Sorry I only posted one blog last week - I was in Memphis, TN, on Thursday meeting with the Congregational Health Network (CHN) folks to learn the "ins and outs" of their program. They impressed me with their humility, their inquisitiveness, their structure, and their passion for what they are doing. For those not familiar with CHN, it is a covenental relationship between the hospitals and more than 350 faith communities in greater Memphis that seeks to improve healthcare by recreating a healthier system that addresses the spiritual aspects of illness and the societal barriers that keep Memphians from that health. Fascinating!
I noted that everyone connected to the program has their own health as a primary focus. Though they work very hard, there is a focus on wellness for each member of the program. I also felt a real sense of "family" from Dr. Gary Gunderson (who heads the program) to the Administrative Aide in the offices. They reflected for me the concept of healthy service - given from a perspective of servanthood rather than servitude. Servanthood is empowered and energizing, servitude is disempowering and being treated as a slave (or having that attitude about what one is doing).
I was musing on this yesterday as I led worship for 3 services at my church, taught adult Sunday School and lead a DivorceCare group. The air conditioner decided to take most of the day off, and it was warm and stuffy in the Sanctuary for the 0830 and 1700 services. It was a challenge that was good for me in that I lived the life of my clergy (for a brief moment) and as a Lay Leader, gained new perspective into how much energy is expended - and what my clergy need in order to be healthy in their service. It also raised up to me the concept that if one is not caring for oneself, the overwhelming nature of doing that every Sunday would soon leave me bereft of energy.
I noticed at CHN, from Dr. Gunderson on down, a culture of empowered space had been created where people were enculturated and then allowed to create. The environment created was one that emphasized the need for rich dialogue which informed their intelligence (individual and programmatic) and lead to development of practical or day-to-day wisdom. How many of us as leaders or workers would love to go to work, or to create such an environment; one that leads to healthy service.
For those of you active in faith communities, take time this week to thank your leadership. They labor often behind the scene and seldom receive words of appreciation and thanks. Help to create an environment for them to serve that is healthy and empowering. In this way, their service will be long and frutiful.
Peace for the journey,
Dan
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Seeing is Believing...
This past Saturday I participated in my faith community's monthly community assistance (CA) program. During this time, people who are "down on their luck" (nice euphemism) come to our church to receive a hot meal, some fellowship, some USDA food for those who qualify, a chance at clothing and toiletries. They are with us for a couple of hours and then disappear back into their worlds - as we do to ours.
My role in the CA program is to take prayer requests and pray over them. I also offer to give individual prayer and lead a corporate blessing prior to the meal. In addition, I attempt to meet with each of the groups of volunteers and pray with and for them prior to their interaction with the attendees. This was my first month in this role and I was amazed how my vision changed and how I came to believe different things about this cadre of God's children and aobut the power of belief.
Of the 37 written prayers that I received, about half of them were in Spanish (I'm able to glean some of the thoughts) the rest in various forms of English. Because of the nature of the population we serve, many prayers were for justice and a revision of immigration policy. There were also prayers for jobs or to retain jobs. Prayers for loved ones in other countries and for families that they could stay together. There were also prayers of thanks and prayers for healing and prayers for my congregation for their outreach. Some signed their prayers, some were nameless cries out from the world - hoping/trusting that there is something else beyond their current existence.
So it is that my vision was transformed. I came to believe all over again that faith and hope are always for things unseen (as it says in the New Testament). There was a very touching prayer to return to a person's home country to be with family - but to trust God fully "no matter what the situation". Seeing these heartfelt prayer requests, and taking them into my daily prayer time has allowed my belief to grow stronger. What a great blessing it is to be in relationship with these brothers and sisters!
May your week be blessed as well by interactions with other children of God - take a moment to pray for someone else and see how your vision changes!
Dan
My role in the CA program is to take prayer requests and pray over them. I also offer to give individual prayer and lead a corporate blessing prior to the meal. In addition, I attempt to meet with each of the groups of volunteers and pray with and for them prior to their interaction with the attendees. This was my first month in this role and I was amazed how my vision changed and how I came to believe different things about this cadre of God's children and aobut the power of belief.
Of the 37 written prayers that I received, about half of them were in Spanish (I'm able to glean some of the thoughts) the rest in various forms of English. Because of the nature of the population we serve, many prayers were for justice and a revision of immigration policy. There were also prayers for jobs or to retain jobs. Prayers for loved ones in other countries and for families that they could stay together. There were also prayers of thanks and prayers for healing and prayers for my congregation for their outreach. Some signed their prayers, some were nameless cries out from the world - hoping/trusting that there is something else beyond their current existence.
So it is that my vision was transformed. I came to believe all over again that faith and hope are always for things unseen (as it says in the New Testament). There was a very touching prayer to return to a person's home country to be with family - but to trust God fully "no matter what the situation". Seeing these heartfelt prayer requests, and taking them into my daily prayer time has allowed my belief to grow stronger. What a great blessing it is to be in relationship with these brothers and sisters!
May your week be blessed as well by interactions with other children of God - take a moment to pray for someone else and see how your vision changes!
Dan
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Natural Healing
I was engaged in a conversation the other day with a friend who noted the power of spiritual healing that he experienced when he took himself out into nature. Those of us who happen to be outdoors-people know this to be a fact. That is likely why we're drawn outside in the first place. Granted, in this hyper-competitive world in which we find ourselves, there are all sorts of distractions (I'm thinking about extreme-type "sports") that keep people from the healing power of nature. Why is it that we think we have to fill a beautiful space with our ego-driven perspectives?
What is it about being out of the urban environment and our "usual" lives that brings healing? To a great extent, I find the spaciousness of the natural world, and the rhythm of the citizens of that space to be calming and orderly. I find that there's not the chaos that is so much a part of my life. I also find that the noises from birds, wind, insects, and other denziens is not annoying or damaging, rather it is all part of the grand scheme and each sound has a purpose. My brokenness begins to heal as I experience unity with the larger environment - I find a sense of belonging and meaning.
Purpose, belonging, meaning, hmmm. Maybe that's the ticket. So much of our lives right now seems to lack a sense of purpose, belonging and meaning. We try to compensate with more noise and busy-ness, filling our days with "stuff" rather than making things easier and more simple and starting to deal with the loss of these spiritual matters. How much time have you spent considering what it is that you might be truly gifted and called to do - rather than what you are doing? People can easily get lost in this world, and hurry themselves into the abyss of activity without purpose and meaning. Isolating themselves from others through hyper-competitiveness and egocentrism.
So this week (and this weekend) try something that I've been working on for the last 6 months. The comment from "Good and Beautiful God" by James Bryan Smith to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" has made a world of difference to me and my worldview. By eliminating my need to hurry, I find that I have more focus and more space in my day. It helps to get back into natural rhythms and find some peace. Take a walk in the woods, paddle a canoe, sit and watch the grass grow - just unwind with the natural world. You'll be glad that you did!
Peace,
Dan
What is it about being out of the urban environment and our "usual" lives that brings healing? To a great extent, I find the spaciousness of the natural world, and the rhythm of the citizens of that space to be calming and orderly. I find that there's not the chaos that is so much a part of my life. I also find that the noises from birds, wind, insects, and other denziens is not annoying or damaging, rather it is all part of the grand scheme and each sound has a purpose. My brokenness begins to heal as I experience unity with the larger environment - I find a sense of belonging and meaning.
Purpose, belonging, meaning, hmmm. Maybe that's the ticket. So much of our lives right now seems to lack a sense of purpose, belonging and meaning. We try to compensate with more noise and busy-ness, filling our days with "stuff" rather than making things easier and more simple and starting to deal with the loss of these spiritual matters. How much time have you spent considering what it is that you might be truly gifted and called to do - rather than what you are doing? People can easily get lost in this world, and hurry themselves into the abyss of activity without purpose and meaning. Isolating themselves from others through hyper-competitiveness and egocentrism.
So this week (and this weekend) try something that I've been working on for the last 6 months. The comment from "Good and Beautiful God" by James Bryan Smith to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" has made a world of difference to me and my worldview. By eliminating my need to hurry, I find that I have more focus and more space in my day. It helps to get back into natural rhythms and find some peace. Take a walk in the woods, paddle a canoe, sit and watch the grass grow - just unwind with the natural world. You'll be glad that you did!
Peace,
Dan
Monday, May 16, 2011
Inclusivity as a Key to Health
Today's post is a reaction to, or more correctly an extension of, some conversations revolving around the spiritual concept of inclusivity. I've been reading Rob Bell's new book, "Love Wins" as has a portion of my faith community, and the book is generating some interesting dialogue. There are many situations in our world that cry out for more inclusivity, yet we humans have a really difficult time moving away from our dualistic mindset (We-They, Us-Them, I-It) to a unitive (all is one) frame of reference. It is clear to me at this point in my journey that we will not find healing until we can find a way to unity.
The conversation that really sparked this post had to do with homosexuals and the church (individual as well as universal church). My conversation occurred with a younger person who is exploring a call to ministry. This person asked the question about how I felt about "gays" as pastors. I have come quite a distance in my own thinking on this and was able to reasonably cogently express my thoughts from a viewpoint of the Bible being all about creating right relationships and about inclusivity. My comments made the person uncomfortable, but also challenged him to think outside his preconceived notions.
Inclusivity is not just confined to issues of sexual orientation, however. Much of the social injustice found in our world stems from a lack of inclusivity. Just ponder the fact that 46 million persons (many of the children) are without adequate health care insurance. The unitive mind rebles at this and can not rationalize how we could be debating whether or not to fund programs to right this wrong. The dualistic minds in our government, however, debate how this will play to "their" consituents and "those" that oppose their political views.
Every church battles with inclusivity - the mentally ill, the homeless (often one and the same), divorced persons, those with chronic physical ailments, the elderly, different races and religious viewpoints, male and female leadership, etc. Division in the church is a direct result of division in our minds. Our worldview determines our choices and our subsequent actions. It can be no other way...but there is another way, isn't there?! There is a way to abundant life and to a life that is in keeping with a greater unitive, redemptive narrative. There is a way to wholeness, to health and to wellness for all who choose it. In this way, I think that Rev. Bell is right - love does indeed win, and those who choose love and unity will also win.
So this week, take a look at your choices and evaluate how inclusive they are. Look for ways to increase unity and decrease division. Look for ways to improve your health, wellness and wholeness through the narrative of love.
Peace and unity,
Dan
The conversation that really sparked this post had to do with homosexuals and the church (individual as well as universal church). My conversation occurred with a younger person who is exploring a call to ministry. This person asked the question about how I felt about "gays" as pastors. I have come quite a distance in my own thinking on this and was able to reasonably cogently express my thoughts from a viewpoint of the Bible being all about creating right relationships and about inclusivity. My comments made the person uncomfortable, but also challenged him to think outside his preconceived notions.
Inclusivity is not just confined to issues of sexual orientation, however. Much of the social injustice found in our world stems from a lack of inclusivity. Just ponder the fact that 46 million persons (many of the children) are without adequate health care insurance. The unitive mind rebles at this and can not rationalize how we could be debating whether or not to fund programs to right this wrong. The dualistic minds in our government, however, debate how this will play to "their" consituents and "those" that oppose their political views.
Every church battles with inclusivity - the mentally ill, the homeless (often one and the same), divorced persons, those with chronic physical ailments, the elderly, different races and religious viewpoints, male and female leadership, etc. Division in the church is a direct result of division in our minds. Our worldview determines our choices and our subsequent actions. It can be no other way...but there is another way, isn't there?! There is a way to abundant life and to a life that is in keeping with a greater unitive, redemptive narrative. There is a way to wholeness, to health and to wellness for all who choose it. In this way, I think that Rev. Bell is right - love does indeed win, and those who choose love and unity will also win.
So this week, take a look at your choices and evaluate how inclusive they are. Look for ways to increase unity and decrease division. Look for ways to improve your health, wellness and wholeness through the narrative of love.
Peace and unity,
Dan
Monday, May 9, 2011
Healing in Community
Yesterday I facilitated a new group for persons going through divorce. The program I'm using is called "DivorceCare", is based in Christian spirituality, and it was really well received by the 10 persons who attended. The format is a video with "experts" and then a support group session afterwards. Even though it was the first meeting of people (most of whom didn't know each other) the sharing was profound and emotional. Many responded that they were relieved to finally have a place that they could share their thoughts, emotions and experiences with people who were walking the same path.
I was reminded again of the power of shared experience and community. The power is really one of empathy and that ability to connect on a deep level. This provides a space where people can safely name the hurt(s) and regain a sense that they are not alone in their struggle. What a blessing to be a part of such a group! Lots of really raw emotions and some tears, but the group left yesterday feeling relieved and I think ready to come back next week (it's a 13-week program).
Though some can find healing in isolation, most of us heal better and more fully in community. While healing community is realtively easier to build with a group of 10 with shared experiences, it is not impossible (just improbable?) to build these kind of communities where we live, work and play. The latter requires an open-ness to come together to address some of the "big ticket" social ills and needs. It is a willingness to hear the other and to empathize - to realize that we are all walking the same path. How difficult it is in these polarizing times to realize that most of our perceived differences are illusory. The illusion created by our fears of difference and our idol of individual freedom at the expense of others.
Unless we come together as people who share experience and vision, we will not heal ourselves or our planet. There are many forces standing in the way of this - powerful and plugged-in forces. It will require the persistence of a Mandela, Gandhi, Tutu, Romero, and all of the nameless "saints" who achieved so much against such great odds. Who among us will being this process of healing - is it you?
Peace for your week,
Dan
I was reminded again of the power of shared experience and community. The power is really one of empathy and that ability to connect on a deep level. This provides a space where people can safely name the hurt(s) and regain a sense that they are not alone in their struggle. What a blessing to be a part of such a group! Lots of really raw emotions and some tears, but the group left yesterday feeling relieved and I think ready to come back next week (it's a 13-week program).
Though some can find healing in isolation, most of us heal better and more fully in community. While healing community is realtively easier to build with a group of 10 with shared experiences, it is not impossible (just improbable?) to build these kind of communities where we live, work and play. The latter requires an open-ness to come together to address some of the "big ticket" social ills and needs. It is a willingness to hear the other and to empathize - to realize that we are all walking the same path. How difficult it is in these polarizing times to realize that most of our perceived differences are illusory. The illusion created by our fears of difference and our idol of individual freedom at the expense of others.
Unless we come together as people who share experience and vision, we will not heal ourselves or our planet. There are many forces standing in the way of this - powerful and plugged-in forces. It will require the persistence of a Mandela, Gandhi, Tutu, Romero, and all of the nameless "saints" who achieved so much against such great odds. Who among us will being this process of healing - is it you?
Peace for your week,
Dan
Friday, May 6, 2011
View From a 14 year old...
It is challenging in my house right now - I'm the father of a 14 year old. Those of you who've parented these beings are smiling right now, and probably sending out prayers for patience. ;-) Fourteen is all about the world according to "me". This is an interesting worldview, as the tens of millions of 14's see the world in their own individualistic ways. My version does not want to hear about facts or truth or an opinion not his own...sound familiar? He's all about attracting attention to himself (he's also an actor) and will lie about most everything.
I found myself the other day involved with people who are much older than my 14 year old - but who had never grown out of that worldview. Once I realized what was happening, I felt this wave of compassion and empathy for those who's view of things was stuck at that level. It is understandable to have a 14 year old worldview at 14 - but how problematic it is when your past 40 (some way past). After the meeting finished, I mused for a while about what could have led to this lack of development - and on the impact of this viewpoint on individual and communal health, wellness and wholeness (HW2).
It's been said that if you don't stand for something that you'll fall for anything. We are living in such a world. A generation of people has drifted away from moral, ethical and theological teachings and living. Corporate and individual greed is at an all time high. Five percent of the population in the U.S. controls approximately 70% of the wealth (the top 1% controls a third). [from "No Common Good?" by Gary Dorrien, Christian Century, April 19, 2011 edition] Mr. Dorrien goes on to say that the very same banks that were "too big to fail" and were bailed out by all of us are now engaging in activities that lead to the last meltdown. Can we expect any different outcome? Are we going to do anything about it? The "world according to me" is unsustainable and unethical - what can we do?
We can get back to the basics of "first do no harm", "love your neighbor as yourself", "helping the least and the lost", listening to a narrative that's not all about our own needs at the expense of someone else. Maybe it's time for a year of Jubilee - forgiveness of debt and return of land. Could you live on less than $2 per day per person in your household? For how long and at what cost to your HW2? Would it show you a new worldview? I'm at the point of trying - to become the change that I want to see in the world (from Mahatma Gandhi).
How about your worldview and your narrative - time to grow up?
Peace,
Dan
I found myself the other day involved with people who are much older than my 14 year old - but who had never grown out of that worldview. Once I realized what was happening, I felt this wave of compassion and empathy for those who's view of things was stuck at that level. It is understandable to have a 14 year old worldview at 14 - but how problematic it is when your past 40 (some way past). After the meeting finished, I mused for a while about what could have led to this lack of development - and on the impact of this viewpoint on individual and communal health, wellness and wholeness (HW2).
It's been said that if you don't stand for something that you'll fall for anything. We are living in such a world. A generation of people has drifted away from moral, ethical and theological teachings and living. Corporate and individual greed is at an all time high. Five percent of the population in the U.S. controls approximately 70% of the wealth (the top 1% controls a third). [from "No Common Good?" by Gary Dorrien, Christian Century, April 19, 2011 edition] Mr. Dorrien goes on to say that the very same banks that were "too big to fail" and were bailed out by all of us are now engaging in activities that lead to the last meltdown. Can we expect any different outcome? Are we going to do anything about it? The "world according to me" is unsustainable and unethical - what can we do?
We can get back to the basics of "first do no harm", "love your neighbor as yourself", "helping the least and the lost", listening to a narrative that's not all about our own needs at the expense of someone else. Maybe it's time for a year of Jubilee - forgiveness of debt and return of land. Could you live on less than $2 per day per person in your household? For how long and at what cost to your HW2? Would it show you a new worldview? I'm at the point of trying - to become the change that I want to see in the world (from Mahatma Gandhi).
How about your worldview and your narrative - time to grow up?
Peace,
Dan
Monday, May 2, 2011
What is Truth...?
Johnathan Richman wrote recently about the lack of truth in news releases on the "Dose of Digital.com" website (see: http://www.doseofdigital.com/2011/04/lies-pharma-social-media-statistics/). Very well done piece that breaks down all of the assumptions and misrepresentation that goes into reporting about most of everything that goes on in the world. It is really difficult (as Mr. Richman points out) to get to the facts, rather than the hyperbole. Reminds me of the tag line from the old T.V. show Dragnet..."just the facts, Sir."
We live in the age of sound bites, political spin, and of incredible amounts of information that bombard us moment to moment. We find that people will access information constantly on their I-devices or Blackberry's or Android's and believe themselves to be knowledgeable or even wise. However, there is a long road from information to knowledge to wisdom. With hard work and a healthy bit of skepticism, information can transform into knowledge - but only if the information is valid (true) to begin with. With informed experience and insight, knowledge can become wisdom.
Faulty or flawed information leads to faulty conclusions, etc. One only has to look at the travesty of the research study which purported direct link from vaccination to autism to see the harm done to public health worldwide over the last decade. We have lost the ability to truly vet information so that once something is published in a peer-reviewed major medical journal, it is considered true - even if it doesn't fit into our communal experience. Once it appears on the nightly news and on the Twitter/Blogosphere, then it is really next to impossible to contradict.
What is truth? How do we get back to the facts instead of all of the opinions - many of which are from less than optimally informed but well-meaning people? My experience with anything is valid for me alone. I need to temper my opinions therefore, and not speak as if I have the answers to all questions based on my "n=1". My experience as an ICU pharmacist and practitioner over the last 25 years carries a lot more weight based on the tens of thousands of persons cared for and observed over that time - but it is still my interpretation of the experiences that takes that information and knowledge and transforms it into wisdom.
Our spiritual experiences can help us to evaluate truth based on our belief doctrines. How we evaluate the world and our place in it needs to be tempered with an understanding that we are all in this life together. Our health, wellness and wholeness are dependent upon finding truths that work for the whole of humanity not just the wealthiest people or countries or societies. We are called to care for the least and the lost - this is an over arching truth that we ignore to our own detriment.
So this week, search for the facts behind the sound bite. Look for the people who are shining the light instead of stoking the fire. The truth is not found in the earthquake but in the silence and the whisper.
Peace,
Dan
We live in the age of sound bites, political spin, and of incredible amounts of information that bombard us moment to moment. We find that people will access information constantly on their I-devices or Blackberry's or Android's and believe themselves to be knowledgeable or even wise. However, there is a long road from information to knowledge to wisdom. With hard work and a healthy bit of skepticism, information can transform into knowledge - but only if the information is valid (true) to begin with. With informed experience and insight, knowledge can become wisdom.
Faulty or flawed information leads to faulty conclusions, etc. One only has to look at the travesty of the research study which purported direct link from vaccination to autism to see the harm done to public health worldwide over the last decade. We have lost the ability to truly vet information so that once something is published in a peer-reviewed major medical journal, it is considered true - even if it doesn't fit into our communal experience. Once it appears on the nightly news and on the Twitter/Blogosphere, then it is really next to impossible to contradict.
What is truth? How do we get back to the facts instead of all of the opinions - many of which are from less than optimally informed but well-meaning people? My experience with anything is valid for me alone. I need to temper my opinions therefore, and not speak as if I have the answers to all questions based on my "n=1". My experience as an ICU pharmacist and practitioner over the last 25 years carries a lot more weight based on the tens of thousands of persons cared for and observed over that time - but it is still my interpretation of the experiences that takes that information and knowledge and transforms it into wisdom.
Our spiritual experiences can help us to evaluate truth based on our belief doctrines. How we evaluate the world and our place in it needs to be tempered with an understanding that we are all in this life together. Our health, wellness and wholeness are dependent upon finding truths that work for the whole of humanity not just the wealthiest people or countries or societies. We are called to care for the least and the lost - this is an over arching truth that we ignore to our own detriment.
So this week, search for the facts behind the sound bite. Look for the people who are shining the light instead of stoking the fire. The truth is not found in the earthquake but in the silence and the whisper.
Peace,
Dan
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