Vivien Thomas’ life story is told in the movie entitled Something the Lord Made and it is an incredible story: It starts with showing the entrance hall to the Johns Hopkins Medical School, there hang the portraits of many of the great doctors who are responsible for the great advances made in medical science.
One of the portraits is that of Dr. Vivien Thomas. The title “doctor” is honorary. He was actually a carpenter. Yet he was one of the pioneers in coronary surgery. Vivien Thomas was born to a struggling black family in Nashville. Under the guidance of his father, Vivien became a skilled carpenter. Although his dream of going to college and becoming a doctor was dashed by the Depression, he possessed the intuition and dexterity of a great surgeon. After being laid off from his construction job, Vivien went to work cleaning the laboratory of Dr. Alfred Blalock. Dr. Blalock realized the extraordinary gifts his janitor possessed and made him his lab assistant. It was the beginning of an extraordinary partnership that led to the first successful heart surgery ever performed.
While Dr. Blalock developed the concept for the procedure, it was his “surgical technician” who practiced all the suturing that made it possible. Vivien even made all the instruments for the operation, instruments that did not yet exist. During the operation itself, Vivien stood on a stool over Dr. Blalock’s shoulder talking the surgeon through each step of the procedure.
Although he never went to college or medical school, Vivien’s precise mind and focused intellect unlocked many of the mysteries of the human heart. Despite the humiliation and degradation he suffered as a black man in a segregated society, Vivien possessed a humility and gentleness that made him a trusted and respected tutor to Johns Hopkins students who went on to become great physicians. Though easy-going and soft-spoken, he was passionate about the work he was doing and what it meant to humanity.
Despite the disappointments he encountered, Vivien Thomas used his God-given skills and intellect to accomplish great and lasting things. Our faithfulness is not measured by our accomplishments but in our generosity and dedication in using whatever we have for the benefit of others, without counting the cost or measuring the return. The faithful disciple will lovingly use whatever he or she possesses to bring God’s reign of hope, justice and compassion to reality in their own time and place. Jesus promises that those who lead by example, who honour and respect those in their charge, who adopt the attitude of the Servant Christ in their responsibilities will be seated and served by the “Master” himself at the banquet of heaven.
Jesus reminds us today that we all have time, talents and treasure. And he tells us that one day we’ll have to account for what we’re doing with them because they’re only on loan. It’s called stewardship.
Like Vivien Thomas we can all make a difference if we choose to, if we are willing to take the trouble of going out of our way to help other people. The opportunities are there if we look for them – it is a question of willingness, are we willing to do it. The question I have to ask myself, the one that Christ will one day ask me – is “what have I done, how have I made a difference, have I been willing to do what I can do.” Will he find me ready, will I be able to honestly say – “I have done what I could do to make this world a better place.”