Depressed from spending too much time at the hospital for a job in which I had rooted all my significance and identity. Lonely from a lack of relationships caused by my stubbornness and arrogance. Cynical from a divorce resulting from my lack of fidelity, justifying that I deserved what I craved.
Have you ever entertained the question, “How would my life be different if…?”
What I just described is not my life, but it easily could have been.
Left to myself, my life would be marked by depression, loneliness, and cynicism. Jesus flipped the script in my story and prevented these ditches from being a permanent home.
Today, I find myself in a well-balanced career in medicine, thoroughly enjoying marriage, excited to meet our first son, and engaged in the ups and downs of walking with Jesus.
Part of my walk with Jesus involves delighting in the adventures of thoughts, ideas, and projects He leads me on. Since accepting God’s invitation to deeper devotion during medical school, I’ve found joy in writing down my thoughts, summarizing books, and creating resources that are both aesthetic and helpful for myself and others.
This process has been profoundly meaningful to me. As St. Augustine said, “I count myself one of the number of those who write as they learn and learn as they write.” I hope the fruits of this process will also be helpful to others.
The Benedictine monk Bernard of Clairvaux highlighted the importance of motivation behind knowledge:
Some seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge—that is curiosity. Some seek knowledge to be known by others—that is vanity. Some seek knowledge to serve—that is love.
Sermones in Cantica Canticorum
Perhaps God will use this blog to flip the script in areas of your life. I still have much to learn, process, develop, heal, and grow in. Many of the articles or resources I create are accompanied by insecurities and doubts about my own abilities. Yet, my soul continues to yearn.
I long to see Jesus continue to develop me, grow my marriage, form my child(ren), deepen my knowledge, and fortify my security in Him. I also yearn for Him to flip the script in areas of need around me:
- What if healthcare professionals felt less burned out and more connected to God through their work?
- What if dads were not checked out but actively engaged in leading their homes and forming their children?
- What if husbands rejected passivity and led their wives in regular retreats and times of reflection?
- What if our homes became havens of hospitality instead of escapes of isolation?
- What if Christians went from sporadically reading their Bibles to radically enjoying them?
- What if Muslim neighbors or co-workers went from being “foreign” to friends?
- What if Christians were willing to familiarize themselves with the Qur’an to foster better dialogue with Muslims?
God is rewriting stories every day. Flip the Script catalogs resources and inspires others to see how He can transform various parts of their lives today.
If you’ve experienced Jesus flipping the script in your life or want Him to continue doing so in other areas, follow along and subscribe below.
