It’s easy to become complacent in regards to the suffering of others. Face it, in America we have everything we need and want. Whether your desire is a big ticket luxury item or basic necessities as in health care, it’s accessible. If you can’t afford it, our government has set up numerous programs to help finance or provide it. In those moments when we do think of others in distant countries going without food, acceptable shelter and clean water, we stop short of getting involved, not wanting to face the desperation as if the call to action is something others should do. Not us.
Ted Kuhn, a medical doctor, makes it difficult to turn our heads away from the devastation of unacceptable living conditions in his book My Eyes, His Heart. I’ve read of several missionaries that asked God to break their heart for what breaks his, and when Kuhn describes the burden he carries for those that indeed break God’s heart, there is no justification in walking away without leaving some humanitarian effort behind. His self proclaimed “word pictures” take the reader on a tour of the most desperate individuals in the world and how they touched his life. Most missionary accounts tell of how the author impacted the one in need and the story ends with a feel-good smile on the readers face. Much of Kuhn’s contacts have unfinished stories. I am amazed that he still speaks of them and wonders about the stories ending, years after his encounter. To me, that demonstrates what a broken heart for the poor will do. He is also quick to acknowledge the individual changed him as much as anything he was able to offer.
As you explore the short chapters, Kuhn introduces the reader to people with unfortunate, sometimes in surmountable living conditions, medical issues, or emotional traumas yet they are just like us. They laugh, they cry. They mourn. Kuhn did a remarkable job of removing the stigma of “poor”, replacing it instead, with the face of humanity.
I have always wanted to be active in medical missions. I would find the journey emotionally exhausting, yet the thrill of bringing medical supplies and procedures to those that have no other hope exhilarating. Kuhn has allowed me the pleasure of traveling with him without leaving my home. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like, this is a book you must read. It’s everything you believe missions should be, and yet, nothing like your preconceived ideas. My Eyes, His Heart will break your heart and give you hope at the same time. And you will thank God that there are doctors out there like Kuhn treating the body as well as ministering to the soul in remote corners of the world. Although buying and reading the book is a personal choice, tissues will become mandatory.
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Winepress Publishing (October 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1579214797
ISBN-13: 978-1579214791
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
