Transformers!

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness 2 Cor 3:18

Ever had someone say:

• Turn that frown upside down!
• Think happy thoughts…
• It could be worse…
• You’ll get over it…
• It takes more muscles to frown than to smile!
• Time heals all hurts…
• Don’t worry; there are more fish in the sea…

Each of those has been offered to you during some moment of despair, discouragement or disappointment. You might have heard them enough that you offer them to others…the kids, associates, patients, even strangers!

Do you recall hearing these well intended words and feeling that they didn’t quite reach your hurt, or pain? No matter how hard you tried to turn that frown upside down, it just wasn’t working.

I recall being dumped by a girl I really liked and hearing Dad say, “Don’t worry, there are more fish in the sea!” I can still hear my reply, “I know that but I don’t want any fish, I want that one!” With time indeed my hurt subsided with hopeful thoughts, but did not go away until it was transformed by a new experience.

Transformation is what you seek each day for those in your life and in your care. Transformation that comes through a new reality, either experienced in the moment or experienced in a different, new way of thinking and seeing life.

Easter is the time of transformation. Not only do you see it in nature with greening of the grass, budding trees and blossoming flowers, you can also see it spiritually. The journey to the Cross has been transformed in Resurrection. The dark night has been shattered by the lightning of Resurrection; the gray thoughts of despair have become rainbows of vivid color. Even the darkness of death is transformed with newness of life.

So how do you help transformation happen? It starts with a hope that transcends the present moment by having confidence and trust that the future, whatever it may hold will be good, because God, who holds all the future in the palm of His hand, is good.

You are in the daily ministry of transformation, physically, relationally and spiritually.

May God bless you as you bless others!

Much more than medicine indeed!

Peter

Peter Bath D.Min.
VP Spiritual Wellness and Human Development
Shawnee Mission Medical Center