Why a Blog About Healing?

Almost every day I hear of someone fighting serious illness. Sometimes it's chronic, sometimes terminal, but always it is energy-draining, robbing precious people of joy, hope and strength. As an employee of a health plan, I hear it as I have the privilege of interacting with courageous and committed sufferers; I see it in prayer request lists, in the news, or in conversations with friends and family. Once I was standing in line at Safeway and the bagger was talking to the checkout clerk about her young sister's diagnosis with ovarian cancer. Almost every time I talk to my mother, she tells me of two or three more recently diagnosed with, fighting, or dying of cancer or other diseases. The stories themselves get old until I remember that each unique individual is experiencing his or her daily battle in extremely relevant living color. A friend of my husband’s just flew back to the Philippines so her mother could say goodbye to her friends before a brain tumor steals her life.

It’s everywhere, and it can feel overwhelming. I’ve believed in healing for many years, and so does the organization where I work, although there is “big tent” divergence about what that means. As my father is fond of quoting,

“In essentials, unity
In non-essentials, liberty
In all things, charity.”

Outside of work, my friends’ and family’s beliefs also vary widely. Yet, I don’t know anyone, whether Christian or not, who does not believe in healing in a general way, anyone who does not request prayer for healing of themselves or loved ones when sick.

I’ve been a part of Christian organizations and churches all my life and never once have I heard anyone request prayer to be made sick.

So if healing is a good thing, and sickness is a bad thing, I want to learn more about God’s healing power and how to receive it. I’m talking to myself, I personally need to receive more of the Holy Spirit’s wisdom in this area. For myself, for my family, for the many others I care about.

Often I keep silent, beyond a quick “I’ll pray for you,” because I don’t want to offend anyone if their beliefs are different. I’m also acutely sensitive to the pain caused to so many by hurtful, thoughtless remarks. Rather than risk saying the wrong thing, I often say nothing at all.

I think I can find a happy medium here. I think I can do better than stick to the lowest common denominator of “I’ll pray for you.” I can respect other’s beliefs yet still quietly and respectfully share my own.

So that is why I am starting this blog. It’s for me. It’s burning inside me, things I need to know, things I need to learn. If anyone else wants to join the conversation, that’s fine too.