Do I want to just look away or do I immediately want to help?  Do I seek to avoid the encounter or do I let it be whatever it's going to be?  Am I resentful?  Judging?  Compassionate?  The emotional reactions vary, but I invariably find them fascinating and telling.  More about me, than about the other person.

The theology in the article is of course from the Christian Scientist camp, which places a great deal of emphasis on the role of our mind and thoughts in determining the issues in our lives.  Sickness is often viewed as just a misunderstanding about the nature of health and reality - it's not an actual physical ailment, but we think it is, and so it affects us in very physical terms.  This is all a bit too Eastern for my tastes, and does directly contradict Scripture regarding the very real nature of this world, and the very real brokenness within it and ourselves.

All that being said, there's definitely value in the reminder that often it's our reaction rather than the other person's predicament that is most important to watch carefully.  Paragraph six is curious, but there's a kernel of truth in it.  We just need to be careful that this kernel of truth does not lead us into the appealingly easy arena of James 1:22 - 2:25.  The need of the other person is real, and not only a teaching opportunity or exercise for our own benefit.