These words weren't idle

By MARY JANE HOLT
Contributing Writer

Do you ever think about how many "idle" words you say?

Lazy, useless, barren, and careless are other translations of the word.

Christ is reported to have felt strongly about idle words. The New American Standard version of the Bible (Matthew's Gospel) quotes Him like this: "...every careless word that man shall speak. They shall render account for it in the day of judgement. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."

About 12 years ago I was approached about doing some reporting for a local television station. "No way" was my response. I didn't even consider it. Why?

Because I know how film clips can be edited to the point that almost all of the message you were out to convey gets lost.

Not that the television station in question would have done that. I just was not going to put myself in a position where my words could be used to convey more or less than what I meant to convey with them.

Lord knows I have trouble enough when I'm in total control trying to express what I really mean. Total control? That's a strange couple of words as well. Are we ever in total control?

Are you wondering what prompted this line of thought?

I suppose it was the taping of the "Aging Matters" television show Aug. 30 with Tamela Ragsdale and Gina Weathersby. It only airs in the Newnan area, so that's why many of you won't know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I was a guest again and enjoyed my time with the two hostesses tremendously. I always do. Such a taping with folks who can put you so at ease can be dangerous, though.

How so?

Well, most of you know I'm a nurse and that I published The Community Health Focus magazine for more than 12 years (I just sold it). So caring for others is important to me. It's a part of all I've ever been... the way I was raised, I suppose.

So, in the middle of this taping, I said, "I have little or no respect for the health profession today." Actually, I don't know if those were my exact words, but they are close.

Later in the day I found myself hardly able to believe that I had said them aloud. Out of the heart... If you think it... Get the picture?

I said it. And I meant it. So, I have been forced to come to terms with why I said it and why mean it.

I certainly know a number of health care professionals for whom I have a great deal of respect. It is the profession as a whole and the fact that we yes we, doctors, nurses, therapists, psychologists, all of us sat back for too long ignorantly thinking we could continue to give quality care without better governing ourselves.

There is no denying that the greed, carelessness and wastefulness of a few have cost the many. Actually, so many factors come into play that I could not begin to address them in this column, but one important thing that we, as the consumer or patient, often forget is that research costs money. And somebody has to pay.

I don't know when it happened. But somehow over the past decade or two the reality that somebody has to pay has hit us hard. So, if the money factor is one we should have faced a long time ago, why have I lost respect for the health profession?

Because, in more cases than I care to recall, I have seen how compassion, art and science have taken a back seat to the business of medicine. I fear that my words were not idle or careless. Indeed, they do come from my heart. I just don't like the fact that they are true.

Truth is not always easy to express, or to hear. Indeed, there are big problems in the health care delivery system in America. And those problems keep getting bigger everyday. It pains me to think that the government may eventually take over, but it could happen. I may eventually realize that the wastefulness and poor judgments of the past have been minor to what we will see when and if Washington one day rules.

We must govern ourselves, or face the fact that we will be governed. I don't always know when we cross the line beyond which there is no return. Do we ever know?

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