'The Spirituality of Disease and Healing' by Lori Phillips

The Spirituality of Disease and Healing

by Lori Phillips

Those who do not accept that life here on earth has spiritual origins think of disease as an unhappy, bad-luck-of-the-draw type of occurrence. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bad gene pool. Self-destructive habits. Environmental toxins. True, all of the aforementioned can negatively affect the body's ability to function properly. But there is more to the story of disease than that.

Lori Phillips writes about disease and healing as part of a dual experience that aids the progression of spirit. When one changes his paradigm towards his health challenges, he can release fear and anger while expressing gratitude and self-love which are the foundational energies that promote healing of all types.

Read an excerpt

CHAPTER 4 DISEASE AS AN OPPORTUNITY

How many parents and teachers feel the dismay of watching intelligent students not live up to their potential? Young minds don't see the long-term benefits of the lesson of the day. "Why do I need to know this?" is oft repeated in classrooms around the world.

Disease can seem like a pop quiz when we haven't studied the textbook. We groan. We sweat. We blame the teacher for being unfair. What is the purpose of a pop quiz? Well, the teacher can gauge how well the students are paying attention and learning important information. If the student is well-prepared, there is no need to fear on his part. It's always those students who have been goofing off or been too distracted by less important matters when outside the classroom.

Teachers rarely grade students on those pop quizzes. The real intention is to provide feedback to the STUDENT as a warning to get with it before the final exam. When disease appears in your life, take this as an opportunity to see how you're doing with the more important lessons in life.

Disease is an opportunity to be both student and teacher. Generally speaking, as we move through our lives, we aren't meant to be isolated. We are each other's students and each other's teachers. We don't realize how our very lives serve to teach or otherwise influence each other. It's good to do so consciously or we may unintentionally teach the wrong message with our words, behaviors and lives.

Learn, learn, learn. Having a disease or witnessing someone with disease, as was mentioned in the previous chapter, teaches so much. Look for those lessons and absorb them. When you are filled with wonder, curiosity and inspiration or when you're facing hopelessness, angst and pain…that's when you know you're being presented with an opportunity to learn a spiritual lesson.

And teach. Be aware of how you affect others. Does your behavior and attitudes reflect your ideals? Many of us have good intentions and fall short of fulfilling them. We have lofty ideals but rarely exemplify them. We teach more by the very lives we craft than the words that we expound.

There is a saying, "Don't worry that children never listen to you. Worry that they are always watching you." (Robert Fulghum)

Take this opportunity to teach people:

1.How to be there for others during dark times. Mother Teresa who tended to the "poorest of the poor" and the diseased in Calcutta India taught what real compassion, real faith, real love was all about by her very life. 2. How it doesn't take much to provide a great gift of your time, attention and caring.
4. How giving is receiving.
4. How to face adversity with courage and grace.
5. How to self-heal by tapping into the vast, unknown resources of the physical body.
6. How to connect to Source energy which is God.
7. That there is more to life than the physical body.

And so much more.

Disease provides an opportunity to serve and to be served. There is great spiritual power in both serving and by being humble enough to allow others to serve you. I would venture that allowing others to serve you is the greater service. Everyone likes the feel-good feelings that spring from helping others. Those who are served have to reckon with the potential feelings of guilt, unworthiness and such that come with being served.

Serve with humility and right intentions of which really there is only one and that is love. Humbly accept the service of others because it is a spiritual opportunity for them to learn through service. Typically, there is some karma to work out between the one who needs to be served and the one who is serving.

Disease is an opportunity to suffer. According to some religious doctrines, suffering is essential to spiritual progression. I don't know if this is true for all. We can learn from others who suffer without having to suffer those same unpleasant conditions ourselves. But consider what happens when one suffers. What feelings and emotions emerge?

A shocking array of emotions bursts out of a suffering soul. Desperation and helplessness are humbling, and humility is essential to spiritual growth as no one can grow if the ego is prideful, hardened and closed off to expansion. This is not to say that those who suffer are egotistical. But some can be. Suffering also calls you to be in the moment. You can't think of anything else but this moment in time. Being in the moment is hard for many as our minds always seem occupied with the past and the future. Suffering teaches you to be in the here and now.

What do you reach for when you are suffering? What provides relief? Do you know the gladness that come with relief?

It helps to step out of the body for a moment and look at your suffering from an outside viewpoint. Pain is a curious and necessary component of the physical body. Pain serves to warn us about damage to the body.

When my wrist was inflicted by a serious burn, I watched with great appreciation and curiosity how the cells of my body began to heal. It was accompanied with sharp, stinging firing of nerves as they regenerated. Pain. But my mind suddenly did a paradigm shift: instead of squealing in pain, my mind kept thinking, "This is remarkable. Thank you for repairing yourself. Thank you, dear and amazing body for healing." It was a magnificent experience for me to learn how my body is an intelligent mechanism and how pain is subjective.

Suffering is also subjective. My daughter suffered from the time she was an infant due to her medical conditions but when I used to tell her that I felt sorry for her suffering, she would remind me that suffering was subjective. In her eyes, she doesn't feel as though she suffered much at all. Somehow, her soul has been able to maintain an eternal perspective in life even with her terminal genetic illness.

Disease is an opportunity to grow spiritually. When you can accept with gratitude the opportunity to suffer, your paradigm shifts in a remarkable way. You can see physical manifestation of spiritual energy.

Your spiritual eyes can open. You learn to ask for divine help and will be gratified when it comes into your life. Pain can feel like a sacred purging, which feels good to the soul. "The vibration of pain and hope is different from the vibration of pain and despair." (Abraham Hicks)

It sounds impossible but with God, all things are possible. (St. Matthew 10:27)

Disease is an opportunity to balance your karma. This is where one must take a leap of faith because we come to earth without memories of our prior life. And so many religious doctrines view reincarnation as blasphemy. To avoid a doctrinal debate, I will say only that we reap what we sow and sometimes those seeds were sown long ago.

Disease is an opportunity to absorb and deflect negativity. Sometimes, sacrificial souls do accept the suffering of others. Jesus is an example. There are a few healers who take on a diseased person's ailments for a short time until they transmute or release the energy. But this begins to cross boundaries of different spiritual belief systems and I do not wish to confuse people here.

Disease is an opportunity to focus on yourself and healing. No one calls a person lazy when he is recovering from a disease. But take time out to nourish your mind-body-spirit can people raise their eyebrows. What? Taking vacation days for what? No one will call upon a person undergoing medical treatment to sign up for the kids' soccer pool or to stay late at the office. Rest is expected. It's sad because rest might have helped this person avoid disease in the first place but ah well. At least now, rest and self indulgence is encouraged. You can feel good about this without any guilt.

Suffice it to say that disease provides such opportunities.

Book links

Also available on CreateSpace

Author bio:

Lori Phillips writes about spirituality, health, dreams and relationships. She lives in Southern California with her husband, children and three Chihuahua mixes they adopted from the local animal shelter.

'Being Family: The get-along guide for in-laws' by Lori Phillips

Being Family: The get along guide for in-laws

by Lori Phillips

In-law relationships can be the most difficult, and they can destroy otherwise happy marriages, too. By seeing things from each other's perspective, you'll gain the understanding you need to let down your guard and open your hearts to new family members. 

This simple little book is filled with truths that can transform your family relationships.

A must-read for soon-to-be-weds, newlyweds and even long-time marrieds. Makes a terrific gift.

Read an excerpt from Chapter 1:

In the beginning...
I always hated in-law jokes. And when I got married, I knew why. Getting along with your in-laws is no laughing matter. I always felt that family was your first and last line of defense against the cold, cruel world. You stick together. But, I learned that a wedding ring and a marriage license don’t create family ties. People do. Real love takes time to cultivate. What is perplexing to me is how many families never give in-laws a chance from the start.

For some people, in-law problems start at the beginning. “She’s always hated me!” “I never liked him.” For others, trouble creeps up and takes them by surprise. “Everything was fine until we/they got married/had the baby!” What triggers this combat? Human beings are like pack animals. It is natural instinct to protect their own pack, and it is a long process before a new creature is allowed in. We are suspicious of strangers. They’re fine at a distance, which is why no one seems to put up defenses during the dating phase. But marriage is a commitment that makes everyone wary. Is this person going to fit into our family? Is he or she good enough? How will this change us? Is this a family threat?

A human parent’s instinct is to love and protect its young for the rest of its life. And, if he or she relishes the role, it will not be easy to hand over this responsibility to someone else, especially a young, inexperienced person. A parent will not adjust easily to being second in its child’s life. A parent must come to terms with this, but it is not easy or pleasant. It hurts. For new, young wives and husbands, the change is equally hard. Just starting out, they’ve broken away from their own families to live independent lives. They busy themselves creating their new families, making decisions, choosing their lifestyles. This freedom is exciting! They now have their own little family or pack to protect and nurture. They do not appreciate outsiders telling them how to run their lives. This is all new to the young family. They don’t realize that someday their own little offspring will set off to start his own family and they’ll want to be a part of their grown child’s life, too. They’re too busy to think that far ahead. But they should.

…it’s all about territory
What people fail to understand is that when children marry, their pack increases. Yes, you gain a family member. You don’t lose one. Unless someone makes the choice to leave. The new couple may move off to sleep in their own hut, but emotionally, they still belong to your extended clan. We want our opinions, methods, traditions or advice to matter to our loved ones. We want our share of attention. Everyone wants to be loved.

But what sets humans above the rest of the animal kingdom is our ability to reason. Isn’t it reasonable to accept and adapt to the natural changes in family life? There comes a time when the grown child needs a spouse more than a mother or father. A parent simply can’t fulfill those needs. But a wise spouse will make room for parents in heart and home as well.

The honeymoon period
Well, you might not cart along your in-laws on your honeymoon like my brother-in-law did (yes, he is definitely “family”) but you’ll still go through a honeymoon period with them. During this time, everyone still treats you like the new special guest. Everything you do will be charming…or interesting, at least. And just like a honeymoon, everything will be wonderful. Sooner or later, the novelty of your newness will wear off. As time goes on, any differences in your lifestyle that were interesting in the past grow tiresome or odd. The new person is expected to fit in and adapt, not the other way around. If he doesn’t, it is perceived as a threat to the status quo. New ways challenge the traditions that people hold dear. Melding two new families together means adapting and changing, and people aren’t always comfortable with that.

It pays to make it work Just as a marital relationship requires effort, good relationships with your in-laws take some effort, too. Why bother when you can simply ignore their phone calls? Because there are great rewards in a strong, loving family bond. And the penalties of a bad relationship with those who are genetically and/or legally tied to you can be hell on your heart and seriously diminish the quality of your life. The choice is yours.

So roll up your sleeves and check your ego at the door. This may not be easy, but it will be worth the effort.

Book links

Also available on CreateSpace

Author bio:
Lori Phillips writes about relationships, health and spirituality. She lives in Southern California with her husband, children and three irresistible Chihuahua mixes they adopted from the local animal shelter.

'Parenting Your Child Leader' by Darryl Bodkin

Foreward

Darryl Bodkin has written a wonderful treatise on child development and leadership. He writes from a child’s perspective on parenting and provides invaluable insight on the subject of leadership growth and development.

When I was 11 years of age, my life was torn apart by the loss of my father in a tragic construction accident. It was a defining moment for me. Fortunately, my godly grandmother sat down with me and told me that I had to be the leader in our home since I was the oldest child. From that moment leadership was thrust upon me. Reading this book has caused me to reflect on that landmark day in my own childhood when I started on a leadership journey.

I commend Darryl Bodkin’s book to you for your enjoyment and personal growth. I believe every parent who reads it will benefit from the lessons taught on parenting and will gain an understanding of how to encourage the development of leadership qualities in children. Proverbs 3:5–6 is a sterling reminder of the potential for vital Christian leadership within every child that is born into God’s big world.

Dr. Stan A. Toler
Bestselling Author
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma


Reviews

I am very pleased to endorse this book “Parenting your Child Leader” written by Mr. Darryl Bodkin at this very critical juncture in our human economy as it relates to leadership. This book is well positioned to address this pertinent subject, taking a rudimentary approach to the same.

The following quote from the author is testimony to the above, “The leaders who are tasked with confronting the concerns that face us today developed their skills and competencies from their experiences at home from parents and caregivers.”

May this thesis be so utilized that better leaders will emerge.

Scoffield Eversley, Th.D.
President
Caribbean Nazarene College

Darryl has always been bold enough to transform his potential into practical reality, for the time that I have known him he has always been one to motivate, encourage, teach, lead. It is therefore not surprising that he would write a book on leadership, specifically one geared toward the very ones who are naturally charged with the responsibility for raring leaders, parents. In his book Bodkin draws from his own experiences and that of selected biblical historical figures, who themselves were leaders, to give validity to his claims. He also gives very personable examples and relatable illustrations which not only clarify but also seals his position in the mind of the readers. I believe that this book is a very timely piece of literature as we witness the decay of a generation who are content with allowing various factors to make crucial decisions for them and are satisfied to simply follow what everyone else may be doing, whether right or wrong, rather than thinking for themselves and activating the leadership potential which lies dormant within them. Thank you Darryl for your obedience and your willingness to serve this present age!
Russell Léonce
Gospel Recording Artiste
facebook.com/russellleonce
twitter.com/russellleonce

This book is a must read, the author nailed it! As a parent it was really refreshing to get another angle on the topic of parenting. A definite eye opener that any parent can appreciate. This book is alive and real and should come in pocket book size too!
Wendy Butcher, Parent

I highly recommend this book for everyone desirous of investing in a child’s life - which speaks volumes for our future. Darryl has presented a dexterous model of Parent-caddying which is highly effective and invaluable. It presents a strong foundation for our kids to maximise their unlimited potential.
Rhonda McLean, Parent

Available on Amazon
Also available at Barnes & Noble \ Christian Book \ Parable Books

Darryl Bodkin has an undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of the West Indies (May 2008). He is a graduate of the Caribbean Nazarene College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Counselling and Human Resources Management (May 2013). Darryl served as youth ministry leader for five years at the Arima Church of the Nazarene and Student Body President (August 2012- May 2013). His current ministry assignment is as Strategy Coordinator at the El Socorro Church of the Nazarene. In his professional career, he functions as the Operations Manager for Geotech Associates Limited, a civil engineering consultancy based in Trinidad and Tobago. He has represented his country at the regional level at the 2009 CARICOM Youth Exchange in Haiti and has been a facilitator for the annual Barbados Youth Leadership Retreat (2009-20011). Darryl recently published his first book, ‘Parenting Your Child Leader’ in May 2013. It is based on his experience as a child, leader and faith. In June 2013 Darryl was elected to serve on the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene. His blog can be read at darrylbodkin.com. He can be followed at Twitter.com/DarrylBodkin or Facebook.com/darryldbodkin.

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'Me-Moments' by Dr. Cheryl A. Hill

Me-Moments is a book for WOMEN that shows how God can speak to you in practical ways. As a successful Advisor, Facilitator and Strategist Dr. Cheryl teaches you how to hear God and utilize practical things to learn from in your everyday life. Dr. Cheryl has traveled to many countries where the question from many remains the same-“how can I hear the voice of God?” This book teaches you: • How to hear God in practical settings • How to add humor to your life • What you can learn from other’s experience • Most importantly how prayer can affect your life daily When you use the examples and the prayer revealed in this book you will experience change! Live life out LOUD and enjoy your connection with God every day!

Available in paperback and ebook

Review of 'Annie Crow Knoll: Sunrise' by Gail Priest

Annie Crow Knoll-Sunrise is the story of a place where people come to restore their spirits, heal their pain and reclaim their lives.

Annie is a determined young woman who is left to run her family's property after the death of her parents. Managing fourteen summer cottages with only the help of a family friend, she struggles to survive on her own. When she meets Drew, a young college professor, Annie thinks she's finally found a love she can trust.

But years of conflict and pain destroy their bond and leave Annie alone again, unless she can find lasting peace and passion in the most unlikely arms.

In this family saga, love, loss and history twine together the people whose lives are changed by Annie's determination and the magic of her knoll nestled along the head-waters of the Chesapeake Bay.  

**My thoughts**

'Annie Crow Knoll' is one of those family sagas that leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling in your stomach as you join the main character along her journey. We first meet Annie as a headstrong nine year-old, peddling her bicycle off the end of the dock. Immediately we know that she has no fear and a mind of her own. These qualities can get her into trouble when she is a little kid, but serve her well throughout her life. She has a tenacious desire to fight for what is hers and she wants. She also has a heart of gold that softens the edge of that stubborn streak, and makes people love her more.

Annie loses her parents way too young and is thrust into a grown-up world that she isn't quite ready to undertake. Yet, she is able to do so with grace and that ever-present determination. Her clients have watched her grow up and are rooting for her. Her best friend from childhood is dedicated to her. She also has a confident mystique that is attractive to many men through her life. These men cause a rollercoaster of feelings in her life, but she is able to take what they throw at her with maturity, and without the drama that some women would display.

Annie is known as Annie Crow, because she has a pet crow that she takes everywhere with her. The crow is a creature that represents fearlessness and determination, insight and intelligence, mischief and magic. The balance of these characteristics is a perfect description of Annie, making the crow the best spirit animal to be a part of her life. Her relationship with the crow is one that haunts her and others in her community for the entire book, and helps to make her story come full circle.

The descriptions of the knoll make your feel like you are right there experiencing her oasis with her. I found myself wanting to dive into the book, to see the magic for myself. It also made me flash back to summers as a kid, when I would get a weekend away with family.

I thought this book was well-written, though the story arc was somewhat predictable. Even though you pretty much knew where it was headed, you still wanted to read on for the minute details that make this story a unique version of a common tale. You root for her success and wish her happiness in her life. When she does find her happy ending, you want to continue the story. But that is going to have to wait for the sequel.    

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Gail Priest lives in New Jersey and summers in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay with her husband and their cockatiel. In addition to writing novels, plays and screenplays, she teaches and directs in a high school performing arts program. She loves theatre, reading, birding and being out in nature

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Crowdfunding Videos Are Often Over- and Under-Emphasized by Devin D. Thorpe

Devin D. Thorpe returns to Uplifting Reads, this time to talk to us about making videos for your Crowdfunding efforts, to help you continue to make your mark on the world.

Crowdfunding videos are an important part of any crowdfunding campaign. My new book, Crowdfunding for Social Good, explains both why the video is the most important thing you post on your crowdfunding page and why the video is not the most important part of your campaign.

The video is the most compelling way you have to connect with the crowd and share your story. You need to motivate the crowd to action by creating a narrative that explains what you hope to accomplish and what threatens it. Then you’ll want to explain how the crowd can help by supporting your campaign.

It is important for you to be authentic in your video. That means, in part, that you need to appear in your video. You want people to connect with you. Video has a unique ability to help people feel like they know you without ever meeting you. You can add power to your video by incorporating images and clips related to your cause so that the crowd not only connects with you but also with your mission.

On the other hand, it is worth noting that many other things combine to be much more important to the success of your campaign. You have to start before you start, that is you have to start raising the money before you launch your campaign. Getting bloggers and media to pay attention to your campaign is also important. Ultimately, your campaign’s success will depend more on things other than the video. Don’t skip it, but don’t waste too much time and resources preparing it.

Learn more about these and other tips for crowdfunding success in Crowdfunding for Social Good.