Sowing Chiropractic
One of the parables of Jesus Christ talks about a Sower and how the seeds he scatters fall on different terrains. The type of terrain determines how well the seed takes root. The terrain dictates growth potential.
Here is a brief rundown of some of the symbols:
- Wayside soil = those who have no desire to hear the truth because there is no righteousness within
- Stony places = those who lose conviction because of difficulty or ridicule
- Among thorns = those care about worldly things (money, fame, etc.) more than the spiritual
- Good ground = those who believe
It has occurred to me that this parable also applies to my practice-- the chiropractic message and the patients who accept or reject the message.
When I first started my practice, I expected everyone to comply. Every single person who came into my door that allowed me to perform a spinal exam and an initial adjustment would surely accept my care plan wholeheartedly! Or so I thought.
Yeah, right.
When people refuse my care and reject the chiropractic message, it hurts. A lot! But if the Sower of the Gospel can't produce a flawless crop with 100% of His planted seeds, why should I then pressure myself to reap perfection?
I have come to realize that the seeds I sow hit hearts in different places. And the types of terrains of those who I meet in my practice are myriad:
- The patient who expects instant, miraculous results.
- The patient whose medical doctor tells her that chiropractic is a waste of time. Maybe even dangerous!
- The patient who cannot find the time to keep scheduled appointments.
- The patient who develops a great love and appreciation of chiropractic.
And so it goes. Unfortunately, many quit before the healing begins... and again, this fact hurts.
But the question each sower-physician (myself included) must come to terms with is this:
Do we fret over the continued suffering of the patient who rejects chiropractic?
Or do we mourn the loss of new income to the practice?
Reader Comments (1)
Dear REED~
The message you posted has meaning to many. I commonly tell my clients and patients that I can seperate most people of this world into two broad groups. Those groups are: Seed people and SOD people.
SOD PEOPLE want things to be perfect and manicured, with littlle effort or time. They want it NOW.
SEED PEOPLE are those that know it takes time and caring to nurture each individual seed to form and grow into a mature blade of grass. Although each blade may differ, suffer, differ in color, shape and size. When viewed from afar they are in unisone and harmony with those around them. Ten billion blades make one big lawn. A forest of living plants...Like cells in the body. Subject to disease, environment, stresses, injury...and to be able to THRIVE!
For that to occur: Someone must care enough to prepare the soil, plant the seed, protect it, feed it and nurture the grass into good healthy. Chiropractic is for SEED PEOPLE! Be thankful you know a good gardner! AMEN!