Christian Living

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This phrase has been a mantra, in many ways, in my life. First becoming aware of it as a teenager, no doubt in some reference to the “Hippocratic Oath”. Instituted in ancient Greece, the “oath” was required by physicians to uphold a specific ethical standard. Even before my walk with Christ began in earnest, I was drawn to these words because of an inherent belief that nothing I do should be done with the intent to harm. Often accused of using the strongest way possible to say something combined with a passionate approach, I became conscious of my ability to intimidate with words and learned to become cognizant of the power of words to convey intent without harming another. Interesting to note that the phrase “First Do No Harm” is not actually in the “Hippocratic Oath”, nor is it of Greek origin. Instead, it is attributed to a British surgeon named Thomas Inman, born in 1820, whose published works include a paper entitled “Ancient Pagen and Modern Christian Symbolism”, exposed and explained. Many of the symbols he discusses are still in use today as is, the infamous phrase “First Do No Harm” which was originally coined and is still known in, its Latin variation “primum non nocere”.

For me, “First Do No Harm” has always meant to strive to never harm another’s spirit, their heart, their being…either by words or actions, or judging another’s path or where they are on it, their choices or their circumstances. Rather, it has always been my belief that encouragement, genuine joy at another’s accomplishments (both large and small) and praise for what is seen and unseen in a person goes a long way towards nurturing growth and supporting progress on both their journey and our own. It saddens me deeply to see those that would destroy another by searching out vulnerabilities and exploiting them, perceiving love, kindness and forgiveness as signs of weakness and using these things to gain personal power; this is pain acting out, at best, and pure evil, at worst. To intentionally cause another pain, to me, serves only to display one’s own fear, insecurity and selfishness, even when done by a self-righteous, self-proclaimed “believer”. To instruct, to correct, not “criticize” through words spoken with love, through Christ, with only the desire to see the goodness being revealed in each other and never with the intention to harm. Those that do things with the intention to harm have no real power, however. Instead, the pain they inflict is His to reverse and use to show HIS POWER and His plan for us. Failure to acknowledge this and to understand that we are not put here to endure this life with no hurt, without questions or without the need to be a social individual, supporting others, is both unrealistic and a bit arrogant. We are meant, He shows us, to LOVE each other, being grateful for all that He has done in our lives, the wonderful blessings He gives us, the gifts He bestows on us to share but even those things we do not understand, the ugliness we see or feel or those experiences that threaten to leave us broken and seemingly hopeless. Consider what Christ endured…a life of persecution, mockery, injustice and finally betrayal by someone He loved and then, ultimately, torture and death of his human flesh. Christ died on a cross, an instrument used to perpetuate the greatest evil and, simultaneously, the greatest gift ever done to and for humanity, the death of God’s only son. Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so that I could save the lives of many people”. Only God has the power to turn an instrument of torture into a sign of hope and LOVE!

When we view sadness in the world or we are hurt beyond our threshold of pain, we may feel broken and torn….that is when we feel those broken pieces, touch those torn parts of our hearts and go to Him, only then can we begin to feel His gift, His Peace….."You intended to harm me but God intended it all for good”. We cannot be destroyed if we are walking with Him, even in those moments when we can do no more than hang onto Him and crawl, for He has a plan, though we may find it difficult sometimes to see it through the tears and sadness. The often used “Give it to God” is much easier to say than to do and we may find ourselves having to surrender our pain or frustration many times daily, to begin to live in His love and comfort during those times of great sorrow, after all, we are only human!

We have all witnessed someone who is hard to love. They seem to live in a place of frustration, entitlement, even arrogance at the situation they are in. Most likely, they have suffered deep hurt in this life…abuse, emotional abandonment, torture of their spirit, self-esteem and/or their very soul. Often, they are bitter…actually fearful and untrusting, leaving them immobilized at the point of the pain inflicted on them…."stuck”, if you will. Their self-perceived inadequacies may be masked in strength and intellect, even a desire to “do” good things but with an undercurrent of frustration and anger. Unmanaged, unreleased pain manifests itself as anger. All that they can see is their struggle, their unanswered desire, chained by the pain and their past failures, never fully understanding and accepting that they can truly be free! Even, as a believer, it may be a daily struggle to live what they believe, to love as He commands when they are hurt, often because of what they have endured. God did not mean for this life to hold no joy, only waiting for what He has promised at the end of our time here. He gave each of us gifts, created us to be social creatures and expects us to enjoy what He has created, not live in a state of hopelessness because we have been hurt or are not getting what we “think” we need! Christ was nailed to a tree, we are not asked to suffer here to pay for that!! Jesus kissed the face of the man who betrayed Him to His executioners; He loved this man though He knew He would endure the pain of a torturous death through his friend’s betrayal! Anger is bred from pain and, whether we are new in our walk with Christ or mature in our journey, we can offer compassion, kindness and love in the face of their rage, praying that they may feel His presence and come to realize that they are not completely broken, that all the anger and bitterness they are masking has been overcome and they are released of those chains that hold them prisoner, now able to fulfill what He has asked of them.

When we interact in a world, seemingly cloaked in shiny materialistic things, mired in retaliation and contempt for the perceived weakness of sensitivity, of those who love beyond hurt, who forgive despite the inhumanity they've endured…it is our compassion, love and mercy…First Do No Harm…that will show His presence. His love will be felt and it will transform what was meant to destroy into something for the good!

Contemplate the story of Maya Angelou, widely considered to be an insightful, inspirational, strong woman of faith and a poet laureate. Beginning with the first of seven autobiographies, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, Angelou chronicles a life that began with rejection and abandonment by her parents, then suffering insecurity and sexual abuse at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend with no action taken by her own mother, inconceivable betrayal! Angelou includes much about a shopkeeper named “Annie”, whom she referred to as “Momma”, as the woman who became the central moral difference in her childhood. This one woman showed this child love, concern, offered her protection and nurtured her, helping to bring back a young voice silenced by shame and pain. Her candid, unassuming re-telling of her own story shows how Maya grows from an insecure, neglected and abused child to a strong young woman who realizes that she is more than her past and more than the pain, choosing to keep moving forward, realizing she has been called to speak, that she has much to offer a world that once mocked her. This woman suffered atrocities, as a mere child, that most cannot begin to comprehend, yet she was raised from that brokenness! Why? Because, at least one person decided “First Do No Harm” and because of that decision, Angelou was able to discover His love and that He had a plan! She touched those torn parts of herself, found peace in Him and used her voice to reach others! God intended it all for good.

“First Do No Harm”, as we interact with others, if we choose our words and actions with His love, if we can remember through our own pain, that He has our hearts, that God loves us and shows us Grace. And that offering love openly and forgiveness without retribution, even repeatedly, is not a sign of weakness but of His great strength & love, of the Spirit now wholly manifested in us! Clearly, those things meant to keep us imprisoned in pain and regret cannot prevail….then we can never be undone. He taught us, though He suffered immeasurable pain…… “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so that I could save the lives of many people.”

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