Friends:
I read with interest a report in the March 24, 2010, New York Times entitled, "Social Networks a Lifeline for the Chronically Ill". (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/technology/25disable.html?scp=1&sq=pew%20chronic&st=cse) In it, the reporter reveals a virtual world of health, wellness and spiritual support that I was unaware of. Being a relative "newbie" to this whole realm of "social networking", I find myself fascinated both with its ubiquity and its draw. I was also struck by the fact that the Pew Foundation had recently published a report evaluating this issue. (Available at www.pewinternet.org/reports/2010/chronic-disease)
I'm intrigued by some of the statements of those with chronic illnesses like diabetes and multiple sclerosis who feel comfortable enough with their on-line "friends" that they share intimate details of their lives. What mystifies me, is why these persons do not feel empowered, or do not have access to, "real world" and face-to-face support systems. A recurring theme in the article is that the internet social networks link persons with similar disorders, so that there is a pre-set empathy for what each person is experiencing.
My new charity, Possibilities Journey, Inc., (www.possjrny.org) is exploring how to return spirituality to health, wellness and wholeness. Implicit in this is the return of the role of faith communities to the practice of providing space for persons seeking these things to gather. Historically, that was one of the major roles of faith communities, but it has become less and less of a focus over the years. Connection, acceptance and unconditional love, once the cornerstones of faith communities, now seem to be almost totally lacking.
So I find myself wondering how to link this new technology with the concept of faith groups in a faith community. Could the stodgy old "support group" model become enlivened with on-line chatting in between meetings? Might the on-line group "drive" some face-to-face prograqms where all could benefit? Might social network sites for the chronically ill be moderated by health and spiritual professionals who could answer questions and provide care and comfort? What have I not even thought of...?
I look forward to your thoughts. Peace and grace.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
How are you?!
Friends:
We often greet one another with, “Hi, how are you?” Many times, we really don’t listen for a response – nor do we really want someone to tell us truly how they are. In fact, in cultures other than the U.S., saying, "Hi, how are you?" is considreed somewhat rude if you do not have a friendship with that person already. They realize that we really aren't asking how they are, it is just a "filler" for us. It took me a while on a mission trip to the Czech Republic a few years ago to stop greeting people in this way - I just began to say hello in czech. Once I stopped being flip (their impression) I found that people openend up more, and we eventually got into a conversation about their life and the issues in it.
A related question is, “How is it with your soul?” How often have you asked even close friends (maybe even those who attend a faith community with you) this question? I suspect that your answer (like mine) would be seldom if ever; and we are dumfounded when the response is, “I’m not in a good place spiritually, can you help?” How would you respond to that? Do you feel equipped to take on someone's spiritual burden(s)?
Health, wellness and wholeness are inextricably linked - in fact, they are interdependent. Much of the dis-ease in developed countries is do to the de-linking of spiritual health with physical and mental health. In fact, though hospitals developed out of faith communities (e.g., catholic, baptist, methodist, adventist) the influence of the faith portion of the practice has erroded until the only thing spiritual about the facility is the name. Even in catholic hospitals, it is becoming more difficult to find a nun anywhere on the premises. Another case-in-point is the lack of hospital chaplaincy in many hospitals in the country. Even if there is a chaplain, the position is woefully underfunded and under-empowered to perform the dutyto spiritually care for all ill and injured persons.
So, while my premise here is that there is a spiritual component to all disease, we (health care professionals) are never trained to address these issues. Now, this is changing at some progressive health professions training programs in this country and abroad, however, the impact is still quite limited. Following the Enlightenment and the subsequent rise of the scientific model, spirituality was seen more and more as a figment of the imagination. God was (and is) relegated to a position of "last resort"; that is, when the medical cure model has failed, bring in God to mop up the mess.
Twenty-plus years of working in ICU's has taught me many lessons. One of those is that if people do not believe that there is anywhere to go, or that the place awaiting them is not pleasant, they will fight with every last ounce of energy for every last breath and heartbeat. Is it any wonder then that the healthcare dollar expenditure during the last year of life is astronomical? Without a spiritual focus and relationship, people die in fear of the unknown and unknowable. That's where our focus needs to be - offering care to the whole of the person, not just the constellation of disease pathology, symptom management and control of adverse effects of medications and procedures.
So the next time you ask someone how they are, make sure that you take the time to actively listen to the answer. Remember also that the care you show will be reflected back upon you.
Peace!
We often greet one another with, “Hi, how are you?” Many times, we really don’t listen for a response – nor do we really want someone to tell us truly how they are. In fact, in cultures other than the U.S., saying, "Hi, how are you?" is considreed somewhat rude if you do not have a friendship with that person already. They realize that we really aren't asking how they are, it is just a "filler" for us. It took me a while on a mission trip to the Czech Republic a few years ago to stop greeting people in this way - I just began to say hello in czech. Once I stopped being flip (their impression) I found that people openend up more, and we eventually got into a conversation about their life and the issues in it.
A related question is, “How is it with your soul?” How often have you asked even close friends (maybe even those who attend a faith community with you) this question? I suspect that your answer (like mine) would be seldom if ever; and we are dumfounded when the response is, “I’m not in a good place spiritually, can you help?” How would you respond to that? Do you feel equipped to take on someone's spiritual burden(s)?
Health, wellness and wholeness are inextricably linked - in fact, they are interdependent. Much of the dis-ease in developed countries is do to the de-linking of spiritual health with physical and mental health. In fact, though hospitals developed out of faith communities (e.g., catholic, baptist, methodist, adventist) the influence of the faith portion of the practice has erroded until the only thing spiritual about the facility is the name. Even in catholic hospitals, it is becoming more difficult to find a nun anywhere on the premises. Another case-in-point is the lack of hospital chaplaincy in many hospitals in the country. Even if there is a chaplain, the position is woefully underfunded and under-empowered to perform the dutyto spiritually care for all ill and injured persons.
So, while my premise here is that there is a spiritual component to all disease, we (health care professionals) are never trained to address these issues. Now, this is changing at some progressive health professions training programs in this country and abroad, however, the impact is still quite limited. Following the Enlightenment and the subsequent rise of the scientific model, spirituality was seen more and more as a figment of the imagination. God was (and is) relegated to a position of "last resort"; that is, when the medical cure model has failed, bring in God to mop up the mess.
Twenty-plus years of working in ICU's has taught me many lessons. One of those is that if people do not believe that there is anywhere to go, or that the place awaiting them is not pleasant, they will fight with every last ounce of energy for every last breath and heartbeat. Is it any wonder then that the healthcare dollar expenditure during the last year of life is astronomical? Without a spiritual focus and relationship, people die in fear of the unknown and unknowable. That's where our focus needs to be - offering care to the whole of the person, not just the constellation of disease pathology, symptom management and control of adverse effects of medications and procedures.
So the next time you ask someone how they are, make sure that you take the time to actively listen to the answer. Remember also that the care you show will be reflected back upon you.
Peace!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Healthcare Reform Bill - Will it Make a Difference?
Friends:
Well, it has come to pass, a healthcare reform bill has made it through our convoluted legislative process and is moving towards the White House. Since I'm not old enough to have witnessed the activities surrounding the passage of Medicare/Medicaid in the mid-60's, I can only wonder if it was as troubling as this process was (my belief is that we are suffering as those a genertion older than me did)?
So what will it "mean" for us as citizens and as users of healthcare in the U.S.? What this "means" will likely remain hidden for a very long time to come. It has taken a decades to appreciate the benefit versus burden of Medicare/Medicaid, and this will be no different. Has this current bill addressed the major issues of social injustice? Has this bill created the safety-net for those un- or under-insured? Will it allow the end-user to fully interact with the system to insure that they get meaningful care for their health (or their dis-ease)? What will be the financial burden of this legislation and who(m) will it impact most heavily? So many questions, so few answers; possibly so little in the way of wisdom or meaningful reform.
But, can we really expect wisdom and caring from legislation? Isn't that what our call is - to work within the human systems that we create in order to identify the burdens; and then to work diligently to relieve them? From a spiritual/moral/ethical standpoint, that appears to be the requirement. Nothing created of "man" can in any way be perfect. Though the Bill passed, there is nothing like consensus in the aftermath. An earlier post here discussed briefly the issue of spiritual indifference - that ability to suspend judgement until wisdom and insight are achieved.
I encourage all to interact with this new world as they seem called to do. Put aside rhetoric and partisan politics and listen for truth and wisdom. Be in dialogue with one another to identify opportunities for systems improvements. Above all, remain in discernment about how this Bill can be a step forward on our paths towards health, wellness and wholeness.
Peace
Well, it has come to pass, a healthcare reform bill has made it through our convoluted legislative process and is moving towards the White House. Since I'm not old enough to have witnessed the activities surrounding the passage of Medicare/Medicaid in the mid-60's, I can only wonder if it was as troubling as this process was (my belief is that we are suffering as those a genertion older than me did)?
So what will it "mean" for us as citizens and as users of healthcare in the U.S.? What this "means" will likely remain hidden for a very long time to come. It has taken a decades to appreciate the benefit versus burden of Medicare/Medicaid, and this will be no different. Has this current bill addressed the major issues of social injustice? Has this bill created the safety-net for those un- or under-insured? Will it allow the end-user to fully interact with the system to insure that they get meaningful care for their health (or their dis-ease)? What will be the financial burden of this legislation and who(m) will it impact most heavily? So many questions, so few answers; possibly so little in the way of wisdom or meaningful reform.
But, can we really expect wisdom and caring from legislation? Isn't that what our call is - to work within the human systems that we create in order to identify the burdens; and then to work diligently to relieve them? From a spiritual/moral/ethical standpoint, that appears to be the requirement. Nothing created of "man" can in any way be perfect. Though the Bill passed, there is nothing like consensus in the aftermath. An earlier post here discussed briefly the issue of spiritual indifference - that ability to suspend judgement until wisdom and insight are achieved.
I encourage all to interact with this new world as they seem called to do. Put aside rhetoric and partisan politics and listen for truth and wisdom. Be in dialogue with one another to identify opportunities for systems improvements. Above all, remain in discernment about how this Bill can be a step forward on our paths towards health, wellness and wholeness.
Peace
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Pervasive Problem of Evil
Friends:
One of the biggest problems in spirituality is the concept of how and why a God of love would allow evil to exist. Most theologies have a section of writing devoted to this issue - that is, the discussion of theodicy. For some, the problem of evil becomes a barrier to moving forward in their belief in a "higher power". They want "their God" to be all powerful and infallible, and in many ways they want this god to run their lives.
The God of the Abrahamic faiths, however, allows for humans to have and to exercise free will. By allowing this (i.e., not limiting choice) the God of Abraham allows for humans to be evil as well as good. The interaction of Satan with Eve in the Garden of Eden is the earliest example of this.
Evil is always seductive, and usually the most destructive and pervasive forms are cloaked in well meaning answers to human problems. In fact, human solutions to social issues often go awry because we are limited in our ability to see all possible solutions, and forget to "love others as ourselves".
Case-in-point, how is it that the Department of Corrections has become the largest provider of service to the mentally ill? This happened from well-meaning legislation in the mid-1980's which dismanteled the state hospital system. Now, there certainly needed to be reform in that system, but "throwing the baby our with the bathwater" has resulted 25 years later, in many of these ill and poorly cared for persons ending up incarcerated. I don't think that anyone can argue vociferously that this was the intended outcome from that well-meaning legislation - simply that it was an unintended societal evil (i.e., social injustice).
Our only way to combat evil is through opening ourselves to love. The only way we can do that is through study and prayer. Evil will never be overcome, but its scope can be limited by our world view.
Peace!
One of the biggest problems in spirituality is the concept of how and why a God of love would allow evil to exist. Most theologies have a section of writing devoted to this issue - that is, the discussion of theodicy. For some, the problem of evil becomes a barrier to moving forward in their belief in a "higher power". They want "their God" to be all powerful and infallible, and in many ways they want this god to run their lives.
The God of the Abrahamic faiths, however, allows for humans to have and to exercise free will. By allowing this (i.e., not limiting choice) the God of Abraham allows for humans to be evil as well as good. The interaction of Satan with Eve in the Garden of Eden is the earliest example of this.
Evil is always seductive, and usually the most destructive and pervasive forms are cloaked in well meaning answers to human problems. In fact, human solutions to social issues often go awry because we are limited in our ability to see all possible solutions, and forget to "love others as ourselves".
Case-in-point, how is it that the Department of Corrections has become the largest provider of service to the mentally ill? This happened from well-meaning legislation in the mid-1980's which dismanteled the state hospital system. Now, there certainly needed to be reform in that system, but "throwing the baby our with the bathwater" has resulted 25 years later, in many of these ill and poorly cared for persons ending up incarcerated. I don't think that anyone can argue vociferously that this was the intended outcome from that well-meaning legislation - simply that it was an unintended societal evil (i.e., social injustice).
Our only way to combat evil is through opening ourselves to love. The only way we can do that is through study and prayer. Evil will never be overcome, but its scope can be limited by our world view.
Peace!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Spiritual Indifference
The thoughts that I have today are reflective of a comment that my spiritual director made at our monthly visit this week. She said, "I'm very concerned that our politicians have lost the ability to form consensus!"
That has really stuck with me, as I am working with the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, and have come through the Foundational section on love and spiritual indifference. Indifference in this usage is that ability to suspend judgment and allow openness for wisdom to provide the answer to a situation. It occurs to me that we as humans can never reach consensus unless we are able to suspend judgment and be open to possible solutions/wisdom.
With powerful lobbyists and other opinion makers clogging the airwaves and print media, it is difficult if not impossible to remain open. Certainly our faith communities are not immune to this - and my own struggles with persons who are very controlling and who attempt to create an environment that is how they want it to be.
So, how do we find consensus in our lives? We return to the source of all love and to the understanding that we have been created to love and serve God exclusively, and that we do this by loving and serving our neighbors as ourselves.
Peace
That has really stuck with me, as I am working with the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, and have come through the Foundational section on love and spiritual indifference. Indifference in this usage is that ability to suspend judgment and allow openness for wisdom to provide the answer to a situation. It occurs to me that we as humans can never reach consensus unless we are able to suspend judgment and be open to possible solutions/wisdom.
With powerful lobbyists and other opinion makers clogging the airwaves and print media, it is difficult if not impossible to remain open. Certainly our faith communities are not immune to this - and my own struggles with persons who are very controlling and who attempt to create an environment that is how they want it to be.
So, how do we find consensus in our lives? We return to the source of all love and to the understanding that we have been created to love and serve God exclusively, and that we do this by loving and serving our neighbors as ourselves.
Peace
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Interesting though troubling statistic...
Friends:
There has been a statistic floating around the worlds of Medicine and Pharmacy for a long time that has always bothered me - I wonder what your take is?!
The statistic is that 50% of the prescriptions written in the U.S. are never filled. That's right, 1:2 prescriptions written by a prescriber are NEVER filled! I've often wondered why this is...
Lately, it has occurred to me that one reason behind this lack of follow through may be a spiritual issue. That is, when one is not connected well to a person i.e., in this case usually a physician) then there is no faith or trust - no shared agency. The current healthcare structure only allows about 7 minutes with a prescriber once or twice a year - there is no possible way to develop a relationship and/or trust in that amount of time.
I wonder what your reaction is to this? Have you ever not filled a prescription, and if so, what caused you to not fill it?
I look forward to our discernment!
There has been a statistic floating around the worlds of Medicine and Pharmacy for a long time that has always bothered me - I wonder what your take is?!
The statistic is that 50% of the prescriptions written in the U.S. are never filled. That's right, 1:2 prescriptions written by a prescriber are NEVER filled! I've often wondered why this is...
Lately, it has occurred to me that one reason behind this lack of follow through may be a spiritual issue. That is, when one is not connected well to a person i.e., in this case usually a physician) then there is no faith or trust - no shared agency. The current healthcare structure only allows about 7 minutes with a prescriber once or twice a year - there is no possible way to develop a relationship and/or trust in that amount of time.
I wonder what your reaction is to this? Have you ever not filled a prescription, and if so, what caused you to not fill it?
I look forward to our discernment!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Introduction
To get things started, I thought I'd write a bit about this new entity, "Possibilities Journey, Inc." It is incorporated as a non-profit and hopefully will be deemed a public charity (IRS willing). The vision is one of helping us all inform our worldview from a unitive mind rather than a dualistic mindset. The dualistic mind sees things as "We vs. They" or "I vs. It" or "Us vs. Them". Always the entity viewing the "other" as different (and usually in a negative light).
The unitive mind sees all as one. Thus, it is the essence of Martin Buber's "I-Thou" philosophy/theology. It is the essence of Christian theology as one tries to love our neighbors as ourselves, and God before all other idols.
So, what does this have to do with health, wellness and wholeness? In the unitive mind, there are no distinctions - all is one. Thus, what I do to myself, affects you and all others who inhabit this world. Therefore, if I am unhealthy, my dis-ease affects all those around me. By improving my health and wellness, and working on my spiritual disciplines to improve my relationship with God, I improve my wholeness (or lessen my brokenness whichever you prefer).
This is the path that Possibilities Journey, Inc. is embarking on. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Also, take a peek at our website at: www.possjrny.org. I hope you find somehting there that interests and challenges you.
Peace to all,
Dan
The unitive mind sees all as one. Thus, it is the essence of Martin Buber's "I-Thou" philosophy/theology. It is the essence of Christian theology as one tries to love our neighbors as ourselves, and God before all other idols.
So, what does this have to do with health, wellness and wholeness? In the unitive mind, there are no distinctions - all is one. Thus, what I do to myself, affects you and all others who inhabit this world. Therefore, if I am unhealthy, my dis-ease affects all those around me. By improving my health and wellness, and working on my spiritual disciplines to improve my relationship with God, I improve my wholeness (or lessen my brokenness whichever you prefer).
This is the path that Possibilities Journey, Inc. is embarking on. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Also, take a peek at our website at: www.possjrny.org. I hope you find somehting there that interests and challenges you.
Peace to all,
Dan
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