'My Name Is Snake'
Average Rating: 
[7 Comments]
"My name is Snake," the young man growled when I called him into my office. His appearance certainly did justice to the nickname. He had a mass of black hair hanging to his shoulders, metal studs in his eyebrows, and rattlesnake tattoos slithering up his forearms. He was wearing ripped jeans and chunky motorcycle boots, and on his black T-shirt was a grisly skull with rattlers poised to strike from the eye sockets.
If I'd seen him coming down the sidewalk I'd have crossed the street to avoid him. But there was no avoiding him now, here in the hospital where I worked.
For several years I'd practiced as a speech pathologist in an outpatient center. My caseload consisted of stroke and brain injured patients who had difficulty speaking. It was rewarding work, and I felt that one of my strengths was that I related well to my patients. Then I met Snake.
We couldn't have been more different. It was Ms. Sensible Shoes meets Mr. Doom and Destruction. I was a conservative woman, approaching solid middle age; he was a brash 22-year-old working in a tattoo parlor. My style ran to lace collars and needlepoint flowers; his to black leather and chains. My idea of fun was attending church socials and the Women's Circle; his was riding his chopper and carousing at rowdy bars.
As a matter of fact it was a drunken brawl in the parking lot of Jake's bar that had landed Snake in the hospital. He'd been struck in the head with a brick, resulting in brain trauma that left him with slow, halting speech. The injury also caused hand tremors, for which he was seeing the occupational therapist. By the time I saw him in my office, he'd already had extensive inpatient hospital treatment.
I was skeptical that first day about Snake's chances for getting better. Outpatient therapy involves not only working to improve but also focusing on coping with any remaining disability. This requires openly discussing the patient's daily life. I was sure that Snake would never trust me enough to discuss his activities, and even if he did, I couldn't be sympathetic. Anyone who lived the kind of life Snake lived shouldn't be surprised at the result, I reasoned. I didn't want to hear the violent details. However, I felt it my Christian duty to work with anyone, so with trepidation I recommended treatment three times a week. All the same, I made a silent vow never to let him get between me and the door.
I thought Snake, with his lifestyle, would probably not even bother to come to therapy. To my surprise he was consistent and punctual, taking the city bus from his apartment since he was no longer able to ride his motorcycle. He made quite an incongruous picture in the waiting room: a Hell's Angel alongside our sweet, elderly stroke patients. But he came.
Although he participated in the speech exercises I planned, he gave little response save a suspicious stare and a scornful grunt to my probing questions. There was little I could do if he was going to be so mistrustful, ill humored, and disengaged, I told myself.
Related Topics:
Acceptance, Judging others, unconditional love
More from M. D. Adams:
Kyria.com | Books
Join the Kyria.com Community!
Become a member to have access to the following:
- Full access to the bimonthly Kyria digizine, each issue focusing on a spiritual discipline or theme
- 50 percent discount on all of the downloadable resources in the Kyria Store
- Hundreds of members-only articles for thoughtful, influential women
downloadable guides
Sabbath Rest in a World of Stress
Practical insights for how to live a life that honors the spirit of Sabbath-rest.
The Mentoring Series: Nancy Ortberg
Discover leadership principles from a well-known author and respected leader.Browse More Guides
back to top
Average User Rating:
Displaying 1–5 of 7 comments
See all comments
Lisa Ebersole
I am sitting here with tears flowing feeling ashamed of how many times I could have reached out and didn't. Sometimes not wanting to leave our comfort zones causes us to lose out on many blessings God could have for us. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
Laobao
Made me cry. Also reminded me of how shallow I can be, with others and even wtih myself.
Rahab Klingensmith
Quote:.....For the speech pathologist: "I'd been been judging 'Snake' harshly, as he'd been juding me".... ...interesting now we are to think and ponder for a brief moment; this my dear friends of CT IS true ministry. Excellent Post~door open for small groups~here exposed is a demonstration too 'the key of evidence' a real Holy Spirits driven practice worth reading...."Rahab" in blessings for M.D.Adam
Gabriella
This article truly touched my heart! How prejudiced we are and not even aware of it! May the Lord put an awareness inus and humble us to look at each one of his child through His loving eyes!
Cheryl
I work in healthcare and work with alot of " snakes ". The way of the transgressor is hard. Never forget that. Is that judging? " No". I remember a pastor saying " you've heard of the school of hard knocks...? well God is the principle of that school to." The "snakes" of this life need mercy 'when' they are ready and frankly in NYC in an ER where I work most I meet are not ready. It's incredibly exhausting. And if it's not pt's then it's your co-workers with stories that aren't much different I'm sorry to say. sorry for the downer but its true
Rate & Comment on this article *