"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