2 of 3

I last saw Dr. Brand on June 29, as he lay in a coma after a fall. Bleeding had destroyed much of his brain, and he never regained consciousness. His body curled toward a fetal position and his eyes had lost their brightness. Even so, his one good hand sought out my hands, his fingers running up and down them as if examining them. A week later, he died.

Simone Weil said imaginary evil, such as that portrayed in books, television shows, and movies, "is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating." I saw real good in Paul Brand, and it was indeed marvelous and intoxicating. You need only meet one saint to believe, to silence the noisy arguments of the world.

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other CT articles about Paul Brand include:

Noted Surgeon and Author Paul Brand Dies at Age 89 | Connected his pioneering work with leprosy and his missionary faith. (July 10, 2003)

Paul Brand: 'Humility, gratitude, and adventure.' (Aug. 11, 2003)

God's Astounding Laws of Nature | "I like to think of God as developing his skills," said Dr. Paul Brand. (posted July 10, 2003)

CT articles by Paul Brand include:

God's Astounding Laws of Nature | "I like to think of God as developing his skills," said Dr. Paul Brand. (posted July 10, 2003, originally printed Dec. 1, 1978)

A Surgeon's View of Divine Healing | Do doctors waste their time by doing slowly and painstakingly what could have been done in the twinkling of an eye? (posted July 10, 2003, originally printed Nov. 25, 1983)

Blood, Part 1: The Miracle of Cleansing | We moderns are repelled by the thought of blood cleansing, but biologically and spiritually the precious liquid does exactly that. (posted July 10, 2003, originally printed Feb. 18, 1983)

Blood, Part 2: The Miracle of Life | A well-known surgeon talks about that miraculous red river within us as an emblem of life. (posted July 10, 2003, originally printed March 4, 1983)

Blood, Part 3: Life in the Blood | If Jesus had been born in the twentieth century, would he have chosen the image of transfusion for his forgiveness, love, and healing? (posted July 10, 2003, originally printed March 18, 1983)

The Scars of Easter | He knows the wounds of humanity. His hands prove it. (posted July 10, 2003, originally printed April 5, 1985)

A Handful of Mud | Soil is life. Can we preserve it for future generations? (posted July 10, 2003, originally printed April 16, 1985)

Previous Yancey columns for Christianity Today include:

Going It Alone | We should take heed when much of the world says it distrusts us. (July 2, 2003)

God of the Maggies | In broken sinners, Jesus saw not their past but their future. (April 25, 2003)

Perestroika of the Spirit | In Russia, the vocabulary of faith needs interpreters. (March 5, 2003)

Jesus' Sword | Longing for peace in tumultuous times. (Jan. 7, 2002)

Guilt Good and Bad | The early warning signs. (Nov. 11, 2002)

God's Funeral | What will keep faith from nearly disappearing in America? (Sept. 3, 2002)

next page... |  2 of 3

share this page

November 2003, Vol. 47, No. 11