Focus on the Gifts

By Sharon Gorman, D.C.

“When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out God is all you need.”

I hate when life doesn’t turn out the way that I think it should. I’ve been there and every time it gets really challenging I get desperate enough to call on God and there he is. Sometimes it is hard to know if he is really there when I lean on him. Sometimes I forget that prayers are only wishes if I don’t follow through with action. What is the right action?

When things get tough I turn to God for strength. I turn to God so that I don’t feel so alone. I turn to God because it makes me feel safe. I sometimes forget to turn to God and consult with him when things are good but I often don’t forget when I am being challenged. Maybe I wouldn’t have such tough challenges if I stayed more connected to his will for me. Praying only when life hurts is sort of like getting adjusted only when I am in pain. I’ve heard it said many times that chiropractic unites man the physical with man the spiritual. Medicine is physical. Religion is spiritual (sometimes). The chiropractic adjustment re-connects us by opening up the life channels so God can be expressed in our bodies.

As a chiropractor my job is so simple in that I don’t have to be responsible for the patient becoming asymptomatic. I am responsible to clear the patient so that their life’s force can be conducted and so that their body can heal itself, if it is able. I don’t take credit for when the patient gets “better” because if I do than I also have to take “credit” for when they doesn’t “feel” better. Sometimes that is tough for me because I want to control things in life including my patients symptoms. I have become an expert at locating and removing subluxations and that is my responsibility as a chiropractor. I also have become a master in communicating. I expect the patient to retain the responsibility for their body (anything else would be an illusion). I need to explain to them with all the passion and evidence that I can muster that it is vital for them to value that service for a lifetime. I want to be their chiropractor not just when they are hurting (yes, I believe that I need to be there for them then too) but just as importantly I need to be there for their continues health and aliveness.

I often joke with the patients that “I might be white and flaky but I’m no aspirin,” and even after saying that and a lot more during my weekly new patient orientation and my ongoing table talk sometimes they still choose to try to treat me like an aspirin. Early in practice I used to blow them out of my office if they wouldn’t do it my way. Some people think that is the best way to go. More recently for me I have been able to accept them where they are at. If I blow them out then they are gone. If I keep them around then I have more chances to turn them into the kind of patient that I would hope they would be.

I guess I softened a bit since I have children. I have learned to love unconditionally. That is how I’ve grown to love my patients too. I can’t seem to turn them away if God sent them my way. I accept all patients regardless of their physical condition and their ability to pay. I don’t even let what I perceive as ignorance to get in my way either. I can’t afford to judge anymore. I have lost too many years trying to decide if a patient qualifies for my love or even if another chiropractor measures up to what I think should be. I see it as my job to just stay in a state of peace and love. I know that sounds corny but it sure beats the alternative. I don’t think God judges and so if he doesn’t bother judging than maybe I don’t need to either.

When I am judging others than I am obviously not dealing with my own stuff which is all I can really change – myself. I need to mind my own business and live my life as an example and let others judge themselves if they would like. I try to make my life and my practice so attractive so that people want to be around me and my methods. I don’t need to put anyone else down to make myself feel better. I need to focus on staying connected and living God’s will for me. I am very grateful and I focus on the gifts.

– – – – – – – – – –
NEW AUDIO THIS WEEK FROM FOCUS!
Listen to a 36 minute intro to the Focus Philosophy Weekend featuring Sharon Gorman available NOW on our multimedia page.
Audio is available in Windows ASF and MP3 format. We’d like your feedback. These files are large but the recordings are all digital. We’d like to know…
Can you download them?
Should we increase the volume?
Would you want the Mp3’s on CD?

Here is your link… (look for the rotating “new” icon)