Embarrassment

For some reason, I started thinking about how embarrassing it must be for new providers in certain specialty areas.  For example, I’d be a horrible sex therapist. How could you listen to couples that have real problems when they are talking about something I do not want to know?  What about new OB/Gynecologist’s? Urologists? (No offense intended to professionals in these and other fields. I praise God that we all have different things that bring us joy and fulfillment).

This reminded me of a few times I needed medical attention and got embarrassed. The first time was when we moved to Wisconsin and I needed to select a Primary Care Physician (PCP). I don’t think I was quite 30 yet and, by that time, had been married for about 8 years with a 5-year-old son. I picked a physician from a list of potentials more because she practiced close to where we lived than anything else (I don’t even remember knowing she was a she before I picked her). The PCP required new patients to come in for a physical. I complied. Claire was my doctors first name (isn’t that funny, I can remember her first name, but I don’t remember her last name.) Anyway, she was a very thorough PCP and demanded (well at the time I didn’t think I had any say), a digital rectal exam to check my 30-year-old prostate (I can already tell that guys reading this are squirming). Luckily, I was young and healthy so I think I only saw her one more time before we moved and I again picked a new PCP.

The most recent time was about 8 years ago when I was stricken with an illness called epididymitis (I had to look up the correct spelling). This is a condition where guys get an infection in the land down under causing swelling and tenderness. I had to go to my ARNP and, let’s say, show her the goods where the infection was (if you aren’t sure what I mean, then let this one be.) The good news was that the chance of clearing up the infection more than offset the embarrassment of being told “drop ‘em cowboy!”

Awesome.

“And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.” - Genesis 9:22 ESV

“And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty…” - 1 Corinthians 12:23

“Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.” - Isaiah 47:3

The interesting aspect of this is how embarrassed I felt in my younger years and how much less concerned I am about uncovering my naked bits to get medical treatment as a more mature man.  Maybe the same attitude works with sharing the good news of Jesus and the redemption that is only possible through him with others…

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”- Matthew 28:19-20