Common maladies in today’s world

In the late 1940s, Dr. Theodore Woodward, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine instructed his medical interns: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.”

In other words, he challenged his students to realize that common things are common and when faced with a diagnostic challenge, it is much more likely to be an atypical presentation of a common disease than a typical presentation of a rare disease.

I first became aware of the saying in a blog post from our son who is currently involved in a medical project in Angola. His reason for quoting Dr. Woodward was simple. He said, “So far in my time in Africa I’ve seen a lot of zebras.” Extremely rare maladies in Canada are almost daily encounters in Africa.

His blog started me down a thought trail. Not about medicine, I know nothing about that. But a thought trail about life. How often we search for complicated, rare, fascinating explanations for human behaviour when as often as not the cause can be found in basic maladies such as pride, greed or lust. Our behaviour masquerades in all kinds of exotic costumes each carrying designer labels, but peel back the onion and plain old-fashioned self-centeredness is at the core.

I wonder if we have become so fascinated with the complex that we fail to see the simple. It reminds me of the account of Willie Sutton, the famous bank robber from the early 1900s. It is estimated that he stole some $2 million in that era.

It would translate into hundreds of millions in current currency. When finally captured and interviewed, the interviewer asked him why he robbed banks. Sutton looked at the interviewer like he was from outer space before replying, “Because that’s where the money is.”

I am emphatically not anti-progress. I believe to my core that many discoveries which explain human behaviour are both accurate and helpful. I also maintain however, that when one hears hoofbeats, it’s best to think horses. The ancient Proverb writer said, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

If one’s heart is consumed by thoughts of pride, greed or lust it is a given that matching behavior will emerge from it. No additional fancy explanation is necessary.

With that background let me now cut to the core of my thought trail. I, along with you, have been increasingly disillusioned by the extent of corruption and abuse and dishonesty and lying and cheating that plays out on the front pages of life almost every day. Conflict of interest, sexual harassment, 10,000 lies a month, etc.. I’m sure we can find all kinds of explanations for the current state of affairs.

However, peel back the onion and you’ll discover most of the time there is nothing new under the sun. Pride, greed and lust are still at work. At work in spiritual leaders, political leaders, the sports and entertainment industry, in business and in family dynamics. So, before investing too much in attempting to determine rare causes, we’d all be wise to listen to the ancient writer.

“Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Tim Schroeder is pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna.