Philip Yancey on Dr. Paul Brand

I was privileged to hear last month Mr. Philip Yancey speak at CMC Vellore on the occasion of the birth centenary celebration of Dr. Paul Brand. It was Mr.Yancey, who using the few pages of lecture notes of Dr Brand wrote two books, one of which, 'Fearfully and wonderfully made’ remains as a classic on the wonder and mystery of human body. 

Yancey having heard about Dr.Brand and his path breaking journey into treatment and rehabilitation of patients of Leprosy, visited him to interview him. That is when, Dr Brand shared his lecture notes with him, which he had prepared for giving a series of talks during a teaching mission week  at CMC Vellore, where Dr. Brand was working at that time. 

Yancey being a journalist was quick to recognise the treasure in those notes and became aware of the immense resources Dr.Brand possessed because of his integrated approach to life. That is how their collaborative effort  began to publish jointly  six  books in the subsequent years.

While having a personal chat with Mr. Ynacey, he confessed that it was the meeting with Dr. Brand and long years of association with him, which helped him in becoming a writer of the current standing. With over 30 books behind him,  Mr. Yancey regards Dr. Brand as his spiritual father. 

Listening to him give the oration on Dr. Brand, I realised that Dr. Brand’s coming to work in CMC Vellore was in one sense accidental. Dr. brand’s entry into the field of leprosy was a response to the suffering of patients of leprosy he saw at Vellore. Dr. Brand began with no previous experience or expertise, but created a new paradigm of reconstructive surgery to restore the functions of their hands and feet. He spent his life time to  add quality to the life of those who suffered from chronic illnesses which impaired sensation and pain!

During an interview I had with Dr. Brand in 1999, he and Dr.Mrs Margaret Brand mentioned to me that, ‘we were guided to do what we did, often not knowing enough to do it well. We learned what we did not know, because God was with us in this endeavour’.

M.C.Mathew(Text and photo)