I’m a fan of traditional western medicine for the most part, but I’m also open to the healing insights of other traditions. I’ve even ministered in the area of inner emotional healing. This past week I experienced another type of non-traditional healing work.
Hal and I spent the week with our
daughter Kristin and her family in their home in the forest. Kristin and David
(our son) had gifted me with four sessions with a practitioner in natural
medicine. This woman is a Christian with a gift in healing and training in
massage and in the alleviation of allergies through muscle testing. Kristin had
found relief from her headaches under the care of this woman. The kids thought
she might help me with my vestibular migraines. I’m open to any help I can get.
It was a generous and loving gift.
It was an interesting experience
and I’m still processing it. (One of my processing strategies is writing—so
you’re helping me right now as I write.) The first session included an
hour-long massage that was delicious, followed by muscle testing during which
my body told her that the emotion of pity was blocking my healing. What she
meant by pity was inappropriate or excessive compassion. I thought of my deep
reactions to the suffering in Gaza or the trauma currently faced by immigrants
in my own country. In response, she had me hold a jar containing some substance
related to pity while she did some pounding/rolling work on my back. She
explained she was retraining the nerves in my body so they would respond in
more wholesome ways. I didn’t, and still don’t, understand it, but I had told
myself ahead of time to be open and just let God work anyway he wanted to. I
left the session feeling a deep peace.
During the second session the
woman led me in a time of inner healing concerning traumatic events that took
place over nine years ago, around the time my dizziness and head pressure were
beginning to trouble me. It was very revealing. I know that we are whole
creatures, that body, mind, and emotions interact. I thought that I had already
made peace with the events, all concerning conflicts in my faith community. But
apparently I still had some healing work to do. Or have done to me, as she
again gave me a vial to hold while she worked on my back and prayed.
In the following two sessions, my
body “told” her that it doesn’t metabolize proteins like it should and that it
has problems with heavy metals. The information about proteins especially
fascinated me as I know that protein imbalance is a recognized problem in all
kinds of migraines. The exercises with holding different vials and her work on
my back were to reorient my bodily systems and help them function correctly. So
mysterious.
Like I said, I may be baffled but
I’m holding my heart open to healing from any source of light. I do feel a
great sense of peace and lightness since the treatments, although the dizziness
and head pressure haven’t noticeably reduced. I’ve been told before that my
rational left-brain and my intuitive right-brain are well balanced. In other
words, I’m able to hold doubt and belief together and just wait to see what
happens. I’m ok with weird.
I believe in what my traditional doctor
is doing, in the medicines she’s experimenting with. And I certainly believe in
prayer. I’m also open to the possibility that this condition might be like St.
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” something God is letting me live with for his own
purposes. More mystery.
Back to prayer, here’s a
prayer/poem I wrote a year ago. It’s in the form of a conversion between me and
God.
Just a Tweak
Yes, Lord. It’s me again,
here in this new day.
Good morning, dear one. Well come.
What can I do for you today?
Thanks for asking. (Even though
you already know the answer,
your courtesy encourages me.)
And thank you for this awesome
body/mind/spirit.
I am wonder-full at how
wonderfully and fearfully
I am made.
But since you asked,
could you just tweak
this body a little?
I know I’m growing older
and that a bit of wear ’n tear is natural,
but is this particular malfunction
really necessary?
Just a tweak, God. That’s all I’m asking.
You can do it if you want to.
I want.
Okay, then. That’s what I’m asking for.
Here, let me sing my prayer to you.
Have mercy on me and heal me.
Set me feet upon a rock.
Put a new song in my heart.
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Okay. But you’ll have to let me do this
my way, in my time.
Yes, God. My times are in your hands.
I’ll wait.
And in the meantime
I thank you for your grace
and your artistry in making me.
And I anticipate the tweak.
Amen.
