The past year has taught me much about healing, not instant and total healing, but getting better. The medical things I deal with are not major, though inflammation of the bladder was of serious concern a year ago. My experiences of healing have given me a new perspective on health with implications for other areas of life as well.
A year ago I was blessed to find a new urologist, Dr. Kalish Kedia, one of the most powerful and wonderful spiritual teachers I have ever met. He is from India. I do not know his religion, and we have spoken only a little about spiritual things. But this man knows God, and spirituality shines in the quality of his attention, his clear expression of intelligence, his humor, and his power of command. He sees so many patients that he gives the impression of wanting to take on all the sufferers of Cleveland. Some staff and patients regard him as a saint.
By last summer, we had been working for months on this bladder problem to no avail. One day, discussing test results, he made it clear that if things did not begin to clear up within a few months, the first of two more drastic solutions would be needed. That sobering news focused my attention sharply.
Soon thereafter, I had a vision of a branch between my thighs, bathed in light, gently swaying in a breeze that I could not feel. The vision came with no verbal message, but I felt assured that no more drastic measures would be needed. Since I regard spiritual and material means of healing as complementary, I took up with renewed determination the regime of drinking at least ten glasses of water a day. I playfully interpreted the branch as part of the tree of life and would sometimes think of all the water I was drinking as watering that tree. And I made it my business to continue my grateful reception of this vision by recalling it, by repeatedly envisioning divine ministry to my body and making myself permeable to its influence, whatever that might be.
I have long distinguished inner health from outer health. Inner health is feeling fine—vigorous, with vitality and abundant positive attitude. Outer health is what physicians examine. My belief is that inner health influences outer health. I’m sure that outer health can influence inner health, but my experience focuses on the power of inner health. My next checkup showed real progress.
Implications for other areas of life? When we feel beset by some problem, it seems solid, intractable, like a cement block in the way of our progress. But from a physics standpoint, a solid thing has far more space between the particles. Take that image as a metaphor for problems. The problem particles are real, but the divine intelligence and power that pervades those problems are far greater; so when we feel beset, isolated, frustrated, or angry, we can turn in faith and wait for the blessing to illuminate our practical way forward.
What experiences of inner health and blessing have given you new perspective?
Photo credit Jyrki Salmi from Finland – Oksat
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Branches_4636.jpg/1280px-Branches_4636.jpg
The greatest blessing that have experienced that has contributed immensely to inner health was the faith discovery of the divine spirit in my life along with the associated truth that this spirit was there to help and guide me through this life. I was no longer fighting the struggles of life alone. And no matter what the outcome of a particular temporal struggle, I was always left with the impression that at the end of the day, everything would be alright.
This discovery imparted undying hope, for before this discovery there was despair in the place of hope when I was confronted with some obstacle that I could not overcome. Alongside of this hope was the realization, that I was overshadowed by God’s love. And this love guaranteed that I would ultimately be victorious in my struggles with this life. It also allowed me to impart to my consciousness to an after life, where the so-called temporary defeats would give way to victory on the other side.
With this realization. my perspective changed when viewing our world. I realize that all of the problems we are confronting in the world will one day be resolved. I realize that I am viewing an unfinished product. This understanding allows me to willingly participate in the struggle to make this world what it should be, and one day shall be. A positive attitude and a willingness to face the difficulties of life without fear is the result of inner health.
And this inner health has the power to mobilize all the latent powers of the self, and to cause all parts of the self including the physical mechanism to function efficiently. Much, but not all of our physical difficulties with our body, is caused by the lack of inner health. Inner health results in moderation and healthy habits, elimination of fear and senseless anxiety, and this in and of itself is a powerful force for keeping the body running smoothly.
Dr. Perry
Thanks for these words of experience and wisdom.
After I told the story of my healing vision to Dr. Kedia, he said to stay in spiritual communion: “That’s the most important.” Later I reflected that he said this not simply as friend in God but as a medical man.
The greatest blessing that have experienced that has contributed immensely to inner health was the faith discovery of the divine spirit in my life along with the associated truth that this spirit was there to help and guide me through this life. I was no longer fighting the struggles of life alone. And no matter what the outcome of a particular temporal struggle, I was always left with the impression that at the end of the day, everything would be alright.
This discovery imparted undying hope, for before this discovery there was despair in the place of hope when I was confronted with some obstacle that I could not overcome. Alongside of this hope was the realization, that I was overshadowed by God’s love. And this love guaranteed that I would ultimately be victorious in my struggles with this life. It also allowed me to impart to my consciousness to an after life, where the so-called temporary defeats would give way to victory on the other side.
With this realization. my perspective changed when viewing our world. I realize that all of the problems we are confronting in the world will one day be resolved. I realize that I am viewing an unfinished product. This understanding allows me to willingly participate in the struggle to make this world what it should be, and one day shall be. A positive attitude and a willingness to face the difficulties of life without fear is the result of inner health.
And this inner health has the power to mobilize all the latent powers of the self, and to cause all parts of the self including the physical mechanism to function efficiently. Much, but not all of our physical difficulties with our body, is caused by the lack of inner health. Inner health results in moderation and healthy habits, elimination of fear and senseless anxiety, and this in and of itself is a powerful force for keeping the body running smoothly.
Dr. Perry
Thanks for these words of experience and wisdom.
After I told the story of my healing vision to Dr. Kedia, he said to stay in spiritual communion: “That’s the most important.” Later I reflected that he said this not simply as friend in God but as a medical man.
Friends, it is no wonder that we’re admonished to keep steady and conscious contact with the Father in Heaven. Without doing so, the solutions to life’s physical and emotional challenges become simply annoying, frustrating. I have experienced the upside of a physical challenge: with a sore knee, I’m reminded that I have more opportunity to rest. Being someone who’s challenged with learning to do less and simply be, a sore knee becomes the perfect stimulus. With the discovery of having tinnitus due to chronic sinusitis, I discover powerlessness over my ears ringing, but I can ask the Father to help me cope with the anxiety it sometimes causes. Then, all kinds of useful tools come into my awareness: white noise machines, fans, and so on. The more I ask the Father to help me use my mind to solve my problems, I begin to listen more to my physicians and their suggestions; I begin to listen more to what my body is telling me: rest, take it easy…. Solutions come to my mind, once I develop the willingness to take care of what I can and to be content that I have done all I know how to do to solve the latest issue. This is Jesus in us, steady looking at realities and confronting them with positive intelligence, hope, and trust. Jesus did not blame a friend for being sick–he simply ministered to them. We have the power to minister to ourselves as well, doing what we can to help ourselves, letting go when we’ve done all we can.
What generous sharing! What an outstanding example of taking a tough medical problem and using personal resources, spiritual and practical, to bring forth an inspiring lesson for us all! It is a pleasure to contemplate your emerging health, Sherry!
Friends, it is no wonder that we’re admonished to keep steady and conscious contact with the Father in Heaven. Without doing so, the solutions to life’s physical and emotional challenges become simply annoying, frustrating. I have experienced the upside of a physical challenge: with a sore knee, I’m reminded that I have more opportunity to rest. Being someone who’s challenged with learning to do less and simply be, a sore knee becomes the perfect stimulus. With the discovery of having tinnitus due to chronic sinusitis, I discover powerlessness over my ears ringing, but I can ask the Father to help me cope with the anxiety it sometimes causes. Then, all kinds of useful tools come into my awareness: white noise machines, fans, and so on. The more I ask the Father to help me use my mind to solve my problems, I begin to listen more to my physicians and their suggestions; I begin to listen more to what my body is telling me: rest, take it easy…. Solutions come to my mind, once I develop the willingness to take care of what I can and to be content that I have done all I know how to do to solve the latest issue. This is Jesus in us, steady looking at realities and confronting them with positive intelligence, hope, and trust. Jesus did not blame a friend for being sick–he simply ministered to them. We have the power to minister to ourselves as well, doing what we can to help ourselves, letting go when we’ve done all we can.
What generous sharing! What an outstanding example of taking a tough medical problem and using personal resources, spiritual and practical, to bring forth an inspiring lesson for us all! It is a pleasure to contemplate your emerging health, Sherry!