My friend recently applied for a job as a hospital chaplain.
In this day and age of scientific and technological advancement, when people are going to church less and trusting in human knowledge more, why are hospitals investing in improving the spirituality of their patients? Wouldn’t they do better to invest in labs and research?
Actually, study after study shows that spirituality, and all that goes along with it, is as reliable and effective as exercise, eating right, and sleeping well as ways for patients to cope with and recuperate from sickness and injury. This is particularly true with stress.
Our faith helps us cope with stress in a number of ways:
- Knowing Christ gives us a sense of purpose in the world. We find meaning. And that helps us reach out and connect with the world in which we are called to work.
- Our faith often leads us to church, and a network of support to enhance the good times and help us get through the hard times.
- Our faith also asks us to release control. Time and again Jesus calls us to hand our burdens over to him, and scripture is clear in promising us that God will care for us.
On Sunday we will hear the familiar story of Jesus asleep in a boat during a storm. Jesus, surrounded by panicked disciples, he asks them, 'Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’
Hmmm… is fear tied to faith?
If we build our faith can we lessen our fear - and our stress?
In tying anxiety to faith Jesus suggests that deepening our spirituality reduces stress, which sounds a bit like something scientists have subsequently proven.
So if taking steps toward deepening our spirituality is so good for us, why don't we do more of it?
This is our challenge, our mission, and our call.
How might we look to the coming weeks and months to deepen our faith?
0 comments:
Post a Comment