Well, the day of Christmas is now a memory once again. The gifts have been exchanged and the packages unwrapped. Time with family - in this case with a sister-in-law who hadn't spent a Christmas with her family for about 40 years! What a gift - both for her and for us.
The gift of community (in this case family) was evident as my parents (working on 72 years each) and my extended in-law family got together to celebrate on Christmas Day. I found myself musing on the benefits of sharing stories as well as food - and the benefits on our personal and collective health, wellness and wholeness (HW2). Smiles were evident as was laughter, we shared reflections of the year gone by, we shared - we found a moment of peace and grace.
In this vein of communal sharing and peace, I received a copy of the book, "Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals". The theme of praying together, even when we are separated is powerful and healing. The idea that when we pray as individuals we join the prayers of all others and we do the work of the kingdom - we create a different and "other worldly" community that is based on something larger and more powerful (and transformative) than ourselves.
So, in our post-Christmas time together, let us share our prayers for a world that is different. Let us take time to be bold enough to ask for that which will heal us as individuals and as communities. To ask for that which will improve our HW2. Be bold and be ready to be active in this new endeavor.
Peace,
Dan
Monday, December 27, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
"Reason Integrally Considered"...
Today's pre-Christmas post comes to you from Dean Brackley's "The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times" a great book. In Chapter 17 he is discussing "Ten Touchstones for Discernment" - ten important pieces to foster and facilitate truthful discernment. The first touchstone is "Reason and Science" and he states:
"To understand reality and act well, we must use our heads. We must observe, read, remember, question, interpret, think and dialogue. In short, we must reason. And we have to do so systematically. We need the sciences - philosophy, psychology, the social sciences and all the other disciplines. Yet reason by itself is not enough. Reality is reasonable, but we are naive if we suppose that reason alone can take us to it. Because reality is vast and complex, and because of our biases, getting at the truth requires reason integrally considered - that is, reason enriched by experience, practice, imagination, and affectivity; reason rooted in personal transformation; reason drawing, critically and creatively, on wisdom-traditions."
One of the main flaws in our search for health, wellness and wholeness (HW2), in my opinion, is that we are not using "reason integrally considered" in order to get out of the mess we created. Albert Einstein is purported to have said that our problems can not be solved using the thinking that created them. We have fallen into the secular trap of believing we know everything and thus can create models of HW2 that will solve the current problems with our episodic intervention portal.
Take another look at the quote above from Brackley...reason integrally considered employs reason that is enriched - not just everyday reason. It brings into our thinking our experiences and our personal transformation. By default then, if we are not transforming ourselves through careful consideration and thoughtful employment of spiritual wisdom-traditions, then we can not achieve visionary reason. We will be stuck with our everyday reason, and I have every belief that we will continue down a path that will not improve our HW2.
So, how can we get our reason to be integrally considered, not only as individuals but as communities and nations? One key aspect is to begin to name the idols that keep us in bondage - primarily the free enterprise anarchy (economy). Our pursuit of the "almighty dollar" to the exclusion of 45 million persons who are now below the Federal poverty line, is a social injustice of mamoth proportions. The fact that the Department of Corrections is now the largest provider of mental health services is another sign of our lack of integrally considered reason. There are so many other examples.
My wife came up to me this morning and said that 2011 will be a year of discernment on peace. I suspect that it will become a little more manageable in size, but this a kind of informed reason that can make a difference in our HW2. I invite you into reson integrally considered in your own situation to see what might be created. Let 2011 be a year of personal transformation and wisdom.
Peace to one and all,
Dan
"To understand reality and act well, we must use our heads. We must observe, read, remember, question, interpret, think and dialogue. In short, we must reason. And we have to do so systematically. We need the sciences - philosophy, psychology, the social sciences and all the other disciplines. Yet reason by itself is not enough. Reality is reasonable, but we are naive if we suppose that reason alone can take us to it. Because reality is vast and complex, and because of our biases, getting at the truth requires reason integrally considered - that is, reason enriched by experience, practice, imagination, and affectivity; reason rooted in personal transformation; reason drawing, critically and creatively, on wisdom-traditions."
One of the main flaws in our search for health, wellness and wholeness (HW2), in my opinion, is that we are not using "reason integrally considered" in order to get out of the mess we created. Albert Einstein is purported to have said that our problems can not be solved using the thinking that created them. We have fallen into the secular trap of believing we know everything and thus can create models of HW2 that will solve the current problems with our episodic intervention portal.
Take another look at the quote above from Brackley...reason integrally considered employs reason that is enriched - not just everyday reason. It brings into our thinking our experiences and our personal transformation. By default then, if we are not transforming ourselves through careful consideration and thoughtful employment of spiritual wisdom-traditions, then we can not achieve visionary reason. We will be stuck with our everyday reason, and I have every belief that we will continue down a path that will not improve our HW2.
So, how can we get our reason to be integrally considered, not only as individuals but as communities and nations? One key aspect is to begin to name the idols that keep us in bondage - primarily the free enterprise anarchy (economy). Our pursuit of the "almighty dollar" to the exclusion of 45 million persons who are now below the Federal poverty line, is a social injustice of mamoth proportions. The fact that the Department of Corrections is now the largest provider of mental health services is another sign of our lack of integrally considered reason. There are so many other examples.
My wife came up to me this morning and said that 2011 will be a year of discernment on peace. I suspect that it will become a little more manageable in size, but this a kind of informed reason that can make a difference in our HW2. I invite you into reson integrally considered in your own situation to see what might be created. Let 2011 be a year of personal transformation and wisdom.
Peace to one and all,
Dan
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
"Raise the Dead..."
Today's post is brought to you a day late due to collecting Toys for Tots with my faith community. Typical of the season, too much crammed into too little space - but all for a terrific cause. On to our post...a troubling one in many aspects. At the point in the ministry where this statement is given, Jesus has healed many, but has not raised anyone who has died. What can the disciples make of this instruction then?
Physical death is a reality of living - the natural end to a life. Even our cells have a natural life expectancy and a process of dying (called apotosis) that is programmed into them. Things go terribly wrong (i.e., cancer) when cells circumvent this apototic pathway and become immortal. Jesus was not talking about physical death, he was talking about spiritual death. Raising the dead from the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" thus was directed at a people who had lost their way spiritually and had become people of the world rather than people of the Book .
Spiritual resurrection is a common theme, especially at this time of the year. The coming of the Messiah, the season of light, etc, and the darkness of the time of year, all feed into a longing for renewal. It can be a time for reflection and introspection - a time for re-ordering priorities and resolving issues. It can be a time to look beyond ourselves to that which truly gives us life and thus "raises us" from the worldly death that surrounds us.
It is unclear how "successful" the 12 were at these four tasks. However, the scripture accounts do note that larger crowds followed this rabbi - to the point of feeding 5,000 and 4,000 respectively. Something was happening that people took notice of. The miracle was less about the food and more about the community that was gathering; about the healing and sharing leading to wholeness.
So, in this time, may you be spiritually renewed and re-born. May the light of the season come into you and drive back the darkness. May your health, wellness and wholeness become a beacon for others to be drawn to and healed by. May you find peace and joy and love.
My very best wishes to you all,
Dan
Physical death is a reality of living - the natural end to a life. Even our cells have a natural life expectancy and a process of dying (called apotosis) that is programmed into them. Things go terribly wrong (i.e., cancer) when cells circumvent this apototic pathway and become immortal. Jesus was not talking about physical death, he was talking about spiritual death. Raising the dead from the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" thus was directed at a people who had lost their way spiritually and had become people of the world rather than people of the Book .
Spiritual resurrection is a common theme, especially at this time of the year. The coming of the Messiah, the season of light, etc, and the darkness of the time of year, all feed into a longing for renewal. It can be a time for reflection and introspection - a time for re-ordering priorities and resolving issues. It can be a time to look beyond ourselves to that which truly gives us life and thus "raises us" from the worldly death that surrounds us.
It is unclear how "successful" the 12 were at these four tasks. However, the scripture accounts do note that larger crowds followed this rabbi - to the point of feeding 5,000 and 4,000 respectively. Something was happening that people took notice of. The miracle was less about the food and more about the community that was gathering; about the healing and sharing leading to wholeness.
So, in this time, may you be spiritually renewed and re-born. May the light of the season come into you and drive back the darkness. May your health, wellness and wholeness become a beacon for others to be drawn to and healed by. May you find peace and joy and love.
My very best wishes to you all,
Dan
Thursday, December 16, 2010
"Cast out Demons"...
The third in the series on actions of disciples of Jesus. What does this mean, "cast out demons" - are we to be like "The Exorcist" and literally make demonic entities leave their possession of people, or is there another possible meaning that makes sense in our modern (or post-modern) age? What if anything does this have to do with our health, wellness and wholeness (HW2)?
I think that everyone has a mental picture of what a demon looks like. That Hollywood creation that has wings, a pointed tail, horns, talons, etc. Something malevolent that is seeking to do all the protagonists harm and that lives in "hell". Is this how theologians understand demons - and is this a correct interpretation of scripture? I refer the curious reader to the works of Walter Wink, John Howard Yoder and Paul Tillich for some much needed exposition. However, these are often unapproachable for most persons. So I also refer you to a blog (experimentaltheology.blogspot.com) and postings on demons by Richard Beck.
Most scripture is silent on demons - what they look like and how they act. We have a few Old Testament and New Testament references, but for the most part demons are associated with worldly powers and institutions - those creations of humans that often supplant the teachings of scripture and allow us to sin (sin here meaning anything that fractures our relationship with God). In this way, the institutions and the lifestyle created by humans are the things that become demonic - that possess us and keep us from taking care of the widows and orphans.(see the book of Isaiah) It is in fact, what all of the prophets railed against - those ways of living that were not "right".
Thus, the need to be able to recognize demons (as Jesus was able to), to name them, and to circumvent their power over us both individually and as a community. For those of you familiar with Jesus stories, think of the three temptations of Christ by Satan. They were all worldly or ego-inflating temptations (ones we struggle with today) that he quoted scriptural truths to prevent them from gaining control. Demons were always afraid of Him because he could see them and their false teachings and send them away. Oh, that we had the same vision!
Thus our ability to cast out demons comes from our ability to use our relationship with God to keep ourselves centered on what is important. Loving our neighbors as ourselves and our God with everything we have within us. In this way we form loving communities that can help to cast out the demons of society and to root out the causes of social injustice. In this way we will improve our HW2 - in fact, in my opinion and world view, it is the only way we can truly and finally improve our HW2.
Wishing you the peace and joy of the season.
Dan
I think that everyone has a mental picture of what a demon looks like. That Hollywood creation that has wings, a pointed tail, horns, talons, etc. Something malevolent that is seeking to do all the protagonists harm and that lives in "hell". Is this how theologians understand demons - and is this a correct interpretation of scripture? I refer the curious reader to the works of Walter Wink, John Howard Yoder and Paul Tillich for some much needed exposition. However, these are often unapproachable for most persons. So I also refer you to a blog (experimentaltheology.blogspot.com) and postings on demons by Richard Beck.
Most scripture is silent on demons - what they look like and how they act. We have a few Old Testament and New Testament references, but for the most part demons are associated with worldly powers and institutions - those creations of humans that often supplant the teachings of scripture and allow us to sin (sin here meaning anything that fractures our relationship with God). In this way, the institutions and the lifestyle created by humans are the things that become demonic - that possess us and keep us from taking care of the widows and orphans.(see the book of Isaiah) It is in fact, what all of the prophets railed against - those ways of living that were not "right".
Thus, the need to be able to recognize demons (as Jesus was able to), to name them, and to circumvent their power over us both individually and as a community. For those of you familiar with Jesus stories, think of the three temptations of Christ by Satan. They were all worldly or ego-inflating temptations (ones we struggle with today) that he quoted scriptural truths to prevent them from gaining control. Demons were always afraid of Him because he could see them and their false teachings and send them away. Oh, that we had the same vision!
Thus our ability to cast out demons comes from our ability to use our relationship with God to keep ourselves centered on what is important. Loving our neighbors as ourselves and our God with everything we have within us. In this way we form loving communities that can help to cast out the demons of society and to root out the causes of social injustice. In this way we will improve our HW2 - in fact, in my opinion and world view, it is the only way we can truly and finally improve our HW2.
Wishing you the peace and joy of the season.
Dan
Monday, December 13, 2010
"Cleanse the Leper..."
This post is a reflection on the second of the instructions from the rabbi Jesus to the disciples about what they were to do. It seems a bit dated for today, as leprosy (or Hansen's disease) is an infection that can be dealt with through modern antibiotics. What might the rabbi have been referring to then - and how does it play a role 2000 years later in our lack of health, wellness and wholeness?
If we look literally at the disease of leprosy, we now know that it is not very infectious, that it takes a long time to manifest itelf (like most Mycobacterium infections), and that with proper treatment and early detection the disease can be eradicated and the person can live a "normal" life. Now, this wasn't true 2000 years ago in first century Palestine - where those with leprosy ("lepers") were shunned and were placed apart from the general population. Jewish law had an elaborate process for declaring persons "clean" and thus allowed back into society. Since it wasn't until the late 1800's that the cause of leprosy was discovered - once a person contracted the disease and manifested the lesions and disfigurement that characterize the disorder, they were ostracized.
Did Jesus literally mean for the disciples to miraculously cure all persons with leprosy, or did He mean something else? The social stigma of leprosy is often much worse than the infection or any physical symptoms. Even today in parts of the world, persons are shunned long after the infection is cured and they can no longer cause the disease to be transmitted to others. Persons are kept from every day life and relationships - they are as isolated (more so) than if they were incarcerated in a colony. This is true of those with HIV (and full blown AIDS), alternative lifestyles, different ethnicities, felons, etc. The words "cleanse the leper" refer to our offering sanctuary and relationship to all those ostracized and isolated by the wisdom of the world.
So, how do we go about this? One is through educating ourselves about the risk; and becoming advocates for those who society isolates. The second is to love our neighbors as ourselves and to model that behavior to others. By doing these things, we become true disciples and create a world of welcome instead of a world of barriers.
During this season of Advent, season of light, and all other seasonal spiritual metaphor, let us truly open our hearts to those who are alienated, isolated, "unclean", and let the light of Jehovah shine into their lives and ours.
Peace and joy,
Dan
If we look literally at the disease of leprosy, we now know that it is not very infectious, that it takes a long time to manifest itelf (like most Mycobacterium infections), and that with proper treatment and early detection the disease can be eradicated and the person can live a "normal" life. Now, this wasn't true 2000 years ago in first century Palestine - where those with leprosy ("lepers") were shunned and were placed apart from the general population. Jewish law had an elaborate process for declaring persons "clean" and thus allowed back into society. Since it wasn't until the late 1800's that the cause of leprosy was discovered - once a person contracted the disease and manifested the lesions and disfigurement that characterize the disorder, they were ostracized.
Did Jesus literally mean for the disciples to miraculously cure all persons with leprosy, or did He mean something else? The social stigma of leprosy is often much worse than the infection or any physical symptoms. Even today in parts of the world, persons are shunned long after the infection is cured and they can no longer cause the disease to be transmitted to others. Persons are kept from every day life and relationships - they are as isolated (more so) than if they were incarcerated in a colony. This is true of those with HIV (and full blown AIDS), alternative lifestyles, different ethnicities, felons, etc. The words "cleanse the leper" refer to our offering sanctuary and relationship to all those ostracized and isolated by the wisdom of the world.
So, how do we go about this? One is through educating ourselves about the risk; and becoming advocates for those who society isolates. The second is to love our neighbors as ourselves and to model that behavior to others. By doing these things, we become true disciples and create a world of welcome instead of a world of barriers.
During this season of Advent, season of light, and all other seasonal spiritual metaphor, let us truly open our hearts to those who are alienated, isolated, "unclean", and let the light of Jehovah shine into their lives and ours.
Peace and joy,
Dan
Thursday, December 9, 2010
"Heal the Sick..."
Today's post comes from the New Testament of the Bible - a snippet of a much longer aphorism of Jesus. This saying is delivered to disciples who I think were pondering just what it meant to follow this rabbi. Jesus was quite clear in his response saying, "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons." But what does that have to do with mere mortals - especially those engaged in trying to improve individual and communal health, wellness and wholeness (HW2)?
Many would suggest that what the current healthcare system is engaged in is exactly the mission of a disciple - healing the sick. However, in most if not all metrics, our "system" does very little to heal sickness - especially that which is not physical in nature. Many theologians suggest that the rabbi was not just talking about physical problems (since 2000 years ago there wasn't much to do for those anyway) but rather the disciples were to heal spiritual sickness as well. Most of the healing stories are as much healing of the relationship between the person and God as they are about physical healing.
At Possibilities Journey, Inc, (www.possjrny.org) we feel strongly that there is a spiritual component to every disease or diagnosis. We know that there is an epidemic (maybe a pandemic) of loneliness in our world - even though there are more people than anytime in history. Loneliness wounds and kills millions of people every year - and it is totally preventable. Fear, anxiety, alienation, stress, jealousy, greed, anger, are all spiritual issues that we are called upon through our belief in a power beyond ourselves, to heal. Our current secular and physiologic foci will not allow us to do this within the Episodic Intervention Portal that currently exists.
So, what do we do? We begin to heal the spiritual sicknesses of the world by becoming positively involved in each others lives. To ask the question, "How are you today?" and really mean it (and wait for the answer). I asked that of a dear friend last Sunday at church and he replied, "I'm not answering that question today." Hmmm, there's something more happening in that space - and when I followed up, it appears that lymphoma has recurred. My friend, who has been dreading this day since his first bout many years ago is now suffering greatly - primarily from a spiritual perspective. How do I help him heal? I remain a fixture in his life and engage him in a discussion about what is causing his illness.
I ask you to look beyond the surface of those around you to see the hidden sickness. Then I ask you to get involved. If you don't know how to do this - drop me a note on the PJ website and we'll work together to improve HW2.
Peace and grace,
Dan
Many would suggest that what the current healthcare system is engaged in is exactly the mission of a disciple - healing the sick. However, in most if not all metrics, our "system" does very little to heal sickness - especially that which is not physical in nature. Many theologians suggest that the rabbi was not just talking about physical problems (since 2000 years ago there wasn't much to do for those anyway) but rather the disciples were to heal spiritual sickness as well. Most of the healing stories are as much healing of the relationship between the person and God as they are about physical healing.
At Possibilities Journey, Inc, (www.possjrny.org) we feel strongly that there is a spiritual component to every disease or diagnosis. We know that there is an epidemic (maybe a pandemic) of loneliness in our world - even though there are more people than anytime in history. Loneliness wounds and kills millions of people every year - and it is totally preventable. Fear, anxiety, alienation, stress, jealousy, greed, anger, are all spiritual issues that we are called upon through our belief in a power beyond ourselves, to heal. Our current secular and physiologic foci will not allow us to do this within the Episodic Intervention Portal that currently exists.
So, what do we do? We begin to heal the spiritual sicknesses of the world by becoming positively involved in each others lives. To ask the question, "How are you today?" and really mean it (and wait for the answer). I asked that of a dear friend last Sunday at church and he replied, "I'm not answering that question today." Hmmm, there's something more happening in that space - and when I followed up, it appears that lymphoma has recurred. My friend, who has been dreading this day since his first bout many years ago is now suffering greatly - primarily from a spiritual perspective. How do I help him heal? I remain a fixture in his life and engage him in a discussion about what is causing his illness.
I ask you to look beyond the surface of those around you to see the hidden sickness. Then I ask you to get involved. If you don't know how to do this - drop me a note on the PJ website and we'll work together to improve HW2.
Peace and grace,
Dan
Monday, December 6, 2010
Spiritual wisdom traditions and HW2
Today's post comes from a reflection on the role of spiritual wisdom traditions in creating and maintaining health, wellness and wholeness (HW2)of communities. While I'm going to specifically reflect on my own wisdom tradition (that of Jesus) wisdom traditions abound in all major religions (e.g., the Jewish wisdom texts of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job) and serve the purpose of broadening our worldview. This change in viewpoint allows for a change in action and activity which has historically brought about healthy communities (with notable exceptions when the wisdom has been mis-applied).
The wisdom tradition of Jesus teaches followers (disciples) that they are to love God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength; and to love neighbor as self. This love creates and environment that emphasizes the needs of the other over the self, and thus intimately ties my own HW2 to another. How has that wisdom tradition been subverted here in the U.S. healthcare system? Note that many of our hospitals are (at least in name) affiliated with Christian doctrines (Catholic, Adventist, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran...) yet, they function as secular entities (personal experience in most if not all of these). How have the hospitals in the U.S., especially those with doctrinal ties, failed in their mission to love neighbor as self and to affect change in healthcare payment and practice in order to achieve this?
It's unfair to lay all the blame on institutions, as they are made up of people, and care for people who should be advocating for the "narrow way" as well. The system (or not) that we are saddled with now, is a result of decades of leadership (local and governmental) that failed to see the problems of the current approach; an individual hospital or system focus; the divorce of the spiritual from the physical. If we are to truly reform healthcare, then we must (in my opinion) look to our wisdom traditions to inform our worldview. We must acknowledge that we do not know everything (and never will) and that all people will die (it's a part of life).
We are a long way from walking through the narrow gate in the Jesus tradition - in healthcare reform and in life reform. Recapturing the wisdom traditions and using them the improve our HW2 is what Possibilities Journey, Inc is all about (www.possjrny.org). Come with us in 2011 and let's become wiser. BTW, if you're looking for a tax shelter at the end of the year, it's easy to donate to PJ at our website - we're a 501c3, so everything is tax deductible.
Peace,
Dan
The wisdom tradition of Jesus teaches followers (disciples) that they are to love God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength; and to love neighbor as self. This love creates and environment that emphasizes the needs of the other over the self, and thus intimately ties my own HW2 to another. How has that wisdom tradition been subverted here in the U.S. healthcare system? Note that many of our hospitals are (at least in name) affiliated with Christian doctrines (Catholic, Adventist, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran...) yet, they function as secular entities (personal experience in most if not all of these). How have the hospitals in the U.S., especially those with doctrinal ties, failed in their mission to love neighbor as self and to affect change in healthcare payment and practice in order to achieve this?
It's unfair to lay all the blame on institutions, as they are made up of people, and care for people who should be advocating for the "narrow way" as well. The system (or not) that we are saddled with now, is a result of decades of leadership (local and governmental) that failed to see the problems of the current approach; an individual hospital or system focus; the divorce of the spiritual from the physical. If we are to truly reform healthcare, then we must (in my opinion) look to our wisdom traditions to inform our worldview. We must acknowledge that we do not know everything (and never will) and that all people will die (it's a part of life).
We are a long way from walking through the narrow gate in the Jesus tradition - in healthcare reform and in life reform. Recapturing the wisdom traditions and using them the improve our HW2 is what Possibilities Journey, Inc is all about (www.possjrny.org). Come with us in 2011 and let's become wiser. BTW, if you're looking for a tax shelter at the end of the year, it's easy to donate to PJ at our website - we're a 501c3, so everything is tax deductible.
Peace,
Dan
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Learning together...or not
Today's post is stimulated by an ongoing dialogue with colleagues about how we learn and about whether or not "evidence-based medicine" will ever be mainstream. There are many wonderful things about the human body and psyche, there are also some really troublesome and tiring things about the human body and psyche. That sentence was profound, wasn't it?! I think, however, that it is often the elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge. The dark side of all of us that knows what to do, but like the typical teenager (at least in my house) does the opposite just for spite, or because they want to.
Learning is a complex process of trial and error, of reading and applying, of analyzing and discerning and then putting into action - or when finding an idea or concept lacking in verity, re-studying the problem. Humans appear to learn better when they are in dialogue about a topic and differing positions are presented. When the arena for debate is open and welcoming and allows for all to learn from each other. Healthcare learning has historically been "see one, do one, teach one" which allows for some grave misadventures. The trainer may or may not be cognizant of the best techniques or up-to-date knowledge, thus the learner perpetuates out-of-date knowledge.
This came home to me just last night as I attended a mandatory parent-student session in my 17 year olds Driver's Ed class. Seems that I was still adjusting my side mirrors "the old way" and holding the steering wheel in a less than optimal manner - who knew? That information had never been disseminated to me, and even though I've been driving for more than 30 years, I had never come into contact with this information. this is true of our healthcare practitioners as well. We all lead such busy lives that we can not keep up with the amount of data that are published. No matter what search engine we employ, or how many hours we decide to devote to "keeping up", there is no stopping the amount of data published. I'm talking about the best research - you know, randomized, controlled, double-blind, adequately powered clinical research. The mass of less than optimal material that is available is staggering. Unfortunately, this is what is most often picked up by a news media and well meaning persons (WMP's) who are "researching" a malady - but who don't have an adequate science or statistical background to know when a study design is fatally flawed.
Once we do learn something new, there are not adequate venues for sharing our knowledge. As my experience showed from last night, I will now share with my wife, and we will tell others, but that is piecemeal and less than optimal distribution. How can we learn to do better? One way is to engage with each other in a dialogue about our health, wellness and wholeness. Create environments and groups for open sharing about what we know - and more importantly, what we don't know. That is what Possibilities Journey (www.possjrny.org) is up to for 2011. Informed dialogue that helps all of us learn and makes us all a little bit better.
Hoping that you all have had your influenza vaccine by now - if not, there's still time to get one. BTW, the evidence suggests that it is about 70% effective at preventing the flu. ;-)
Peace,
Dan
Learning is a complex process of trial and error, of reading and applying, of analyzing and discerning and then putting into action - or when finding an idea or concept lacking in verity, re-studying the problem. Humans appear to learn better when they are in dialogue about a topic and differing positions are presented. When the arena for debate is open and welcoming and allows for all to learn from each other. Healthcare learning has historically been "see one, do one, teach one" which allows for some grave misadventures. The trainer may or may not be cognizant of the best techniques or up-to-date knowledge, thus the learner perpetuates out-of-date knowledge.
This came home to me just last night as I attended a mandatory parent-student session in my 17 year olds Driver's Ed class. Seems that I was still adjusting my side mirrors "the old way" and holding the steering wheel in a less than optimal manner - who knew? That information had never been disseminated to me, and even though I've been driving for more than 30 years, I had never come into contact with this information. this is true of our healthcare practitioners as well. We all lead such busy lives that we can not keep up with the amount of data that are published. No matter what search engine we employ, or how many hours we decide to devote to "keeping up", there is no stopping the amount of data published. I'm talking about the best research - you know, randomized, controlled, double-blind, adequately powered clinical research. The mass of less than optimal material that is available is staggering. Unfortunately, this is what is most often picked up by a news media and well meaning persons (WMP's) who are "researching" a malady - but who don't have an adequate science or statistical background to know when a study design is fatally flawed.
Once we do learn something new, there are not adequate venues for sharing our knowledge. As my experience showed from last night, I will now share with my wife, and we will tell others, but that is piecemeal and less than optimal distribution. How can we learn to do better? One way is to engage with each other in a dialogue about our health, wellness and wholeness. Create environments and groups for open sharing about what we know - and more importantly, what we don't know. That is what Possibilities Journey (www.possjrny.org) is up to for 2011. Informed dialogue that helps all of us learn and makes us all a little bit better.
Hoping that you all have had your influenza vaccine by now - if not, there's still time to get one. BTW, the evidence suggests that it is about 70% effective at preventing the flu. ;-)
Peace,
Dan
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