"Fearfully and Wonderfully" (Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey)

TITLE: Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God's Image
AUTHOR: Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2019, (264 pages).

The human body is most fascinating. It is a wonder how the body functions as one whole. Even medical science, for all its advances could not explain everything. Today, we are still uncovering countless secrets and learning about how the body works under various circumstances. At the same time, some people use the human body to learn about life. This is what authors Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey have done. Using the underlying presupposition that human beings are made in the image of God, they reveal some of the most profound meanings about life and spirituality through the lens of how the body works. From cells to tissues, body parts to physiological systems, we are constantly reminded that the way our body functions is a powerful metaphor to teach us and our communities how we ought to live. Researchers even call the human body as "generator of diversity" (GOD). So powerful is the human body immune system that doctors would readily agree that no science nor medical knowhow could beat the natural immune system. The problem of AIDS is a classic example. When the human immune system breaks down, it speeds up fatality. From the health of a single cell, we learn how that impacts the way the immunity functions. From the diversity of the various body systems, we learn about groups, communities, villages, and nations. The authors make a case for the starting point of any community: Diversity. This is simply because we need one another's uniqueness and gifts. This should propel us toward a greater sense of belonging. The more we appreciate and cherish one another's diversity, the greater is our unity. Brand talks not just from his own experience and knowledge, he shares with readers insights from many other medical professionals. For example, while talking about homeostasis, he relates to us the discovery of Japanese Yas Kuno whose research on sweat shows us the wonders of the human body to adapt body temperature; Dr Walter Cannon's work on the wonders of the body to correct imbalances. Learning to accept diversity cultivates an atmosphere of acceptance. Our five basic human senses also have a lot to teach us.


Other areas studied include the largest organ in the body, the skin. Certain parts of our body are more sensitive than others. It reflects our community where some members are more sensitive than others. Jesus is especially sensitive to such vulnerable members of the community. From the study of bones in us, we recognize the hidden strength in us. While bones are not visible from the outside, it strengthens us from the inside out. Bones are dependable and the skeleton reminds us of the basic foundations of faith. When young, our bones are soft. When we get older, they become brittle and easily broken. The authors critique the ancient ways of beating up our own bodies such as the famous fifth century Simon Stylites who lived an extreme form of asceticism to prove his faith. Such views are like the exoskeletons of crustaceans. Lose them and one becomes vulnerable. The human body has no exoskeleton. The strength comes from within. Every chapter oozes with rich teachings on both the human body system and spiritual thoughts. It is a fascinating journey.

This is one of the best books that combined the teachings of human physiology and Christian spirituality is through the writings of Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. The first edition of "Fearfully and Wonderfully made" was published in 1980. Combed from the journals of Dr Paul Brand, it describes the individual cells and parts of the body and how they interact with one another. A second book, "In His Image" was then published in 1984 to showcase the interactions, the connections, and how the body parts were created to work together. In both books, we learn about body functions, about the miracles of the human physiology, and how we could see the connection between humanity and divinity. Throughout the books, we see the constant comparison between the human body and the Body of Christ. Dr Paul Brand died in 2003 but his knowledge of the human body remains an invaluable addition to the teaching of what it means to be made in the image of God. Co-author Philip Yancey wants to update not one but both books to make it more relevant for the modern reader, especially the younger ones among us. Let me offer three thoughts on this book.

Three Things
First, the authors use the human body as a metaphor to teach us about our spiritual life. Just like how Paul uses the body to describe the body of Christ, Brand and Yancey takes the idea and develops it further through modern discoveries and knowhow, to expand on our understanding of what it means to live as one people. I appreciate the way Yancey says that the community is: "not an organization but rather an organism." Throughout the book, the authors connect what they describe at the micro-levels of the body to the overall macro-level of both the human system and our communities. Each system is a powerful message in itself.

Second, take care of the body especially when the body is healthy. Healthcare continues to be a major concern throughout the world. As costs continue to rise, the book reminds us once again that no scientific progress or medical advancements combined are able to match the natural body immune systems. Good health is not something to be taken for granted. We need to remember that the best medication is to be healthy in the first place. Thus, even as we gain insights about the human body in this book as a metaphor to teach us about community and diversity, we need to constantly remind ourselves the importance of personal care and hygiene. Don't risk our health unnecessarily, whether through careless diet or harmful activities. Taken in the light of a community, as we take care of our own bodies, we become an asset instead of a liability for our communities.

Third, let this book remind us the wonder of God. We may become so infatuated with the latest scientific discovery or the successful clinical trials of a wonder drug. We may even be thrilled with what the modern medical equipment could do. Have we thought about depending on the creator of our human bodies in the first place? This book may not exactly be an evangelistic book. However, one cannot help but marvel at the way God has created us. A healthy body is more valuable than all the riches of this world. What good is it for one to gain the whole world but loses one's soul? We could all appreciate the wonders of the human body. Let us not stop there. If the body itself is so wonderful, what about the creator of such a body?

This remains one of my favourite books by Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey.

Dr Paul Brand is a world-renowned hand surgeon and leprosy specialist. He has served as a clinical professor emeritus at the University of Washington. He has co-authored with Philip Yancey three books: "The Gift Nobody Wants," "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made," and "In His Image." Dr Brand passed away in 2003.

Philip Yancey has served as editor-at-large for ChristianityToday magazine. He has written several godly medallion award winning books and is a highly sought after author and speaker.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book has been provided courtesy of Inter-Varsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.