With Healing in His Wings

I was reminded this morning by a friend that the ministry of healing is a good ministry. I have another friend — that is now two, if you are counting — who recently injured herself. Her response to being injured is to try to be more active. Actually doctors have suggested that this should be a time of quiet and rest so healing can proceed quickly. Against such well-trained advice, she has decided that being up and busy is a better way forward. Now she guaranteed that she will be injured longer, will live wearier and will heal crooked. If only she had the grace to be still and heal.

When a church or other human system, a family or business has been hurt, it needs to heal. It needs to rest and recover. When it is able to function a little, it needs to take pointers from the physical therapists and try small steps in safe environments. We are in a time of recovery at UA church. We are resting a bit. We are also beginning to take steps forward into the future.

I think in my life I am always in some phase of recovery from some near disaster. Maybe we are all hurting, healing and hobbling in some way all the time. May God grant us the grace to get into fewer dangerous situations, the grace to realize when we are hurt, the wisdom to rest and rehab slowly and the courage to launch out again into a risky, delightful world. Churches, families, folks and I need to remember this.

May God bless us all