Last Friday morning, I awoke with a tremendous shooting pain in my lower back. I did nothing particularly strenuous on Thursday, and to this day, I can think of nothing that would have caused such agony. I had to walk around the house at a 45 degree angle; the only way I could find comfort was to twist myself into a pretzel and sit down. I tried heating/cooling pads. I tried a medicated patch. I tried…I mean, I attempted stretching. Nothing provided me any relief.
I endured the weekend, and by Monday morning, the sharp pain had reduced to a manageable pain. I was still unable to walk without major discomfort. I have never been to a chiropractor in my life. I have never had the desire to think more than 5 seconds about seeing a chiropractor. I can be too stubborn for my own good, and I’m naturally a skeptic (ironic, I know). The discomfort in my back was so frustrating that I was willing to try anything, so I reluctantly scheduled an appointment with a chiropractor.
On Monday afternoon, I walked into this establishment; I instantly noticed the modern aesthetic. The receptionist’s desk was this gargantuan, monolithic rectangle; it would have been more useful as a lunchroom table than a clipboard holder. The slate grey walls were soothing and relaxing. I was greeted by the receptionist who delivered a regimented phrase that lasted far longer than necessary for an opening statement.
I waited 20 minutes past my scheduled appointment time and was then asked by the receptionist, “So, what brings you in here today”? I explained that I had severe pain over the weekend and I had major discomfort in walking. The regiment continued. It was explained to me that when they have new “members” (peculiar phraseology for a chiropractor practice), they begin the first session by giving a walking tour of the facility. I held a blank stare. I was prompted to stand and follow the receptionist to begin the tour. The regiment continued. After we made it halfway down the main hallway, we stopped to gaze upon the “history wall” (two black and white photographs that depicted the pioneers of chiropractic care). Before we could continue the tour, I softly remarked, “No offense, but I really do have discomfort walking; I’d prefer to sit and wait for the doctor”. The receptionist responded with “I understand. This is just something that we do”. The regiment continued. I was then taken to the room where I believed I would wait for the chiropractor to arrive.
After 5 more minutes of waiting alone, the receptionist came into the room holding a skeletal model of a spinal column. She explained that they believe good chiropractic care involves making the “members” more knowledgeable about the human spine. The regiment continued. I don’t remember a single fact from the ten minute crash course on the human spine. I was asked if I had experienced any injuries or been involved in a traumatic event, such as a car crash. I revealed that I had been in two minor car accidents in the past two years, but sustained no injuries in either. She gasped. I was immediately prompted to stand, where I did a series of bends and poses involving my neck. “Are you sure that you don’t have pain in your neck”? “Yes, I’m sure”. “It looks like you are in pain when you look up. That could be caused from your neck”. “Yes, but it’s my lower back. It hurts to be standing up straight like this”.
“What I’m going to do now is use this (insert the name for a tool that I do no recall) to locate any temperature changes. This might show where the pain is originating”.
“Okay”, I said, trying to maintain composure.
“Your lower back is glowing red. Looks like you might have some issue there”.
“Yes, that’s what I said. My lower back hurts”.
“Okay, just a few more minutes and she’ll be in”.
Finally, the chiropractor arrived and within moments, I heard, “Your paperwork says you were involved in two car accidents. I’d like to get some x-rays performed to see if you’ve got something going on with your neck”.
“Ma’am, it’s my lower back. I’m barely able to stand up and walk. My neck feels fine”.
“Well, I don’t like to do anything until I can get some x-rays to see what I’m working with. We here at (clinic that shall not be named) believe that problems arise ‘top to bottom, inside out’ (meaning neck to lower back, from the inner spine to out) and I would hate to aggravate an old injury in your neck”.
The regiment continued.
“Ma’am, I have zero pain in my neck”. And that’s when I heard the unthinkable.
“Well, you can have pain and not even know it”.
Ahem. Hello, Merriam-Webster.
Pain. Noun. A localized or generalized unpleasant bodily sensation or complex of sensations that causes mild to severe physical discomfort and emotional distress and typically results from bodily disorder (such as injury or disease)
In other words, no, you cannot have “pain” and “not even know it”. Perhaps she meant to say “injury”. Regardless, I was done. I politely said “So, I’m going to go ahead and head out. I appreciate your time, but this is just not a good fit”. I reluctantly paid the receptionist and left in what might be the most awkward “goodbye” in my life. I was heading home with no answers, no help, and no possible solution. I was more skeptical of chiropractors than ever before and felt I had been scammed.
The following day, I took the advice of several others who had recommended Davee Gerrard in Pelzer, SC. I couldn’t believe I was about to go see another chiropractor given what had taken place the day before. I made an appointment, arrived, and waited approximately 30 seconds before Davee introduced herself. She listened to everything that I was dealing with. She intently listened as I described the pain I was experiencing in my lower back. She listened as I explained the difficulty of walking. She gave me enough information that I could absorb and manage to understand, and within five minutes, I was lying on a table being adjusted.
Did I immediately feel 100% better? No. However, I did notice some immediate relief. Best of all, I was able to walk a little better. For the next several days, I noticed that I got out of bed much easier than the day before. Davee put me on track to feeling better and it was because she took the time to listen, provide answers, and help me. Within a week, I was back to normal.
She removed the negative feelings I once had about chiropractors and I will continue to make appointments with Davee when I need to.
I realize that was a lot to try and illustrate a point, but we have a lot to learn from that kind of experience! For decades, the American church has read “Go and make disciples of all nations” and responded by only inviting others to church. While that is a good practice that should continue, making disciples also means that we meet people where they are, with patience and willingness to know that person as created in God’s image.
It also means that as we meet people where they are, we also take the time to listen. We ask questions. We both press, and remain silent, at the appropriate times.
When Jesus called James and John to follow Him, He met them while they were fishing. He met the Samaritan woman at a well. When Zacchaeus couldn’t see over the crowd, Jesus invited Himself into his house (and remember, the crowd groaned that Jesus was going to spend time with a sinner). When Jesus called Matthew, he was sitting at a tax booth. Shortly after, Jesus was in that tax collector’s house, surrounded by other tax collectors, sharing a meal together.
Jesus rarely opened conversations with declarative statements; He typically saved those until He could first ask a round of thought-provoking questions. When He taught, He used real circumstances that many people could associate with. He met the real needs of people. He discussed the real issues that many people faced in order to teach about the truths of God.
One of my favorite interactions of Jesus is found in John 5:1-17:
1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus *said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” 11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
A few things stick out to me about this interaction:
Jesus first inquired about the man (V. 6)
Jesus listened to the needs of the man (V. 7)
Jesus addressed spiritual needs later, after the initial physical healing (V. 14)
Jesus focused on the heavenly works from the Father over man-made tradition (V. 17)
Inviting people to church is good, but it doesn’t make disciples.
Having a cutting-edge presentation is good, but it doesn’t make disciples.
Handing out a tract is good, but where is the discipleship?
Discipleship takes time and patience, but most importantly, it requires that we look into the eyes of another person, and realize that they are created in the image of God. We listen to others, not out of duty, but out of sincerity. We tend to them, not out of obligation, but with compassion. We speak the truth to them, not to win an argument, but in the hopes of continued discipleship; that as we follow Christ, we are bringing them along with us, to introduce them to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.
If we attempt to win over people with an aesthetic, they will become disciples of that aesthetic…
…but if we show them Christ, teach them Christ, and let them experience the love of Christ who is working in us, then we make disciples of Christ.