Love and Healing - Rev. Peter Panagore
Good stuff:
Science of Love
At a Nevola Symposium on Spirituality and Health, the touchy-feely subject, supported by science, was - "What's Love Got to Do with It? - The Meaning of Love in the Healing Arts". Dr. Lynn Underwood, epidemiologist and keynote speaker with a long resume of notable science publications, asked this question: "How does compassionate love (not romantic love) function in a clinical setting?"Her scientific research shows: * There's improvement in the immune response functioning of HIV patients who actively help others. * Love of spouse and love of God function to lessen or prevent post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). * For post-illness individuals - the highest predictor of their survival is their giving social support to others. * For patients taking placebos - the care and concern shown by their doctors have a positive impact.Underwood added that the most loving thing we may do in our lives is allow others to love us.Underwood's studies signify that for the sake of our health, if for nothing else, we ought to find a place of compassionate, loving support. Places such as family, friends and a spiritual community not only will sustain us in our time of illness and loss, but will empower us to give more of ourselves, which in turn helps our immune system.It sounds like God has built into us the need for compassionate, loving support, and an immune system that will be healthier when we give of ourselves to others in loving and compassionate ways.Let's Pray: Dear God, teach us to love and be loved. Amen.A Thought: Letting others love us is compassion.Source:1 John 4:8 NIV: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."The Thomas Nevola, MD Symposium on Spirituality and Health, an annual Maine program since 1987, is sponsored by the Thomas Nevola, MD Memorial Fund, Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency, Maine General Medical Center. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mdfpr/Nevola_04/eighteenth.html
Science of Love
At a Nevola Symposium on Spirituality and Health, the touchy-feely subject, supported by science, was - "What's Love Got to Do with It? - The Meaning of Love in the Healing Arts". Dr. Lynn Underwood, epidemiologist and keynote speaker with a long resume of notable science publications, asked this question: "How does compassionate love (not romantic love) function in a clinical setting?"Her scientific research shows: * There's improvement in the immune response functioning of HIV patients who actively help others. * Love of spouse and love of God function to lessen or prevent post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). * For post-illness individuals - the highest predictor of their survival is their giving social support to others. * For patients taking placebos - the care and concern shown by their doctors have a positive impact.Underwood added that the most loving thing we may do in our lives is allow others to love us.Underwood's studies signify that for the sake of our health, if for nothing else, we ought to find a place of compassionate, loving support. Places such as family, friends and a spiritual community not only will sustain us in our time of illness and loss, but will empower us to give more of ourselves, which in turn helps our immune system.It sounds like God has built into us the need for compassionate, loving support, and an immune system that will be healthier when we give of ourselves to others in loving and compassionate ways.Let's Pray: Dear God, teach us to love and be loved. Amen.A Thought: Letting others love us is compassion.Source:1 John 4:8 NIV: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."The Thomas Nevola, MD Symposium on Spirituality and Health, an annual Maine program since 1987, is sponsored by the Thomas Nevola, MD Memorial Fund, Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency, Maine General Medical Center. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mdfpr/Nevola_04/eighteenth.html
Replies
Oh, my. That is so true. I know I feel better when I can help someone else, but I never looked at it from the other side. I don\'t think I\'ve ever resented a person for helping me, but I certainly do resent my need for help. Realizing that my situation fulfills another person\'s need to be helpful could allow me to accept help more graciously. Did that make sense? Anyway, thanks Featherjack for sharing this. Hope you are feeling better. Many hugs to you!
You\'re welcome, of course. It\'s nice, IMHO, to feel that my needing help is a gift to others who have the need TO help. Puts a whole other spin on it. Hugs!
What a beautiful post, Jack! Thank you for that. I do Christian counseling and one of the things that I have read is that the modality of counseling is not nearly as important as the empathy of the caregiver when it comes to the outcome of the therapy. We do need that compassionate, unconditional love. Much love to you, dear Jack. Heather.
Heather, you\'re doing it right!! :-) Much love to you and yours (as far as you wish to extend \"yours\") Dear One.
Beautiful - as they say, the way to help oneself is to help others...
Thank you!
:-) Hugs.
What a wonderful post and I love everyone\'s comments. I knew that helping others could make me feel better, but this study goes deeper. I also need to remember to feel compassion for myself. Thank you!
Yes, be good to and take care of yourself, first! Then you can care better for others.... xoxo