In this article, Bishop Mike Hill from the Bristol Diocese talks to the reader about looking at the subject of perspective, specifically God's perspective,especially when it comes to the area of pastoral care.

Comparing a story about Barack Obama with that of Peter and John at Gate Beautiful, Bishop Mike Hill concludes that as believers we must believe that God doesn't simply want to sort out the primary issues, but he wants to get to the very core of our needs, and sometimes this can mean "radical surgery" not just "Sticking plasters" over the bits that need attention.

I once heard this story about Barack Obama.  I have no idea whether it is true, though I can imagine that it might be.

One evening Barack Obama and another Senator were leaving the Capitol building in Washington.  Out of the shadows they were approached by a homeless person who asked if either of the gentleman had a dollar to spare.  The other Senator fought a mental battle to try to find an excuse as to why he should not give this man any money.

Barack Obama, however, took a novel approach.

“You’re better than that,” he declared.  The young man looked perplexed.

“If you had asked me for $100, I might have given it to you. But you have to be worth more than a dollar and, until you understand that, I can’t help you.  When you can, come and see me and I’ll help you,” he said, giving the man his card.  “I have to believe you’re better than that…”

I guess we’ve all been approached by people in need asking directly for help.  Tony Blair, when he was Prime Minister, advised us not to help homeless people as we might ultimately be not helping them by feeding their addiction.  I have often given a couple of pounds in a similar situation on the basis that I would rather be judged stupid on the day of judgement than mean!  That said, the Obama story did make me think.

I’m not suggesting for one moment that we all now have a tailor made response to a homeless person asking for help.  Remember, if the story is true, Obama gave his details to the homeless person in question.

I think this is the point that Obama’s response makes well.  If your sense of dignity and esteem is so low that you are prepared to ask for a dollar, I can give you the dollar, but until you (re)discover your sense of dignity and self worth, I will only ever be able to treat your symptoms and any improvement will be beyond you.

This morning in our prayers as a team in my office, we read the narrative from Acts 3 regarding the man who was lame and sat begging outside the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem.  As Peter and John passed by, he held out his begging bowl.  Peter had an “Obama” moment.

“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!”

The rest, as they say, is history.

This made me wonder whether in our churches we sometimes take the “easy option” in our efforts to reveal the grace and truth of Jesus.  Clearly we cannot ignore the issue in front of us when it comes to care, but that can be an excuse for not believing that God is interested in the bigger perspective.

Sticking plaster has its purpose, but sometimes we need to believe that God wants His people to believe in His radical surgery.

We love stories of people moving from victim-hood to victory and we have some of those stories here in our Diocese  Maybe the learning point in all this is, to quote Stephen Covey, to “begin with the end in mind” when it comes to our pastoral ministry.