I have been thinking a lot about the difference between
illness and wellness, and how some people are able to maintain a sense of
wellness in the midst of illness. I heard Dr. Dean Ornish say the difference
between illness and wellness is the contrast between "I" and
"We." For sure, science has shown a correlation to feeling isolated
or knowing you are connected as a component to your healing.
I often mention Mark Nepo's The Book of Awakening, because what he writes about really seems to
fit what is on my heart and mind at the time. I made a note from yesterday:
"To be broken is no reason to see all things as broken." For sure, it
helps to see your own wholeness, even if, at the moment, you have symptoms or
even a diagnosis.
When you think about nature, what is it that allows you
to know the sun is still in the sky and still shining even on a cloudy day, or
in the dark of night? You are not confused by what your senses might indicate,
because your perspective is broader and you know what is true regardless of
appearances!
I have sometimes seen a squirrel on the outside of the
window—tail flapping, alert, nose almost pressed against the glass—while one or
both of Joel's cats is on the inside thinking, "Let me at 'em.... Just let
me at 'em!" Something stands between the risk and the safety, in this
instance, it is a piece of glass.
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| This photo is of Henry, in his home in Yellowstone country. Henry is the grandson of Pamela Chappell,who provides the background music for our Welcome Baby! audio. I just saw the photo on her Facebook page and knew it was perfect for this blog.You can sample her music by going to http://www.scs-matters.com/products_download.shtml. |
When a person has symptoms or a diagnosis or even when an
individual is obviously preparing to leave this earthly body (something every
one of us does), all that stands between the risk of fear, worry, or anxiety, and
the safety of remembering our eternal nature, is your ability to know you are still
whole (and holy) every step of the way.
Nepo (March 24) continues: "Feel the sun even in the
dark. To not lose the truth of things when they go out of view. To grow just
the same. To know there is still water, even when you are thirsty. To know
there is still love, even when we are lonely. To know there is still peace,
even when we are suffering. None of this invalidates our pain, but only
strengthens our way back into the light."
