One of my greatest lessons in how to be more like Jesus came when I was in graduate school. It was a multi-part divine plan that came together from sources that had no intention of teaching me this lesson, but ended up giving me the greatest gift: perspective. Which, in turn, has allowed me to give it away to others as I continue to walk this path of spiritual discipleship.
At the start of my Abnormal Psych class during my first year in grad school for Social Work, my teacher passed out a sheet of paper listing all kinds of people, labeled by the bad actions they’d committed. She asked us to circle the ones that we didn’t think we’d be able to work with as a therapist.
I was SO sure of some of the people. There were all kinds of people on that list, but I only circled things like rapist, prostitute, drug dealer, and murderer. I wasn’t a practicing Christian at the time. I believed in God and Jesus, and thought that was all that was required of me. Even still, I found myself believing that I wouldn’t be able to see past and work with the types of people who could break one of the 10 Commandments.
Honestly, I wouldn’t even expect these people to seek treatment, so why would it matter whether I was actually willing or able to help them?
The assignment really made me think about the kinds of people we’d be working with. But, in the moment, I completely missed the point of it. It wasn’t for me to categorize who and what behaviors I would eventually specialize in helping. It was to bring my biases and judgments to the surface and address them before meeting with patients.
And since God loved me enough not to let me miss this fundamental lesson, he gave me another opportunity to learn it.
Not too long after that class, I had my first meeting with my new internship supervisor. I didn’t ask for a specific area because I wasn’t sure which specialization I wanted to pursue. I figured I’d leave it up to chance and see where I was placed. Little did I know, it wasn’t up to “chance”; God was directing my steps.
I was put into a Dual Diagnosis treatment center. I even had to Google what it was because I had no experience with it. It’s for clients who have both a mental health diagnosis, as well as some type of addiction, AND are court-mandated to therapy as part of their sentencing. I’m pretty sure God has a sense of humor, because all the people I’d be working with were all the people that I circled on my sheet.
My internship supervisor sat me down during that meeting and said, “I’m not going to let you look at their charts. I’m not going to tell you who did what or why they are in here. We have a rapist, an arsonist, a murderer, a prostitute, a few drug dealers, and many more who have done bad things. But I want you to see them as people before you learn the label society has placed upon them.”
Honestly, the first thing that came to my mind was Jesus (even though that wasn’t her intention at all). All I could think about was that is exactly what Jesus would do, and not like that bracelet people used to wear (WWJD). But for real. He didn’t see people for what they did.
I probably should have been a lot more intimidated by these clients, but for some reason, I was not. I didn’t know it then, but I was surrounded by the peace of God that surpasses human understanding. I was where he put me, following his direction, even if he had to trick me into doing it. I learned to call them by name, not their diagnosis, crime, or label.
“Now this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
Jesus met people where they were. And when they weren’t perfect, he didn’t shame them. He connected with them, showed them he truly cared, and then offered them a better way. That’s precisely what I got to experience that semester. I got to witness countless people flourish because they were seen and encouraged, not judged and condemned.
That’s how I spent the entirety of my career as a therapist, too. I got to witness so many “lost causes” brought back from the brink of desolation. And it has guided my approach as a Christian since actively seeking to know the God who gave me this gift of my journey.
I can’t take credit for any of this. The Holy Spirit prompted me, and God used what he knew would work to get me to move in the direction he desired. And Jesus served as the ultimate example. The only thing I can take credit for is responding to the nudgings and taking the next step, even though I had no idea where it was taking me and why it would be important.
I have learned that all he wants and needs from his children is a willing and open heart.
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