Thursday, December 25, 1997

Limitless love unlocks doors

By Mike Cope

Dr. Maxwell Maltz, the famous plastic surgeon, received a desperate visit from a woman who was concerned about her husband. She explained that he'd been severely burned while trying (unsuccessfully, as it turned out) to save his parents from their burning house. With guilt over his failed rescue attempt and embarrassment over his facial disfiguration, he had gone into hiding. He permitted no one, not even his wife, to see him.

"With the great advances we've made in plastic surgery in recent years, I can restore his face," Maltz said confidently.

She didn't doubt that he could help, she replied, except for one problem: Her husband believed God had disfigured his face as punishment for failing to save his mom and dad.

That was shocking enough, but what followed was beyond belief. The woman explained to Maltz that she wasn't coming for him to try to help her husband, but rather for him to disfigure her own face.

"If I can share in his pain, then maybe he will let me back into his life. I love him so much; I want to be with him. And if that is what it takes, then that is what I want to do."

The surgeon refused, of course. Disfiguring faces isn't exactly consistent with the Hippocratic oath. But moved by her determination and unfathomable love, he did obtain permission to go visit her husband.

Maltz went to the man's room, knocked and said, after receiving no answer, "I know you are in there, and I know you can hear me, so I've come to tell you that my name is Dr. Maxwell Maltz. I'm a plastic surgeon, and I want you to know that I can restore your face."

No response. He tried again, attempting to sound more convincing. But again, there was no answer.

That's when Maltz began yelling through the door, "Your wife wants me to disfigure her face, to make her face like yours in the hope that you will let her back into your life. That's how much she loves you. That's how much she wants to help you!"

After a few moments of silent decision, the doorknob began to turn. Then, slowly, a man walked out of his self-imposed cage into a world of freedom. The key that unlocked the door was limitless love.

Isn't that the story of Christmas? Do we perhaps hold on to this holiday so passionately because we are moved by a God who acted graciously in coming himself through Jesus Christ into the midst of all our disfigurement? He entered a world of lost dreams, self-defeating decisions, broken relationships and hold-your-breath-and-pray illnesses. And he came for one simple reason: He loves you beyond belief and longs for relationship with you.

Stay inside and pout if you want. Boycott the party because life hasn't been fair. Punish yourself because of stupid mistakes you've made -- or turn the doorknob and come out of hiding. God's amazing love awaits.

Mike Cope is a pulpit minister at Abilene's Highland Church of Christ.