Thirty-seven years ago, Scott Morris opened up a new health clinic to care for the working poor. The clinic had seven employees. The first day, 12 patients showed up.

Friday, Morris walked out of Church Health for the last time as CEO. Happily, he’s not retiring. He’s moving into a new role. 

But the clinic he founded — and poured his life into — now employees 250 people and handles nearly 60,000 patient visits every year.

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The place is a Memphis miracle, every bit as much as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. And — like St. Jude — it flourishes because it taps into the human need to contribute, to make a difference, to help.

It’s useful to remember that amid our civic miseries. The next time you hear someone talk about moving away from Memphis because of its troubles, remind them Morris picked the city as the place to start his clinic precisely it’s where he thought he was needed most. And all these years later even as he is stepping down from his leadership role at Church Health, Morris is as passionate about the city and the work as he has ever been.

I sat down to talk to Morris as he contemplated his last day. We talked about Church Health, the future, God, Crosstown Concourse, guns and, yes, the meaning of life.