Understanding SLT

Yesterday I went for my Eye Clinic Outpatient appointment at our local hospital. I did the usual tests; the doctor looked at the results. ‘You need laser treatment – SLT,’ he said. He gave me an explanatory sheet:

‘Treatment concentrates on lowering the pressure inside your eye… ‘Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty’ (SLT) uses a laser to target specific cells of the eye which are located in the trabecular meshwork…’ Hopefully the treatment will enable me to see clearly for many years to come.

When I was working in school SLT stood for ‘Senior Leadership Team’. We needed to see clearly… the needs of the children… talents of the staff… requirements of legislation… opportunities presented… financial restraints… pressures from the community…

And with that insight we needed to make wise decisions for the benefit of the school.

SLT also stands for Speech and Language Therapy.  A specialist, trained therapist, sees a need, makes wise decisions and treats and supports an individual’s speech, language and communication difficulties…

I like to think that Jesus was involved with SLT – giving physical and spiritual sight, seeing the big picture and making wise decisions, treating individuals, giving them a voice. Jesus’ SLT life was active and busy… feeding the crowds, healing the sick, encouraging the needy, teaching his disciples…

But there were also times of quiet: ‘Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.’ This was a different SLT:

Silence: He was alone, in a solitary place, away from the noise and distraction of people.

Listening: For Jesus, prayer was listening to his Father God, understanding what he was saying.

Time: This wasn’t a quick fix, but was an intentional, prioritised allocation of time in a busy schedule.

If, as a follower of Jesus, I am to follow his example in SLT – enabling insight, bringing wisdom, giving a voice, I need first to practice SLT, experiencing silence, listening to my Father God, allocating time…