Dr Frank Garlick - His Reading and Learning

During my first visit to the Christian Medical College Vellore, in 1971, I was introduced to a wall text in the Surgery Unit office, of which Frank was the head. That text introduced me to the reading and learning journey of Dr Frank Garlick and his perspective on his achevements. It was a verse from the New Testament of the Bible in I Corinthians 4:7.

' For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did nor receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? '

Frank's view of life and learning was founded on this truth - givenness and receiving! For a surgeon, with Board certification from Australia ad Britain, it would not have been ordinarily possible to live with that consciousness as everything was in favour of regarding his learning and skills as personal achievements. 

I got a sense of this perspective of his learning journey, when once standing at a four road pathway, he mentioned to me that that there is something beyond every pathway one chooses. The choice one makes will lead one to an ego-centric way of living or a path of self giving.  He expanded this further to make it explicit. When one attributes one's learning journey to one's own acquisition and effort, there is a temptation to make that as a mark of one's identity and to live with a sense of pride. Instead, if we were to receive what has come our way as a 'talent' we have received, as Jesus of Nazareth mentioned in the parable of the talents, we would live conscious of the fact that they are given to us and be mindful of the Giver and grateful for the gift received. 

While on another walk, Frank pointed out to me a plant (not the one below), which had thick foliage and had the appearance of an umbrella. The plant grew to be like that because it was tended and watered. Every person whom we come across in our work place and life is a recipient of something from us, which can allow that person to grow and mature. It was then he pointed to the link between givenness and receiving. It is when we live conscious of how much we have received from our parents, family, teachers, mentors and well wishers, we are able to bring others into our orbit and enable them to move on in their journey. 

Frank was an avid reader and learner. His reading was spread over a number of areas including spirituality, theology, biographies, etc. While pointing out to a plant similar to what is below, which was sprouting after it was cut, Frank suggested to me that new learning in life emerges after a life experience. Often a traumatic or stressful experience could make us stay shocked,  stunned and stunted. But if one can can pay attention to the experience, stay with it and grow out of it, new life emerges with clarity and hope. Turning  to the sprouting leaves in the plant that had been recently pruned, he suggested that the stem would bear the scar of the trauma, but would soon be covered by the foliage growing from the stem. Frank referred to the experience in his life of loosing the status associated with being a surgical professor, but through struggles he went through, he was able to see new shoots emerging in his life. I could bear witness to that because after he left, CMC, Vellore, he gave leadership to the the formation of the EMFI, starting an emergency medicine department in Brisbane, reviving the Pathan Hospital in Kathmandu and initiating the Family Enrichment programme in Brisbane. 

Frank once asked me if I had seen the the chapel in the Christian Medical College, Vellore from behind. Most of us looked at the college chapel from the sunken garden and remember that view. When he asked me, I could not recollect the sight from behind till I went to look at it and take this picture. It had a wide open door with steps leading to both sides of the ground it faced. The bell and the dome were visible. The ventilation on the erect wall had an artistic appeal. The sides of the chapel had an expanding structure to make the inside of the chapel almost circular. It was when I noticed these details, I remembered Frank's suggestion that there is always something more to our learning experience. Frank made this as a frame of reference in his thinking and sharing. He was willing to leave aside his dogmas and view life through an optic of new insights he inherited from his wide reading and his encounter experiences with people. He grew up to be resourceful through this habit of reading books. He 'read' people as well as books. He was a good listener and related at the heart level with people because of this gift of "reading" people. 

Frank had so many colourful facets to his personality. It was while looking at the many photos in my collection that the following picture symbolised to me the life of Frank in a moving way. He lived a life of fullness and was enabled to share that fullness with so many during his life time. From the comments that appear in the social media since his home call, I sense that so many of his former students, colleagues, and friends have experienced some thing personal and been touched and enabled by the self giving life Frank lived. For Anna and myself , Frank and Val  have been gracious companions and pathfinders in our life! 

Anna and I want to offer the rose flower with two buds below, as our symbol of gratefulness and joyful remembrance of Frank's life! His life brought an aroma of freshness, kindness  and thoughtfulness, which has a historic significance in the history of health care in India! The buds represent the hope and promise of new life he leaves with us as a person who made his life an offering to God His maker! 

Tomorrow, the 20th January, 2023 as Val and the family  prepare for the farewell service, Anna and I keep them in our hearts. We miss you, Frank !

Anna and M C Mathew (text and  Photo)