Thu 14 Feb 2008
Natural Selection
Posted by Jane under Updates
[6] Comments
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a conversation I had with a casual acquaintance some months back. We were discussing the great lengths that Ramona’s medical team has gone to in order to preserve her life. She inquired about the medical bills and I confessed that I sometimes wonder what God would think about using so many resources to save one child when those resources could probably save thousands in other parts of the world. She remarked, “Yeah, whatever happened to survival of the fittest?” I was troubled by this comment and filed it away in my Weird-Stuff-People-Say folder.
Of course I struggle with the medical ethics issues that have deepened as the technology and care for very sick children has improved. But I had never considered that someone, especially God, might deem Ramona “unfit”.
A friend of mine with a severely disabled niece told me once that the the first question people often ask when they learn of her disability is “Will she be able to live on her own?”. The implication is that being independent and self-sufficient is the highest measure of “fitness” and success in the world. So, I’ve been wondering, what makes us fit to be here? How do we decide who has a place and a purpose in this world?
I don’t believe God only intends for the fit, the perfect to make up His kingdom. None of us is perfect, we live in a fallen world where we all fall short. I believe God treasures us all, created us all in His image. I believe God made Ramona just how He meant to and then made a way for her life-saving care. I believe her life, no matter how long or how short it will be, has a purpose in Him. I believe we are all in the palm of His hand.
I know this is an over-simplification. I know not everyone has the luxury we have in this country of caring for the sick and disabled with such dignity. I know that illnesses like AIDS have crippled entire nations. Why God has intervened on Ramona’s behalf and not on behalf of so many others I will never understand.
But I am thankful. I am humbled and grateful. I have decided that for today, my humility will not be a sacrifice of my pride or take me “down a notch”. It will be a simple admission of the truth. That we are all dependent on God. That our dependence does not diminish our worthiness or purpose, it enhances it. That what we’re worth in this world should be measured through the eyes of God and not in terms of dollars and cents or evolutionary imperatives.
I welcome your thoughts on this subject. The wise counsel I hear in your comments is always a challenge and a comfort to me.
Love, Jane.
I sometimes imagine God coaxing and encouraging mankind through the centuries as we try in various ways to understand the world around us. We will always make great sacrifices at the leading edge of all human endeavors, so that we can see what’s next. In that context, Ramona is as much a gift to the medical community as she is to her parents. She came at just the right time for her surgeons to push the envelope. Someday, as cutting-edge technologies and techniques become more common, life-saving surgeries like the ones Ramona has received will not cost the resources they do now.
God told Paul that in his weakness, he is made strong through Christ – spiritually, physically and mentally. We are all “unfit” this side of heaven except for the wondrous work of the cross, Christ’s sacrifice to present us as “fit” before our Holy God through faith. In that gift alone, we utterly dependent and have LIFE in Christ alone.
God’s hands touch all across all nations, whether we see it as intervening, allowing or causing, it all falls under His divine Omniscience and Providence. His grace, love and mercy are all unfathomable to us.
I don’t think your summation was at all simplistic Jane. God created Ramona Mae and she belongs to Him and God willing, one day will be able to recieve Him herself. You and your family have not made decisions, choices or used extreme resources to keep Ramona Mae alive – you simply do not have that much power. God alone makes that decision.
And Andy, Amen – God’s timing is perfect. There is no such thing as chance.
With much love for the whole family,
Jackie
I’ve been thinking about your ponderings here. I like Andy’s perspective, that Ramona is helping doctors to learn and treat people in the future with conditions like hers. I think having medical resources like we do here in the U.S. is a way that God’s kingdom is becoming a bit more real here. And wouldn’t it be awesome for such medical resources to be available everywhere? Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Ramona’s life has played out just as it is supposed to because (as stated above) God’s timing is perfect. Why Ramona? Who knows, we as humans don’t. God knows, though, and we have to trust in His plan.
Jane:
Karen and I talked your post over this morning and a couple of interesting thoughts came out.
It seems as if you are questioning whether it’s all “worth it”. The economic cost, the emotional cost, the cost to the community. Does she belong or is she taking too much more than she has to offer.
It is amazing how people can be motivated to sacrifice and commit scarce resources to rescue someone from a difficult situation. Yet, without that crisis those resources wouldn’t be given to someone else in need. It’s the personal connection with Ramona that motivates many to give, and we need to give of ourselves, our prayers, our time and groceries… Ramona and your family received our care, but we received connection and humility, and experienced grace. We value that community more than what it cost us.
There’s also the very personal perspective, she’s yours. It doesn’t matter how anyone else values Ramona, you do. No one can judge your love for and connection with her, you are her mother. She is of infinite worth to you.
The medical technology gives us options. We can choose to extend life, when other people don’t have that option. Having the option makes us feel like our choices have power, like we are responsible for the outcome of those choices. But that’s a false conclusion. God is still in control. We make the best choices we can, just like we do with all the decisions in life. We can make great choices and still die in an accident or we can smoke, drink and never exercise and live into our 80’s.
Ramona has a place in your heart, and in our community. She gives more than she takes, like any child does. I’m glad to know her, and wouldn’t want anything to be different with her.
Don’t know if that’s what you were looking for, but it created interesting discussions in our house this morning…
Brad
I like what Brad said, especially the part about how if Ramona and your family didn’t have this need, most of us wouldn’t instead put our resources toward helping someone we don’t know. The personal connection is really important, and it helps us all to grow to be more like Jesus.
Good thoughts, Brad.