Ground Zero

Ministerial Meandering 

Ground Zero

Physical and emotional catastrophes always challenge the spiritual aspect of our lives.  The diagnosis of a terminal disease, impending blindness, a sudden stroke - all make us wonder about our mortality.  Being the close relative of such a person, or going through the pain of separation, or divorce, fighting over custody of children, facing sudden unemployment - will also strain our spiritual reserves.  Nearly always with the same one-word question; “Why?”

There are a lot of ‘pearls of wisdom’ in common parlance that have been created to help us both to understand such trials, and to help us get through them.  From the simple Royal Marines dictum of ‘No pain - no gain’, through ‘Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,’ to ‘There is a reason for everything,’ which might be regarded as the ultimate cop-out.

There is no doubt, however, that both as a surgeon and as a priest, I have seen how disease and emotional trials have ultimately built spiritual strength in people.  It doesn’t happen overnight, even though the psalm says, ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’ (Psalm 30).

I think of the resilience of some of the military veterans I have seen maimed by multiple amputations in war; it is not the case for all, and the suicide rate is still unacceptably high.  But some have found a new purpose in life that they never would have had before their injuries.

I have seen those who have been faced with the sudden uncertainty of survival of members of their family in a car crash, and, instead of turning to the bottle, have turned to whatever they call their ‘Higher Power’, and find a faith that has only grown since.

I have seen those with chronic illness find themselves suddenly pain-free after counselling, where they have finally unburdened themselves of some festering emotional or spiritual sore.

It is wrong to think we can separate the physical body from the emotional and spiritual parts of our being.  Science cannot answer all physical ailments.  I don’t need to be a psychologist to know that many problems of the mind manifest themselves in physical symptoms, and spiritual distress can do likewise.

All healing comes with a sense of relief that permeates the entire being - and it is not just a cessation of pain.  You only have to look at a drug addict or a drunk to know that.  They can render themselves pain-free with a needle or a bottle in moments - but on their way back to consciousness, their nightmares begin again.

I believe that true healing comes from God, and involves the entirety of our being - body, mind, and spirit.  But it is also important to remember that what God means by ‘healing’, is not necessarily what we might have had in mind.

Healing comes at a cost; we cannot win any race if we do not enter in the first place.  Wrap yourself in cottonwool and hide behind your front door - and you will not engage with life at all.  Life involves risk - and risk entrains the possibility of pain and suffering.  But that pain and suffering enable those who have experienced and endured it to get alongside those who are currently suffering.  No-one who is not an alcoholic can understand what another alcoholic suffers.  No-one who has not been under the knife can understand post-operative pain and uncertainty.  No-one who has not suffered family emotional trauma can truly empathize with those who are trying to navigate it.  We can sympathize, but not empathize; and that is sometimes enough - if it is all we can do.  Just sitting with someone in their darkness and holding their hand may be all that is required.

I think our job is to learn to recognize the spiritual pain of others - in whatever form it is being manifest - and offer to get alongside them in their ‘ground zero’.

Jesus even managed to do it for the thief crucified next to him - when he was at his own ‘ground zero.’  With such an example, don’t we owe it to our brothers and sisters to try, at least, to hold them in their pain?

Philip +