In Sickness and in Health

 'This afternoon's healing service has had to be cancelled because of illness.'  So runs the irony in the parish bulletin!  Thankfully this wasn't the case today and even thought I was still recovering from the ill effects of a tummy bug the service went on: thanks to a twin who was speaking on the healing of memories and also a Pastoral director to lead and pray.

I hate being ill!  Then again who doesn't?  I was taking some time to pause and reflect o life as I lay about not quite having the health to do very much without that flushed flu-like heat hitting me, I reflected on why I don't like being ill.  I think the main reason is that it reminds me that I need others.  I see this myself all the time when I visit parishioners in hospital.  They are there because they need the medical staff, they cannot heal themselves and they need the care that is provided.

In my own walk with God this is a lesson I need to relearn again and again.  I cannot do it alone, God never intended me to.  I am in relationship with others and God wants us to see the beauty of it when it works.  To be interdependent one's weaknesses being supported by the strengths of others and your strengths supporting them in return.

I know that my relationship with others can be put under pressure because of my striving for independence but I also have experienced the peace when I stop, turn around and embrace others.  In both my earthly relationships and my relationship with God.

Illness is not a part of God's plan but I believe one of the ways He begins to redeem it is by using it to show us we needs not only others but He who is Other!