In a previous post, I introduced the idea of cynicism in medicine and proposed an antidote that can help lift us up from seeing patients only through the lens of their present circumstances to who they truly are. And while recalibrating our understanding of each individual’s inherent value goes a long way toward having a proper perspective, this is only part of the story. It is a necessary but insufficient condition to reframing our perspective. The second antidote requires us to back up to gain a larger temporal perspective.
Philosophers have debated for ages whether this earth is all that there is or if there is some form of existence for us that is not bounded by the time and space bookends of our birth and death. Some would argue that this world is all that there is. When we die, we cease to exist.
Personally, I find that prospect rather depressing and nihilistic. If you’re here for such a short time and you cease to exist when you die, what is the point of finding meaning in life, doing things outside of yourself or struggling through adversity. This is precisely the sentiment capture by Solomon when he writes, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecc 1:2a-3, ESV). Stated differently, if there is nothing else, no goal, no trajectory, no prize for a well lived live, then why do anything beyond what brings you the maximum amount of pleasure in the moment or sets us up for the maximum pleasure at a specified time in the foreseeable future? Intuitively we know this narcissistic hedonism taken to its logical ends is not a recipe for human flourishing but ultimately leads only to chaos. I don’t believe this is the proper way to approach human existence and the human experience.
All world religions have an understanding that what we call “This life” is not the totality of our existence. That is, there is more to life than what we can presently see, taste, smell, touch or imagine. Ultimately, we were created immortal beings, and there is some form of existence beyond this life. Now, I am not talking about some Groundhog’s Day experience or that mythical fountain of youth whereby those who drink from its spring experience life here on earth in perpetuity. No, I am referring to the idea that there is a part of our existence (call it our spirit or soul) that is eternal and seeks eternal things.
In addition to this, most world religions have some concept eternal existence being differentiated between a heaven or a hell. This is considered to be a very literal place specifically among the three Abrahamic religions. And as a Christian, I believe that God created us in his image and for his glory. But due to our rebellion against him, we are subject to his eternal punishment, except for the saving work of Jesus applied to those who believe.
So, this idea of eternity and our eternal destination brings us to the second antidote to cynicism. In his essay about heaven, The Weight of Glory, philosopher, and theologian C.S. Lewis writes about heaven and our relationship to eternity. He unpacks the splendor of heaven and the glory and beauty that its inhabitants shall enjoy. This eternal backdrop, then, provides a unique perspective for interpersonal relationships here in the temporal space that we call “This life,” Lewis writes,
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may be one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.
This is the antidote for cynicism. As we work, particularly in healthcare, we engage with many people from all walks of life. We see people across the spectrum exhibiting mal-adapted to well-adapted social behavior. The concept of hygiene certainly is lost to some. And to be perfectly honest, it is not fun stoop down and care for patients who stink of urine, are infested with maggots or simply did something stupid requiring medical attention.
But as we engage with these patients, or as we attempt to counter profanity laced insolence with feeble attempts at altruistic humanity it is helpful to remember that there are no ordinary people; no mere mortals. When we interact with people, we are not just interacting with someone here and now. Everybody has a back story, a reason for why they are in their present circumstances. That alone would probably be enough to spark in us a modicum of pity. But more importantly, everybody has a future story; one that is not clouded by the temporal reality that we see. In the context of eternity and eternal destinations, everybody we meet is either an “Immortal horror or everlasting splendor.”
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