The Pathway to Healing: Part 2

Healing Through Grace, Love & The Fruits Of The Spirit

At this particular time in our history, we are experiencing a pandemic of the COVID virus. It has claimed the lives of millions of people, caused extensive economic problems & has changed life as we know it throughout the world. After one complete year of struggling through the pain of this virus, which has included extensive physical suffering, as well as, created deep seated emotional trauma including depression, hopelessness, despair, grief, & poverty, there still is not a cure for the virus. The length of time this hasgone on, the devastation it has caused & the fact that a cure for this virushas yet to be discovered has now caused a general sense of spiritual bankruptcy & doubt for many people, as they feel hopeless & resignedabout the possibility of any change for the future.

The fact is, there may not be a cure for a long time for this raging virus, nor for many other chronic health issues that cause suffering for us in our lives. However, the fact that there may not be a cure that will end the disease, does not mean that healing cannot take place. The healing that needs to take place has to do with our view & the subsequent symptoms that view creates within us. The pain, wounds & scars caused by the suffering, do not need to be cause & condition for us to continue to walk in the dark shadow of light. With a changed view, the scars can be viewed as reminders of healing that has been given rather than reminders of the pain & suffering that caused them originally, thus lifting some of the sadness, despair, & feelings of weakness & creating a spirit of gratitude. Through His Grace, God has called us, prepared & empowered us with His Holy Spirit to be carriers & intercessors of His Grace & healing for one another. Every one of God’s children, including you & me, are constantly invited to overcome his or her neighbor’s fear by entering into it with him or her, & to find in the fellowship of suffering, the way to freedom. We can help heal our brothers & sisters or be healed by our brothers & sisters & open the door for the restoration of wholeness. By sharing God’s unending Grace, compassion & Love with one another & walking together in His light, the feelings of fear, loneliness, doubt, depression, & hopelessness can be washed away & wholeness can be restored even though there is no cure. The Greatest Commandments from God through Jesus to us is to: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, & with all you soul, & with all your mind & to love your neighbor as yourself”. Our love for one another flows out of our love for God, which is a result of God’s love for us. We reflect God’s love & grace to others, offering & receiving healing from their suffering as we connect with them by extending the words & actions of the fruits of the spirit. The fruits of the spirit as stated in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, & gentleness. God’s grace & love when shared in these spirit filled ways, transcends earthly physical or emotional pain & fear & heals all doubt, grief & brokenness. Faith in our Holy Living Creator God is the bedrock of all hope & hope is the fuel for our healing. Faith & trust in God, & God’s grace poured out on us, is truly amazing. It can bring healing & wholeness even in the midst of suffering & bring light into an otherwise broken spirit & in that is hope for all who know suffering.   Amen

~Posted by Rev Kathryn Bindig, MDiv. MS; Pastoral Care Minister with assistance from Rich Muscatello; Director of Business Development & Strategy