Health at the Crossroads

Christian Science Committee on Publication for Indiana - Media and Legislative Liaison

Our Belief In Hell Is One Helluva Belief! by Tony Lobl for the UK Huffington Post

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hell-1046493_960_720Hell. Do you imagine that a loving God has ordained eternal damnation and suffering for some portion of His creation? That’s what a good many Muslims, Christians, and other religious groups believe. Can one really reconcile condemnation of sinners to eternal torture with the notion of Infinite Love as the motivating power of the universe? Maybe everyone is just ushered into heaven. But what about those who don’t repent and change their evil ways? My colleague, Tony Lobl, writing for the August 31, 2016 edition of the UK Huffington Post, brings some light (not heat!) to this subject. Here’s Tony:

Is hell really a terrifying post-demise destination created by God to scare us into better behaviour?

Or could such “traditional” views of hell be poised to gently fall by the wayside?

For example, I’ve recently read of Christians perceiving hell as spiritual desolation rather than eternal damnation, or as total absorption in self rather than fire and brimstone.

Are these steps in the direction of both heaven and hell being viewed as states of thought?  The former aligned with the joy, forgiveness and harmony that express the goodness of God, the latter associated with the less appetising elements and consequences of our so-called human nature?

“Sin makes its own hell, and goodness its own heaven,” is how one thinker – Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy – summed up the difference in her text Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

This understanding of heaven and hell can go some way to healing the dread that can accompany belief in a definitive judgement day looming as an afterlife moment that might sentence us to damnation.

Clearly, not everyone is championing less intimidating perceptions of hell. I was recently engaged in a lively discussion with several people who subscribe to a view of hell as literal hellfire – a view I struggle to equate with the loving divine Parent I accept God to be.

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Olympic Character: Rio 2016 Finding The Olympic Gold Within! by Ingrid Peschke for The Huffington Post

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blue-81848_960_720Dear Friends, The world loves the Olympic games for many reasons. The thrill of the competition, the feeling of unity, the joy of winning. My colleague, Ingrid Peschke, writing for The Huffington Post, highlights some Olympic “gold” we sometimes overlook in the action and excitement of the games: the gold of character. To win graciously, to lose with dignity and goodwill, to express the spirit of kindness and cooperation–these show traits of character that last a lifetime. This is what endures far beyond the heady emotions of any particular sporting event. Here’s Ingrid:

Over the years, the Olympics has provided many movie-worthy moments.  Rio 2016 has been no exception.

Stories of mental and physical endurance, of the world’s top athletes beating overwhelming odds even before they ever line up against the competition has drawn millions of us to tune in and watch the games.

The gold in their characters shines even brighter than the medals that hang around their necks.

Who could fail to feel inspired by Usain Bolt’s unbeatable smile before he crossed the finish line of the 100-meter men’s sprint? It lit up the stands, and images of it raced across the world via social media sites, as he once again brought home gold for Jamaica.

And when Topsfield, Mass. runner Abbey D’Agostino collided with New Zealander Nikki Hamblin, it could have just been a story of thwarted 5,000-meter race ambitions. Instead it became another golden moment in Olympic history as the two stopped to help each other cross the finish line, willing to sacrifice a chance at a medal for basic human kindness.

There are countless stories like these that show viewers how the impossible becomes possible, barriers are broken, and the strength of character surpasses physical strength when it comes to performing your best.

Particularly moving this year has been the story of the fall and rise of Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Phelps faced an identity crisis outside the pool and succumbed to alcohol addiction before once more rising to stardom and winning the final Olympic golds of his swimming career in Rio. Yet it was his single silver medal win in his final individual race that stood out, as he made room for Singapore’s Joseph Schooling, a young man he’d inspired years before, to stand on that highest medal platform which Phelps had dominated for years.

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Happiness Over the Winter Blues by Ingrid Peschke for The HuffPost

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Would those who know you describe you as a happy person? Where does your happiness come from? Although “winter depression” seems commons, our health blogger today sites a research survey that shows five internal factors to be more important to happiness than externals. Ingrid Peschke, writing for the February 24, 2015 issue of The Huffpost, has found five Bible verses that support these “internal happiness factors.” Read this post and be inspired.  Here’s Ingrid:

Weekly snowfall has become the norm in my Boston suburb. Even the hearty Canadian transplants are starting to weary of our endless winter.

The historic snowfall has spawned jokes (free snow!), prompted neighborliness, and made school closings the norm rather than the exception. Some cabin-fever Bostonians looking for an escape have even taken to posting videos as they fling themselves from their second story decks into huge piles of fluffy snow. (This resulted in a stern safety warning from the mayor.)

Joking aside, the storms have taken a toll on typically tough Bostonians, who experienced four epic blizzards and seven feet of snow in just three weeks. As I write this, it’s snowing again.

Studies linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) indicate that mood swings, a lack of energy and feelings of hopelessness rise in the winter. So what a surprise that Alaska was recently named the happiest state, for the first time making the list and pulling ahead of Hawaii, by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Survey.

Factors in the survey include: purpose, social, financial, community, and physical. But the findings show that happiness isn’t simply linked to external indicators, like the weather.

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Make game-changing New Year’s resolutions by Kay Stroud for The NewsMail

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There’s still time to make some meaningful New Year’s resolutions! We all moved on from the holiday festivities, but our need for joy, health, and happiness is permanent. Here in Indiana, kids are back at school this week and although we’ve all returned to our “normal routines,” we’d like this year to be different and better in some way. What resolutions can we make that will really make a difference? My colleague, Kay Stroud, writing for the  January 2, 2015 edition of the News Mail, shares healings and how they highlight two resolutions that can be a game-changer. Here’s Kay:

While some of us are still dealing with the influx of visitors, festivities and sun-soaked holidays, in the back of our minds is the niggling thought that 2015 has already begun and now is the time to make our New Year’s resolutions, before it’s too late.

Some are choosing to eat healthier and exercise more. That certainly can make us feel better.

Two other resolutions that go hand-in-hand will not only increase your health but change your life for the better: choose the positive viewpoint over the negative and care more for others.

A friend related how his acquaintance was in hospital recently, suffering from a life-threatening illness. Things were looking pretty grim and it seemed that he was hanging on by a thread. Then his heart stopped and he ceased breathing. At that moment, the medical staff on duty in that area of the hospital noticed that he was passing on and began to congregate around his bed …. not rushing to him with defibrillator or drip, but unexpectedly telling jokes, laughing and talking loudly and animatedly about everyday things. They continued by his bedside including everyone in the ward in the jovial conversation until he began to regain consciousness. The man made a full recovery.

What happened?

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Walking Prayer: A Higher Walk To Better Health

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“Just a closer walk with thee,” says the old hymn, referring to our relationship with God. You’ve got to “walk the talk” meaning to actually DO what you advocate. The “walking’ metaphor permeates our discourse. Why? Perhaps because walking embodies the idea of forward movement, progress. From the Hoosier Sierra Club to the River City Ramblers, Indiana is walking! My colleague from England (where walking was once the national pastime), Tony Lobl, writing for the October 6, 2014 edition of The News Hub, suggests a new dimension to this simple activity. He explores the inspiring idea of praying while you walk and shares a healing of foot pain.  Here’s Tony:

Did you know there is a “wonder drug” that isn’t available on the NHS, but is still freely available? All we have to do is use it.

That was probably the most intriguing message at this year’s British Science Festival. Dr James Brown – from the University’s School of Life and Health Sciences – claimed a 30-minute daily walk could revolutionise people’s health. He insisted a half-hour stroll could positively impact everything from Alzheimer’s to obesity and from diabetes to depression. Additionally, it could reduce anxiety, halve arthritic pain and even lower the risk of dying.

In other words, you can do yourself a world of good with a daily walk. Or if you can’t motivate yourself to get out and about, get a dog who will take the lead. And if you do stroll through your neighbourhood you will be in the company of such luminaries as Charles Dickens, William Wordsworth and many others who regularly walked in order to get their creative juices flowing.

“There is something about the pace of walking and the pace of thinking that goes together,” says Geoff Nicholson, author of The Lost Art of Walking.

As someone who has long loved walking for the sheer joy of it, my only question is why anyone who could do so would choose not to indulge in such a wonderful activity…. Yet what if there was a “higher” walk that could take us a significant step further? My experience would suggest walking “with God” – i.e. adding prayer to our promenading – can prove even more beneficial to health.

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TEDMED 2014: ‘The time for thinkers has come’ by Eric Nelson for Communities Digital News

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© iStockphoto.com/choness
© iStockphoto.com/choness

 Are you looking for the good ideas flowering in human thought? There are conferences, websites, books, and forums devoted to spreading the the advancement of mankind. Here at Indiana University, as at many universities, there is a Center for Innovation, housing and developing projects that will better the community and the world. My colleague, Eric Nelson, writes in the September 7, 2014 edition of Communities Digital News about the recent TEDMED conference on innovative thinking, highlighting Mary Baker Eddy’s statement: “The time for thinkers has come.” Here’s Eric:

Well over a century before anyone had ever heard of TEDMED, an annual confab of movers and shakers deeply interested in making the world a better, healthier place to live, religious reformer and health care maverick Mary Baker Eddy proclaimed, “The time for thinkers has come.” Thankfully that time is still here and continues to generate ever more exciting advancements in human understanding, particularly within the field of health.

No doubt they’ll be doing plenty of thinking at this year’s conference, held concurrently in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The program includes sessions ranging from “Turn it Upside Down,” where speakers will address insights that flip-flop beliefs and question standard operating procedures in health and medicine, to “Don’t You Dare Talk About This,” which will tackle issues that people are reluctant to discuss publicly or even acknowledge as problems.

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Forgiveness: The Power of Peace through Love by Anna Bowness-Park for The Vancouver Sun

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@GlowImages
@GlowImages

 Why is  it so hard to practice forgiveness? My colleague from Canada, Anna Bowness-Park, explores this topic in the July 7, 2014 issue of The Vancouver Sun. Her powerful article highlights a new documentary that brings the villains and victims of war and crime together in face-to-face meetings. The results provide unforgettable lessons for the viewer and a touching tutorial in forgiveness. Here in Indiana, the Commission for Continuing Legal Education maintains the statewide registry of court-approved mediators who provide help for those who confront injustice and hope to forgive. I know you’ll enjoy Anna’s article. Click on the link at the end of the excerpt below and be sure to watch the video.  Here’s Anna:

Have you looked at the news lately? Revenge killings in the Middle East, mobster revenge murders here in BC, honour killings, random school shootings both here and in the USA – all stemming from anger and a desire for payback. Humanity is struggling with the issue of revenge, and the results are costly for us all – especially for our mental, spiritual and physical health.

All religions teach the importance of peace with one another. For example, Jesus taught his followers to “love one another.” So why is it so difficult to live up to such teachings?

Trying to gain a sense of peace with nothing but the human mind is tough. The painful memories seem to adhere to thought like glue. They claim to define us and to prevent us from moving forwards. We feel stuck in anger and pain, no matter how much we would like to let go of it; and if not dealt with, it can overwhelm our sense of peace and our health. But there is a way forward. It comes when we shift from a purely human and “me”-focused approach to a stance that seeks to understand and to bless others.

This summer, a global movement called the Shift Network is holding online events called “The Sumer of Peace – Transforming Conflict in your Heart, Your Relationships and the World.” One of the events they highlight is a new documentary, “Beyond Right and Wrong.”

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Self Worth, Purpose, and a Lesson from Little League by Keith Wommack for World Religion News

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Ever felt left out, dumped, forgotten? It hurts and seems to damage our self worth. My colleague, Keith Wommack has written a delightful and poignant piece on this subject in the July 3, 2014 edition of World Religion News. His context is Little League All-Star try-outs. Here in Indiana, the Little League Championships begin July 19 in Plainfield where hundreds of 11-12 year old Hoosiers will compete.  Does everyone get to play? Is everyone who plays a winner?  This excerpt from Keith’s article helps us all to see our true self worth, no matter what the circumstances. Click on the link below to read the entire article. You’ll be glad you did. Here’s Keith:

It was All-Star selection day. My heart raced in anticipation…

I knew Johnny would be an All-Star. He was an excellent hitter. I anxiously wondered, “When will my name be called?”

The selection process proceeded and player after player lined up next to Johnny. After a few minutes, my question switched to a nervous, “Will my name be called?”

As the selection activity was nearing its end, I noticed that almost all the older boys had been selected except for my brother and me. We were still seated with the weaker and younger players. There was no more laughter. My heart began to be heavy.

Then, Kevin’s name was called. He took his place in line. I was proud of him. He was the League’s best center fielder.

There was one more name to be called.

The two best pitchers in the league were already standing. I was the third best. I silently questioned, “Wouldn’t the All-Star team need three pitchers if it went far in All-Star team play?”

Then I noticed that the coach’s son from each team was already standing on the line except one, and Charlie was seated right next to me. He was my teammate. He was nice, but he wasn’t a very good baseball player, and he was eleven years old.

Would the League select a coach’s son over an older, better player? As this question swirled in my thought, everything slowed down.

The announcement came. It was a curveball. “Ch..ar..lie.” My heart sank. Charlie stood up and the All-Star line was complete.

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Independence ! Declare Yours for One Day by Ingrid Peshke for The Third Metric

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@GlowImages. Models for illustration only.
@GlowImages. Models for illustration only.

A personal Declaration of Independence? That’s an intriguing concept. My colleague, Ingrid Peshke, writes a brief but inspiring article in the June 26, 2014 issue of The Third Metric. She tells of a simple step in her thinking that declares her mental freedom from the chains of resentment and lack of forgiveness. I bet my readers here in Indiana might have their own declarations  of freedom to post this week.  I’d love to hear from you about  that.  You’ll enjoy this excerpt from the middle of Ingrid’s article. Please click on the link at the end of the excerpt to read the whole piece. Happy Independence Day! Claim your freedom. Here’s Ingrid:

What if, for one day, you decided to simply say “So what?” to the things that tie you down. Say “So what?” to the stream of emails from the office or the to-do list that soaks up all your time. Or, on a more serious note, declare your independence from past and present hurts, resentments, relationship problems, financial difficulties, even health restraints. Decide that for one day you can live as though those things can’t affect your happiness or your ability to enjoy life.

To me, there’s both practical and spiritual wisdom in letting go of mental weights that can impede our progress and even our health. The Bible says, “let us lay aside every weight” in order to “run the race that is set before us” (Hebrews). If something makes your heart feel heavy and burdened, why not just let it go?

I had the opportunity to practice this wisdom in the middle of a Staples store when I was doing some mundane shopping. While I paced the aisles I was stewing about a family member’s recent admission that they’d borrowed and then lost something valuable to me — and it wasn’t coming back. They were remorseful but had waited a bit too long to share this news, and now I was having a hard time forgiving.

Then, suddenly, brighter than the glaring fluorescent lights overhead, a flash of inspiration came through. I would characterize it as “So what?” thoughts on angel wings…

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PTSD or PGT? A Dolphin’s “tale”–the ‘surprisingly positive flip side’ of PTSD by Steve Salt for The Tampa Bay Times

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Photo by Jim Damaske Times
Photo by Jim Damaske Times

 

You’ll love this. My colleague, Bob Clark, has written an inspiring article, June 26, 2014 in The Tampa Bay Times, with a dolphin as the star. This “traumatized” orphan animal showed evidence of PTG…that’s right, post traumatic GROWTH–the positive outcome of traumatic events. Here at home, the Indiana Veterans Behavioral Health Network says about 20 percent of the state’s veterans have diagnosable symptoms of PTSD. But how many are showing PTG? Now there’s another research question worth pursuing. I know you’ll enjoy this excerpt from Bob’s article. Click at the bottom to read the complete piece. You’ll be glad you did! 

Shakespeare may have said it best in As You Like It:

“Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.”

Science is now helping to explain the Bard’s positive spin on adversity by researching what the New York Times recently called posttraumatic stress disorder’s “surprisingly positive flip side”: posttraumatic growth, or PTG. According to Richard Tedeschi, a psychologist at the University of North Carolina who studies PTG, people are routinely reporting positive changes from trauma in five areas: • A renewed appreciation for life • New possibilities for themselves • More personal strength• Improved relationships • More spiritual satisfaction.

Tedeschi’s research and other similar studies should sound a positive note and offer some hope for people with PTSD. So why don’t we hear more about this?

In a recent interview with Harvard Business Review, Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, said that part of the problem is that most of us are conditioned by news reports about PTSD to believe that stress-related illness is the normal reaction to trauma. Research shows that resilience, growth and healing are just as common or more so.

One of the best examples of PTG on the world stage is Winter the dolphin, a local hero and movie star.

Winter was the inspiration for Dolphin Tale. A sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, is due out in September.

I had the privilege of being part of a small group of volunteers who helped give Winter 24/7 care when she first arrived at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2005 as a 3-month-old orphan. Talk about trauma.

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