David Blauw
It seems to me that the human political process, whether national, regional or local, is mostly about maximizing the chances of meeting our particular “wants.” It often involves protecting oneself. It involves getting my share; protecting my own; assuring my way of life. Strength begets strength, with the strong more often getting their wants met and the weak wondering if their needs are recognized.
On the other hand, healthcare is mostly about “needs.” When my gut or chest aches, I need help. When my car hits a tree, I need emergency help. When a virus takes over my respiratory tract, I need help to get oxygen.
In our decades-long healthcare reform debate, we’ve seen this collision between the political motivation to get wants met for our self-protection, and on the other hand, an awareness and drive to meet universal human need. Can or will the strong advocate for the weak? Can politics focus more on needs than wants?
Jesus lived most of his life in human need. He trusted his divine parent to supply. He trusted. And he also instructed and modeled meeting the needs of the sick, the dying, the hungry, the injured, the imprisoned, or the forsaken. Meeting human need, not wants, was at the center of his divine mission.
In these COVID-19 days, we’ve seen the politics of “wants” collide with intentions to meet human “need.” And for the most part, in our area, so far, human need has been in focus.
As a chaplain at Holland Hospital, I’ve been proud of the way our institution has responded to needs. New workflow processes, safety rules, temporary furlough for many employees, and some pretty impressive flexibility on the part of all has been evident. Most COVID-positive patients have recovered and been discharged. Some have died. And, concurrently, there are the “usual” and “routine” health crises and deaths. Sometimes we’ve dropped the ball in communication with families who often can’t be physically present here. But for the dozens of COVID-positive patients and for more usual needs we’ve cared for, we’ve responded to their needs safely, to the best of our abilities and with human compassion.
As a community of hope—Hope Church—our intention for over 150 years has been to focus on human needs of mind, body, and spirit and not just on human wants: justice for the weak; hope for the hurting. It is a battle to let our wants take a back seat to the needs of others. But with the Spirit’s continuing help, we press on.