" (Fr. Gutierrez & Paul Farmer)

 

Liberation theology and medicine may seem like strange partners (at least I thought so initially). The former, a movement begun among the poor of central and South America asserts that theology is best discussed from the perspective of the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed rather than the traditional perspective of theologians perched in ivory towers with textbooks. The latter, a well-respected profession devoted to caring for the sick and hurting with a rich history of scientific advancements that have improved the quality of life for literally billions of people.

My theological journey reflects very little exposure to liberation theology. To me, it is a relatively new and yet incredibly challenging theological voice concerned less with systematic organization of theological concepts and more with discerning what it means to serve a God who consistently chooses to act on behalf of the oppressed. As someone who has grown up in a Christian family in the United States, any time I have reflected on matters of spirituality or theology, I have always done so from a place of privilege. I have never once wondered where my next meal will come from or struggled to survive and for that I am incredibly thankful. However, that is not the case for hundreds of millions of others. Theology sounds different coming from a person in dire poverty on the margins of society than someone in a place of power and wealth. And yet both the poor, powerless Christian and the rich, powerful Christian sit in a place of equality before God and within his kingdom. To my discredit, I have never taken the time (until recently) to listen to the voices of my brothers and sisters whose perspectives on many issues - God, the church, the economy, justice, politics, etc - are very different from those I am most accustomed to hearing. The book pictured above is one of my first steps toward being a better listener to those who honestly and passionately work toward a world where the poor and powerless are seen and treated as people of great importance.      

The two authors could not be more different. Father Gustavo Gutierrez is Dominican priest in his late 80's from the hills of Peru who wrote one of the 'founding documents' of liberation theology - Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, & Salvation - over 40 years ago. This work would later be a pivotal text in the life of a young Duke college student named Paul Farmer as he struggled through how to respond to the staggering poverty around the world. Farmer would eventually obtain  a medical degree from Harvard, a PhD in anthropology, complete a residency in internal medicine/infectious disease, and found a NGO called Partners in Health (PIH). Dr Farmer has spent the majority of his career working in the most impoverished places on the planet including Haiti, Rwanda, Russia, and Mexico. The motto of PIH is offering a "preferential option for the poor," language taken directly from Gutierrez's work nearly a decade earlier. Gutierrez did not hold an academic position until he was recently offered a position at Notre Dame University. These two men from diverse backgrounds and disciplines forged a friendship that has lasted several decades and in this book offer a dialogue on a topic near and dear to both of them.

Books like this challenge me to ask better questions and to live more faithfully my calling as an orthopedic surgeon. What does the story of the kingdom of God say to the practice of medicine, both stateside and in developing countries? What place do the poor have in both the story of God and how does that decision impact people's attitudes, healthcare policies, and the response of the church? The answers given in the book are their opinions, many of which are incredibly controversial. However, these two men's lives are evidence of their commitment and concern for the 'least of these' in our world. As I read their words, I hear a calling to a life of far more discipline and faithfulness than I have been willing to commit to.  Hint: You may see several subsequent posts on thoughts from this book in the not too distant future as I wrestle with what this means for me. :)

Nelson Mandela: A Legacy of Forgiveness

Nelson Mandela, (1918-2013) is easily one of the most iconic figures of our day. Social media has been flooded with people sharing their thoughts and memories of a man who fought against the racial segregation of South African apartheid. Most remember him fondly while many others have found it necessary to point out his failures as a person and as a leader. Regardless of how people feel, the legacy he will likely be remembered most fondly for will be his choice to respond to his mistreatment and imprisonment with forgiveness and seek a path of reconciliation rather than revenge.  Though he certainly had ample justification for responding with vengeance, he responded with grace. In a world hell-bent on asserting their rights and treating people as they were treated, Mandela's pursuit of reconciliation is a picture of what life in the kingdom of God looks like.

"May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven... Forgive us of our sins as we forgive those who sin against us..." 

I look forward to sharing with my boys about Nelson Mandela and his legacy.

"Forgivness is not forgetting. It's actually remembering - remembering and not using your right to hit back. It's a second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you don't want to repeat what happened."  

                   ~ Quote from Desmond Tutu (African bishop heavily influenced by his friend and fellow Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela)

OTA International Trauma Forum 2013 (Phoenix)

 In September, I was fortunate to attend the Orthopedic Trauma Association's national meeting in Phoenix, AZ to present some research on treating femur fractures in Kenya and Ethiopia. The best part of such meetings is the relationships and connections that are established and strengthened. The meeting was session after session of great information regarding the latest treatment recommendations for patients with fractures.The day before the official meeting, I presented my paper at the International Trauma Forum where surgeons from around the world discussed the best ways to address very difficult surgical problems. However, it wasn't all work. Paul Whiting, pictured below convinced me to go with him to explore the Apache Trail in the Tonto National Forest. I must say...I was impressed!

LtoR: Paul Whiting, Dr Zirkle (Founder of SIGN), Me

Tonto National Forest

I hate politics!

Roosevelt Dam

Beautiful scenery...minus the big guy in the middle and the powerlines!

SIGN Conference 2013 (Richland, WA)

The SIGN conference is easily one of the highlights of my year! A couple months ago in the middle of nowhere central Washington, around 150 orthopedic surgeons from multiple countries gathered together for a decade-long conversation over how to bring about 'equality in fracture care throughout the world.'  SIGN, a surgical implant company that develops implants used in developing settings that are offered free to patients, has the unique ability to bring people together from all geographic corners of the world, varied religions (or lack thereof), multiple languages and cultures, and different levels of training. The SIGN conference is in some ways a return to the very reason that many in the healthcare field chose to become physicians in the first place - taking care of patients! Many of the surgeons at the conference come from developing countries - nations where the average annual income is often less than $2-3 US dollars per day!

Orthopedics here in the United States is heavily influenced by industry, a two-edged sword of resourceful creativity to make surgeries simpler and more effective and also a market-driven, money-making machine that contributes to high healthcare costs. At most national conferences, industry holds a very prominent place and there are swarms of reps trying to sell the latest and greatest invention to anyone with deep pockets. The SIGN conference is different. 150 surgeons from dozens of countries - many of them low income countries - gather together for an international orthopedics conference on improving ways to treat patients with horrific injuries with whatever resources are available. There aren't companies peddling super-expensive gadgets and gizmos - just a bunch of people in the middle of nowhere Washington state devoted to caring for the poorest people on the planet!

Thankful Busy-Ness

We have much to be thankful for in our home! Life with three young boys is the antidote to boredom and keeps us on our toes. Much has happened in our lives that we are grateful for, and I hope to update you on a few of those things with this post. We are certainly blessed!

• Another year older... Garrett turned 7 years old back in July and Bryan turned 4 in late October. We have a 2nd grader, a Kindergartener, and a preschooler in our home. Garrett is doing really well in school and improving leaps and bounds with his reading (something we are thrilled to see). He is doing swimming lessons every week and loves the chance to compete with himself about how far he can jump off the diving board, how long he can stay under water, etc. Luke is loving Kindergarten and his teacher. He is thriving as we expected all while keeping his hilariously vibrant personality. He just finished his first season of Upwards Flag Football and will be happy to tell you about his touchdowns if you ask him :) Bryan is doing preschool 3 days/week and loving school. He officially off the size charts at the doctor's office and itching for his chance to get on the soccer field. Competition is ripe in the Stephens' household. (Oh, and Jenn just turned 32 a week ago too! I'm still in my fourth year of being 29)
• Thanksgiving 2013: We celebrated Thanksgiving this year just as a family here in Michigan for the first time in our marriage. I had to be in town to work so we decided to forego our traditional trip to Elkhorn this year and spend our last Thanksgiving in Michigan here with friends. Unfortunately our plans were torpedoed by a sick little boy but we still had good food and great family time. We really missed Elkhorn but it was still a nice holiday!
• Final Days in Michigan: We can now see the light at the end of this tunnel and it brings with it both exhilaration and grief at the departure that is coming. My final day of residency is June 30, 2014. We will then move to Saint Paul, MN during July so that I can start my fellowship on August 1, 2014. Five years is the longest Jenn and I have been in one place and what a special place this is! Goodbye will not be easy. We are soaking up weekend trips around the city and the region knowing our time is limited.
• Global Medical Missions Conference 2013: Jenn, Bayleigh Laster, and Bethany Laster made the trek to Louisville, KY to stay with our friend Amber Ratliff for the largest medical missions conference in the world! An inspiring weekend with great conversation and big dreams amidst a wonderful community of servants.
• "Bring Samuel Home" - Our dear friend Amber Ratliff (who hosted for the Medical Missions Conference) is adopting a 5 year old boy from China and we have been thrilled to be a part of that journey to bring him home. Her/Their story can be seen at Amber's blog
• Orthopedic Residency: Residency is going really well though incredibly busy! The past few months have included trips to Memphis, TN for a surgical approaches course, Richland, WA for the SIGN Fracture Care International conference, and Phoenix, AZ for the Orthopedic Trauma Association conference. Being in my final year of residency is nice in that I get some degree of choice in what surgeries I participate in. I am learning more and more each day and loving (mostly) it! There are days when I am so ready to be done and others where I get a sudden rush of anxiety about being done so soon. With seven months left, that probably means I'm right where I should be :)
• Unexpected Opportunities: While at some recent conferences, I have had the chance to make connections with other surgeons from around the world. The desire to work in developing countries and offer high quality orthopedic care is gaining more and more traction with various national orthopedic associations. As part of my residency I am required to do three research projects. My project last year dealt with treatment of femur fractures in Ethiopia and Kenya, and I was fortunate to present the project at a couple of conferences. Conversations at those conference have now turned into the opportunity to contribute to a book on orthopedic care in the developing world, a chance I would have never chosen otherwise. My passion is international orthopedics - particularly orthopedics in low resource settings. These chances, along with another research project involving tibia fractures in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Pakistan, have in a sense fallen into my lap! Though it makes for a busy stretch, I am grateful.
• Africa: Jenn and I continue to feel God calling us to be involved on the continent of Africa. We have developed many special friendships there and continue to pray and seek ways to be involved. I am headed to north Africa next month to visit some dear friends and to explore what God is up to there and how we might partner with him in the future. We - as a family - are also planning on spending a significant portion of time in African at the end of my fellowship year in Minnesota before starting work in Tennessee. We would appreciate your prayers as those plans and dreams are worked out over the next year or so.
• Upcoming Trip: Besides my trip to north Africa, Jenn and I are planning to be at the International Healthcare Foundation's Medical Missions Seminar in Fort Worth, TX in mid-January. I will be doing a short presentation on common orthopedic injuries. It will be a good weekend of reconnecting with friends and family

We are certainly blessed! Sorry for the length of the email and I promise future posts will have more pictures. :)

Hope each one of you had a blessed thanksgiving season as well! Blessings...

Will Gray: His Greatest Performance

Last night (Friday, July 26), Will Gray passed away. Will was only 33 years old and yet he leaves behind a legacy of vibrance, passion, and grace that many have marveled over during the past few months. As his wife Angie and her family, Will's parents Johnny & Barbara and extended family, and thousands of friends witnessed his journey with cancer, Will gave perhaps his greatest performance. Gifted with a rare ability to lead from a stage with the world watching, Will chose daily to fight the pain, fear, and hopelessness of a dreaded disease with love, grit, and grace placing his faith in the God who brings life from death, wholeness from brokenness, and hope from despair. And though we grieve Will's death, our tears and broken hearts are not too far removed from the laughter, the smiles, and the joy that permeated every part of Will's life and will continue to live on in the lives of the countless people he touched. Very few people live with a tangible grace and passion that blesses all who encounter them. Even fewer are capable of showing the rest of us how to die with that same tangible grace and unquenchable passion for those things in life which are most important.  Will, from those of us that knew you (and many far greater than I), we join our Father and your Father in proclaiming, "Well Done!!"      

www.GoTeam Gray.com