What an interesting question! The obvious answer is, "Yes of course I want to be made well! Who wouldn't?" But with a little reflection the answer is not so obvious. The trouble is that by our actions and habits what we say in words can be belied by the life choices we make.
This past semester I taught a course on medical ethics. In one of many interesting discussions a student raised the question of "desert" (in the third sense in the Apple dictionary: a person's worthiness of reward or punishment.) What does a person deserve? The context of the discussion was whether there ought to be health care for all. The student suggested that there should be a limit to health care if a person's health issues were brought on by herself. The example the student offered was the person who smoked cigarettes and as a result suffered one of the many illnesses related to smoking. "In that case," the student said, "the person doesn't deserve to be made well. She brought the illness on herself. She doesn't deserve the health care." The class had a spirited discussion of desert!
Regardless of what anyone feels about what we may or may not deserve for foolish choices, it does seem reasonable that if we continue in unhealthy habits, then our actions suggest our answer to Jesus' question is, "Actually, I would rather continue my habits and actions than be made well."
I am reading an interesting book, The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi. The book brings together western scientific accounts of well being and ancient Chinese philosophy and practice. In brief, the book provides scientific evidence that tai chi is a helpful practice in both preventing and curing disease. The book also gives a set of exercises to be practiced each day for about thirty minutes (taken from the Yang style of tai chi). It's a great book for anyone wanting to begin tai chi. It's a good book to for those who ask questions about validity, science and such like.
The book's subtitle is 12 weeks to a Healthy Body, Strong Heart, and Sharp Mind. Such subtitles sell books. Who wouldn't put up with doing just twelve weeks of tai chi exercises if that's all it takes to fix body, heart and mind! This is my one worry with the book. In twelve weeks the new tai chi player will just have enough time to sample the beginnings of mind-body integration. She will begin to notice a new flexibility. Breathing patterns will have begun to change. She might notice a new calmness about her everyday life. If she makes it through the first twelve weeks of daily practice, she might well be hooked and continue from the five exercises recommended to learning one of the traditional routines (of 24 postures up to 108 postures).
In fairness, the books subtitle does not do justice to the content of the book, for its authors know that for tai chi (or any other well-being program) to work requires a change in life-style. And that is where the rubber hits the road. The ancients from Confucius to Aristotle to the Buddha to Jesus spoke of changing the way we live to enjoy a life of fullness and well-being. "Do you want to be made well? Then practice well-being in the integration of mind and body. Practice!"
The question Jesus asked, "Do you want to be made well?" raises other questions: What does it mean to be well? Is being well about physical well being, or is there more to it? Can I contribute to my own well being or am I hostage to fate or chance?
Becoming well is about the sum total of life. It is "being well in doing well" (in Alasdair MacIntyre's phrase). It is wellness in body, mind and spirit. And yes, we can contribute to our own well-being. Go with the flow of nature. Connect with the earth. Tap in to heaven's energy. Release the potential locked into your being. Be well!
+Ab. Andy