Editorial February 12, 2018 Issue

A joyous, empowering standard of care

Kim Crooks Korinek

The scene I saw when walking past a patient’s room looked simply beautiful. Sunlight was streaming into the room and shining on the Christian Science nurse as she helped someone with their dinner. Her face looked calm and satisfied, as if there was no other place she would rather be. Her long experience of caring for many who had turned to Christian Science for healing brought out her fearlessness and seasoned expectation for healing. The atmosphere was peaceful, buoyant.

Who wouldn’t want an atmosphere of such care surrounding them in any situation? Or to help others with such unselfed love and attentive care when they have a need? This is the standard of care Christ Jesus taught his disciples before his crucifixion as he washed their feet—much to their astonishment. Jesus was deliberate and humble, serving as an example by which the disciples could learn how to carry on Christ’s mission of healing and saving mankind by serving and caring for one another.

However, Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, could not bear to see his Master doing such a lowly thing. He refused to have his feet washed. But Jesus rebuked him, saying: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (John 13:8). Then Peter swung the other way and asked that Jesus wash not just his feet, but his hands and his head. But Peter’s love may have lacked humility and hinted at the worldly pride that would later need to be expunged. Humility is needed if we are to take part in Christ’s mission. We have nothing but pride and worldliness to lose as we follow Christ’s example of living and giving true care and service to one another. And we have all to gain in spiritual growth, grace, and compassion.

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Bible Lens—February 12–18, 2018