What if we were as honest with God as we are with our doctor? How freeing would that be? What healing might be possible within us or in our relationships? This question came to mind after my recent dermatologist appointment and prompted some personal reflection. Maybe this will be a help to you in some way. 

For many years I have maintained an annual visit with my dermatologist for skin cancer screenings. Thankfully, I have never had any problems other than a few spots frozen with nitrogen. But I keep those appointments, nonetheless. You see, my dad had several bouts with skin cancer at different points in his life, including both melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. He endured surgeries and radiation treatments and lived as a survivor until he died of Covid-19 in July 2020. Dad was relentless in keeping regular visits with his dermatologist. He encouraged me to be proactive as well, and I have followed his advice. Our family is religious about sunscreen when we are at the beach, at ball games, etc. 

The routine of an annual skin cancer screening involves my doctor carefully inspecting all of my skin. He uses an illuminated magnifier and looks closely at every mark or growth. During my initial visit, he identified the marks on my skin and dictated them to his assistant, who made notes in my file. Each year, he reviews old notes and looks for anything new. During my most recent visit, he found two spots that didn’t seem to be a problem, but he froze them off as a precaution. 

In order for my dermatologist to thoroughly screen my skin, I have to remove outer garments and cover with one of those medical sheets. Honestly, it’s a bit uncomfortable. But it’s part of the process of trusting my doctor to look for suspected skin cancer over most of my skin. There’s a vulnerability involved, but it’s important to be thorough in the evaluation. 

In reflecting on my recent visit, I asked myself, “What if I (we) were as honest with God as with our doctor?” What if I were to take seriously the regular, spiritual practice of self-examination? How freeing might it be? What healing might be possible within me or in my relationships? What about you and your relationships? Will you think about it this week? 

In her classic book on the spiritual disciplines, Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton offers a chapter on “Self-Examination.” She defines self-examination as “a practice that facilitates spiritual awakening – an awakening to the presence of God as God really is and an awakening to ourselves as we really are.” (Barton, p. 93)

Barton provides four elements of self-examination: “When practiced rightly, it leads us into a greater sense of God’s constant loving presence in our life, it fosters a celebration of our created self, it offers us a safe place to see and name those places where we are not like Christ, and it opens us up to deeper levels of spiritual transformation. Self-examination is the Christian practice that opens us up to the love we seek.” (Ibid.)

Psalm 139 is a passage that offers us a framework for the spiritual practice of self-examination. In his Interpretation Commentary on the Psalms, Dr. James Mays writes, “Psalm 139 is the most personal expression in Scripture of the Old Testament’s radical monotheism . . . humans are seen in light of God’s knowledge, presence and power.” (Mays, p. 425) Perhaps we will reflect on this passage this week. Think of how we are like and not like Jesus. May we invite the Holy Spirit to help us become more aware of God’s presence and more aware of our actions. The hope is that we will move from a lack of awareness to self-awareness, confession of sin, forgiveness, cleansing and real life change. I’ve provided an excerpt from Psalm 139 for you to use in your own spiritual reflection. 

You have searched me, Lord, 

    and you know me. 

  You know when I sit and when I rise; 

    you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

  You discern my going out and my lying down; 

    you are familiar with all my ways. 

  Before a word is on my tongue 

    you, Lord, know it completely. (vv. 1-4) 

Search me, God, and know my heart; 

    test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

See if there is any offensive way in me, 

    and lead me in the way everlasting. (vv. 23-24)

Psalm 139

And one more thing . . . please be vigilant in your screening for skin cancer. It’s easy to neglect this part of our health. So, take a moment and consider making that appointment. You’ll be glad you did. And so will your family!   

In Christ’s care and love,