On June 21, 2016, an organization known as Bright Pink started a celebration that nearly 10 years later needs to change its name. Today is National Call Your Doctor Day. Before we discuss what the day is about, let’s consider calling a doctor – or anyone for that matter.
Studies have shown that 25% of those 18-35 have never answered their phone when it rings.1 The phone app on our cell phone is one of the most unused apps. And landlines are the modern-day dinosaur, drifting into antiquity with 7 out of 10 opting for a wireless experience. Those who still have landlines tend to be those 65 and older.2
So, call your doctor? Probably not. It’s easier to schedule through MyChart or some other digital means.
Why would we reach out to our doctor? The point of the celebration is for women especially to schedule their wellness checks. However, men need to do this, too. Right, guys? Benjamin Franklin wrote these familiar words in 1733: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While he wasn’t referring to health care, his words are applicable to many situations.
The best way to treat an illness is to catch it early. The best way to catch it early is to go to your doctor regularly. Unfortunately, the younger we are, the less likely we are to get ahead of things. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your health and a thorough checkup is just what the doctor ordered!
Why make the appointment in June? The reasoning is that delaying till the fall and winter means lots of holiday preparations and celebrations. Spring provides us with the opportunity to get outdoors and busy sprucing things up after the devastation of winter. In June, the kids are finally out of school and summer vacations are just around the corner. Seems like the perfect time to make sure that you are fit for family fun.
From a spiritual perspective, we do not need an annual or bi-annual checkup. We need a daily checkup. We could even make that an hourly checkup or minute-by-minute checkup. The Psalmist prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)
We need to be doing routine, daily maintenance on our health. Vitamins, nutritious foods, exercise, sleep, and socialization all play a part in keeping us healthy. But, a medical doctor is going to go deeper into our health, checking blood work, blood pressure, vision, hearing, and a host of other things. From time to time, we need some routine testing that is a bit more invasive. Then there are the times where something has really gone wrong and we find ourselves staring at the ceiling and the bright light of an operating room.
In our spiritual life, we also do the routine things. We study our Bibles, pray, fellowship, serve, and evangelize. As soon as a sinful infection develops, we practice 1 John 1:9. “If 
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” However, in order to keep worse things from developing or to reveal things that are hidden, we pray the Psalmist’s prayer.
Physical health is very important but spiritual health is even more important. Make the call to your doctor today if you haven’t done it in a while. And, call out to the Great Physician of our souls. “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. (2) Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” (Psalms 26:1-2)
1https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/07/a-quarter-gen-z-never-answered-a-phone-call-20790257/
2https://www.benton.org/headlines/data-reveals-landline-phone-decline-statistics
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