Dr. Energy

If the Energizer Bunny had a role model, it would be Dr. Glenn Geelhoed. Boasting a plethora of degrees, having run more than 100 marathons, and having visited every continent, Dr. Geelhoed certainly seems to have gotten the most out of his years on earth, and does not yet show any signs of slowing. But, his passion for medical missions and the people he serves is his primary focus, as his Christian faith motivates him to give out of the many gifts and opportunities he possesses.

I greatly admire Dr. Geelhoed’s zeal for his work, but in all honesty, found him to be my least favorite speaker in the January Series heretofore. I believe this opinion was mostly influenced by the scattered, hyperactive nature of Dr. Geelhoed’s speaking. Often he would say inspirational quotes at random, without any indication of the context in which these bits of wisdom apply. One such quote that he used multiple times in both the classroom session and during the lecture was, “Do not identify the patient with the disease; do not identify the person with the poverty.” My interpretation of this statement is that Dr. Geelhoed is urging us to primarily see the humanity of the people we serve, but I wish that he had expounded on this thought a little more coherently.

Glenn Geelhoed’s energy and passion for life is to be admired, without a doubt. I realized during his presentation, however, that I could not serve God through a similar lifestyle. My desire to serve, I believe, is just as strong as Dr. Geelhoed’s, but I could not live at such a fast pace without suffering ultimate physical, mental, and emotional consequences. As I continue to seek the areas in which God has placed me to serve vocationally, I am reassured that the body of Christ is comprised of a multitude of members, all with talents and callings different than my own.