Skinwalkers Movie Makes Me Think

Well, I was supposed to be blogging like a maniac about GWCO, but instead I took some time for myself and watched a movie on PBS called Skinwalkers. I take an interest in Native American culture. I’ve lived next to an Indian reservation all my life (except college), and up until last Friday, for the last two years I’ve lived on an Indian Reservation. I don’t want to give away anything about the ending of the movie, but one of the discussions is “medicine man healing” vs. “white man medicine.” This draws some interesting parallels between my religious culture and modern medicine. In my religion, I have the priesthood which includes the power to heal. You might call me and the other brethren medicine men.

So, should I say a prayer over my patients or treat them with the tools of modern medicine? I haven’t run across the situation where a patient asks me for a special healing prayer. Those who know about priesthood power would normally ask the priesthood holder closest to them. Normally, I only use my priesthood for my family and a few other members of my church that I’m asked to befriend and routinely visit to give a little gospel lesson each month.

Personally, I don’t know how I would react if a stranger in my exam room asked for a healing blessing. I would never charge for a priesthood blessing- we know how the Lord feels about that. I think I would do the ocular exam as per usual and Rx modern medicine as per usual. If they are already assigned a priesthood holder, I would ask them to call that brother. If they aren’t of my faith, then I guess I’d ask them to come over to my house or meet me at the church after office hours.

But that brings up another point. With perfect faith, wouldn’t all the healing prayers be answered? Well, do we mere mortals have perfect faith? Do we always connect ourselves with the will of God? I think we all should try. I know that the power of priesthood healing is real. I’ve experienced it myself, and I’ve administered it to others. I still take our kids to the E.R./Urgent Care. I still do all I know how to do(modern medicine speaking), but I also ask or administer a priesthood blessing. I don’t believe that it shows a lack of faith. Quite the opposite. If I only did what modern medicine tells us, without prayer, it would show a trust in the arm of flesh- not God. If I only prayed instead of seeking medical attention, then it would show a lack of faith in my God since he has blessed us with so much knowledge and so many people to help us. Miracles are accomplished by people helping people. The Lord often answers our prayers through the actions of others.

Anyway, a little off topic for this site, but the movie Skinwalkers got me thinking about the metaphysical and the physical and how it relates to me as an eye care professional.