Health care reform as spiritual growth - Part I The Spirit

Supporters for and against health care reform rally at a town hall style meeting on health care reform hosted by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009.(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Health care reform is being argued across the country, a political hot topic creating much anger and fear because health care or lack of health care affects everyone. There are many news articles that can address the political implications of Health Care Reform, our papers, newsfeeds and television/radio waves are full of information about the political state of Healthcare Reform. Dan Roam has an interesting way of describing the current happenings by drawing on a napkin, giving imagery to assist in understanding the different ways that healthcare is being addressed in the United States.

Basically, all of the articles and information boil down to battles between the insurance companies, the government (or lack of government over exorbitant fees), employers, and much panic is written in regard for the care of the individual. Healthcare involves more than politics.

As our government seeks to review health care reform, the good news is that people are talking about the challenges that humans face in getting good health care. The sad thing is that health care reform is more than a focus on doctors and illness.When looking at Health Care Reform as spiritual growth, it is important to remember where health care begins - with you. In looking at the life of the human spirit, everyone must consider the health of the Mind, Body and Spirit , for when one of those aspects of being human is neglected, life energy wanes and di-ease happens. When reading many of the early religious experience of mystics, one can see the struggle that most religions have with the place of the body in the middle of practicing a valid and vital spiritual path. Some religions encourage the negation of the body and many cults take this view of the body as being a hindrance to spirituality and an obstacle to spiritual growth. However, when you look at the view of our most healthy and respected spiritual leaders, the example for our own health care reformation is one of balance between mind, body and spirit. Let's look at each part of the healthy spirit and body equation.

Spirit

Dr. Koenig, the founder and former director of Duke University’s Center for the Study of Religion, Spirituality and Health, and founding Co-Director of the current Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University Medical Center, has written several books discussing the impact that prayer has on healing medical conditions. In his article, "Healing Power of Faith", he states:

Faith can put physical illness beneath us, where it belongs, return dominion to us, and    give us power to live victorious and fulfilling lives.

Indeed, in many churches and faith communities there are living examples of miracles that continue to occur because of the power of prayer, meditation and participation in a peaceful, sacred community. Dr. Koenig's focus shows the power of faith as a vital part of health care, but because of his experience as a physician, his understanding does not exclude proper care by a trained and trusted physician.

Our spirits are contained in our physical bodies, but without caring for our spirits, our bodies can show the effects of neglect by manifesting illness. The most prevalent example of how neglect of the spirit can affect the body is to look at how unresolved grief can cause illness (there are other issues of the spirit that can cause illness we are only looking at one). Research started by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross began in 1969 and showed that when grief was not fully expressed, illness of the physical body was often the repercussion. This led to her development of the stages of grief used by physicians, counselors and clergy as a guideline to assist those who have experienced loss so that they might heal physically and emotionally. Research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center summarizes the effect this way:

Grief is not a disease but it can become one. Grieving individuals are at greater risk for infections, cardiac problems, more frequent doctor visits, alcohol abuse and depression.

Grief is merely one way the unattended spirit can manifest physical illness through the body. The body, mind and the spirit are created to work as one entity in this physical world. While spirit is more than emotion, emotions are the examples used here because they clearly show how neglect of the spirit is a neglect of the body. Substitute the words/emotions, anger, envy, jealousy, greed, avarice, coveteousness, in the place where we used the word "grief" and when these manifestations of the human spirit are ignored or allowed to grow beyond healthy expression, illness can occur in the physical body.

So how does one care for spirit? Acknowledge your feelings or emotions even if they are not comfortable feelings. Emotions are only one way that our spirit seeks to communicate with us that something is amiss. Often when you look at the emotion or feeling that is bothering you or causing you distress, there is a message to be heard. Take time to sit still for merely 10 minutes and contemplate what your spirit is trying to communicate through a feeling or emotion. Try this for 10 minutes a day for one week. What do you hear from your spirit? What action do you need to take or do you need to stop doing something that bothers your spirit?

Caring for your spirit is part of what it means to reform your life and can also improve your health. Without proper care of your body however, the spirit is still wanting.

Next: Part II - The Body