Garth Rattray | The hand of God

Fairly recent experiences have encouraged me to comment on ‘the hand of God’. This has nothing to do with esotericism, or the expansive nature of the topic. It has to do with the interpretations and expectations of some people of faith when it comes to the interface of their religious beliefs and their healthcare.

Miss P (not her real initial) has always been a deeply religious lady. Her entire life has been intertwined with her church. Now in her early sixties and hypertensive, she told me that she began experiencing occasional mid/lower chest discomfort. Naturally, I requested that she do a stress echocardiogram. The test began with an ultrasound, then she was put on a treadmill to exercise her heart, then the ultrasound was repeated.

It turned out that the results indicated that she was at high risk of a cardio-vascular event within a year. This was a risk assessment, but it was significant enough for me to refer her to a cardiology service.

Of course, the next obvious step was to have her do a coronary angiogram and perhaps, inserting a small, mesh-like tube (a stent). The procedure begins with the insertion of a catheter (nowadays, using the arm) and up into a place where a contrast medium is injected which will fill the blood vessels that take oxygen to the heart muscle. If a narrowed area is found, it can usually be opened, and a stent would be placed inside the blood vessel to keep it open.

Despite the high risk of an impending catastrophe, Miss P declined any intervention. She came to me for her regular blood pressure check and repeat medications. She happened to mention her decision. Her main reason for declining further investigation and possible intervention was that God will perform a miracle in her life. She fervently believed that, since she has so much faith, God will heal her completely.

DIFFICULT TO TREAD

It was very difficult to tread the line between her religious beliefs and the reality of her situation. How does one go up against such faith, such certainty, and such determination to prove God’s works? I explained that I too believed in miracles, but we never know what plans God has for us. Sometimes God plans for us to go through very unpleasant experiences, not over them, not under them, and not around them. And, as we go through difficult experiences and times, our Heavenly Father is experiencing everything that we experience. God goes through our trials and tribulations with us. The hand of God is holding our hand.

I further explained that the hand of God sometimes works through human hands. In her case, the doctors that want to further investigate and, if necessary, fix her problem. So, the hand of God can be in several places at once. But many people of faith do not see it that way; they are fixated on seeing fantastic miracles and they fail to see the little miracles that are going on around them, through others, every single day.

Eventually, I was able to convince Miss P to allow the hand of God to work through others and I was able to explain where she could access funds to assist with the expensive procedure.

As she was leaving the office, I recalled another situation wherein I gave a talk on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to a church meeting. After about 90 minutes of explaining what NCDs were, of explaining how dangerous they were if untreated, of explaining the importance of knowing their numbers, and fielding questions, one church elder stood boldly and attempted to undo everything that I had said.

HAD FAITH

She announced that she was told that she had high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. But she had faith and so she does not take any medicine, she prays to God instead. She went further by telling the gathering that those who take medications are of little faith and were insulting God. Fortunately, I realised that the pastor, who was revered by the congregation, was a man of deep faith but he took his medication. The entire congregation knew this, and I was able to convince others to ignore her utterances.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I also spoke at several church meetings. A lot of the congregants scowled as I beseeched that they take the necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to the virus and to increase the likelihood of survival should they become infected. Again, many quoted the Bible and announced that they will rely on their faith to keep them safe. Sadly, I know for a fact that some of those same believers died from the complications of the virus.

One thousand years ago, people had pollution-free air, rivers, oceans, and only organic foods. Yet the average lifespan was about 20 to 30 years, partly due to the high rate of infant mortality. Three centuries ago, under similar conditions, the average human lived to between 30 and 40 years. In the 19th century, globally, the average lifespan was about 47 years. However, today, the average human lives to about 74-years-old. This figure is noticeably higher in certain regions. All this, despite widespread pollution of everything imaginable and fertilisers. The hand of God, through the miracle of modern medicine, is responsible for the extension and expectation of even more extension of human life.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.