Becoming Us

Funny how an idea starts...a word or a phrase or a chance encounter. Something connects and resonates and creates a path to an idea. Often I'm sitting in front of a blank blog screen on Mondays and Thursdays waiting for just such an encounter. Today's post comes from a conversation with my soon-to-be High School graduate and from Gary Gunderson's most recent blog post. In both cases the gist of the communication was about focusing on the singular or individual rather than on the communal. My son, in response to my comment aobut going out and exercising by himself said, "No one goes out to exercise without an I-Pod or somenone to go with!" Gary's post was talking about our scientific mindset that focuses on "its" like cancer or viral diseases and not on population issues that determine our lives - and the likelihood of people taking the "cures" that science develops. People nowadays are individually focused and seemingly convinced that if it works for them then it must be ok. However, life is lived in community and in population - no person is an island. It is the antithesis of Ayn Rand's world where people discover "I". In our world we have to once again discover how to become "we" or "us"; and put "I" in its proper balance. Connecting to people holds the answer to integrating science and life. A lot of talk and ink have been generated touting the necessity of technology transfer, but no one seems able to actually get this done. We don't know who we are and what we are doing in our lives. However, our faith communities do know how we are living in community with each other, and the things that are important in our lives. Faith communities are all about learning how to live in community - in right relationship - with each other. Possibilities Journey Inc believes (as do others such as the Congregational Health Network in Memphis) that linking science and medicine with life is the key to becoming a healthier and more whole "us". This week, take a look at your life and your connections. Which ones add to your health and wholeness and which of them contribute to your focus only on "you"? Maximize the us in your life and you'll find yourself growing more healthy. Peace for the journey, Dan