Prepare for Discovery
By Dr. Ellen Witt
Ellen is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She found her way to Birmingham via Samford University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1992. After graduation she began her career in chiropractic school at Life University in Marietta, Georgia. After the four years of school, Ellen returned to Birmingham to open her own practice. Beginning in 1998, Ellen also began an affiliation with the neurosurgical spine team at UAB and taught anatomy at Samford University for several years.

Ellen is truly ecumenical. She grew up in the United Methodist Church, received Christian education at a Church of Christ high school, graduated from a Baptist college and is now a member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

I remember in high school Sunday school a discussion of I Corinthians 12 about spiritual gifts. We were told that all Christians were given a gift of the Holy Spirit. After reading the scripture I was feeling a little short-changed. The gift of miracles… Not in the past few hours. The gift of wisdom…I was 16! It would take years to gather the skills and life experience needed to be ready to accept my gift.

I continued on a course of making life choices; choosing a college, church, friends, and ultimately being led into becoming a chiropractor. Talk about a gift! God gave me what seemed very random at the time, but it was something that would become a profession that I love.

As a person in a healing profession, sometimes situations occur to me that might seem bizarre to call gifts. One example might be to name the “gift” of a one time migraine with visual disturbances. The value of this is that I will know to turn down the lights for a patient whose eyes are sensitive. Then I received the “gift” of a personal low back episode that kept me from being able to reach my own feet. I now know to tie my patients’ shoes before they leave. This is another example of gift gathering that occurs over time with a purpose of making the whole greater. I am now sympathetic and empathetic! What a present to be able to give my patient: the gift of understanding.

It wasn’t until several years ago that I had a vision of understanding that it was the gift of healing for which God had been preparing me. Literally four years of college, four years of chiropractic school, sixteen years of life experience, and eight years of chiropractic practice were needed before my gift was exposed. A reminder for me that God is constantly gathering me to Him and preparing my way even when I cannot see the gifts that lie ahead.

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