Sick and Tired

Yikes! I haven't blogged in weeks. I have been sick. And tired. Most of October.

A severe head cold hit me during the second week of October. That dragged on for 7 days. Then I pushed myself to the medical realm to tell me that the "cold" was now a sinus infection. Ten days of anti-biotics followed and five of those was waiting for it to "kick in". After that I still had good days and worse days.

An insight during this time was that illness saps not only physical energy but also spiritual, emotional/relational and intellectual. During these weeks I had to fight to keep my practice of praying the hours. My strength is returning and now the practice is frayed. I didn't walk daily because I would get the "chills". I felt scattered and fragmented. Centering took a lot of effort.

What did I learn? Hmm. Not much probably. I was reminded that the world would go on without me. Rats! I also learned that I have to seek medical help a bit earlier. I miss my family doctor in Indianapolis so I am grateful for the CVS Minute Clinic. I learned that one can exist on chicken soup and decongestant tablets for weeks at a time. I learned how difficult it is to pray when your heart and brain are distracted. Self care, spiritual self awareness are both critical to spiritual nurture under stress. I attend Vespers at the Benedictine Monastary on Perryville Road a couple times a week. I didn't go when I was sneezing and coughing but I did attend when I was a bit healtier. This spiritual community outside my normal environs is more of a blessing than I ever imagined. I gained strength from this contemplative community with whom Ishare prayer and occasional meals.

In the end, I learned anew that all parts of my life are connected and interdependent. Just like the Body of Christ. And just like the Body of Christ represented by the PCUSA and Pittsburgh Presbytery. We are a web of spiritual, physical, relational/emotional interdependencies. When I rant and rave about my favorite topic, I risk bringing harm to another part of my body. I have done that because some of you told me. Forgive me. When I allow a hurt to fester by sulking (Bob's personal preference), I risk infection that will spread to the rest of my (my = Body of Christ).

Ahaa.. a "light bulb" just flashed on in my imagination. Until now I was not connecting with Dorothy Bass' insistence that care of the physical body is an important "practice" of faith (Practicing the Faith, www.amazon.com). By honoring my body (health, cleanliness, respect, etc) I, by implication honor the "Body of Christ". That sounds a bit like 1 Corinthians 11 - "judge" the "body" before participating in the Lord's Supper. If you make some connections be sure to share them using the blog features for comments...

Sabbath Blessings,

Bob Anderson