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?