Weight loss and exercise plans are advertised constantly on television. Drug companies are increasing their share of Ad space each year with chemicals to prevent heart attacks, improve digestion, and stimulate the brain's ability to function at a high level. All this marketing takes places within the context of a society growing steadily more obese and sedentary. Health costs are skyrocketing and diseases like diabetes are epidemic. So what is good health?

            Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are all connected. Good health means having the ability to resist illness and injury. It also means having the capacity to deal with a variety of viruses, stresses, and challenges while still being able to pursue our work, hopes and dreams. Disease and disappointment happen. Grief, injury, and anxiety are part of life. Good health is measured by how we're able to cope with these and keep moving forward in our lives.

            Spiritual health includes being well grounded-being open to the wisdom of others and the touch of the Spirit without losing our own identity. It means having a strong inner immune system-less susceptible to the pressure of those who claim to have all the answers, to know the mind of God impeccably, or who threaten divine judgment and damnation on those who disagree with them. People with good spiritual health are like an immune system for their faith communities as well. Faith communities with good spiritual and congregational health are like an immune system for our society and our world.

            Congregational health comes from knowing who you are as a people of faith, always loved by God. It comes from knowing your direction: call to grow in faith and to share God's love in a world that so desperately needs it. A healthy congregation is able to be itself even under stress, able to remain true to its identity and direction by responding, not reacting, to challenges. One great measure of a healthy congregation is its ability to embrace odd and challenging people, to welcome us fully into the "family." Another important measure is to have some options, some flexibility, in dealing with financial, theological, and other stresses. Healthy congregations have the freedom to face challenges in ways that build people up and help them  grow rather than tearing them down or blocking their growth.

            The real value of good health is found in what it means to us and to those we love. This value is realized in our ability to accomplish our portion of God's dream -- transforming the world into the nature of Shalom (peace, wholeness, and connectedness). The more people and faith communities that are spiritually healthy, the more powerfully and effectively this work can be done, and the better life will be for all of us

            Spiritual health requires some faith: an ability to trust in God through all things while at the same time trusting that we are vitally important to God's work in the world. The call we have to change the world in partnership with the Spirit requires flexibility, faith, courage, and an ability to admit our mistakes. In short, it requires resilience, respect for others, and a deep regard for the ongoing work of grace taking place in our own lives.  Let's strive for wellness of body, mind, and spirit to do the work we have before us. And let's remember that our ultimate health lies in our oneness with God and each other.

Thanks for continuing to bless me as we journey together.  

--Jack F. Price

To read more by Jack, be sure to order your copy of Finding Faith: Honest Answers about God, the Bible, and the Church Today at:  www.findingfaithnow.com or www.lulu.com/buy (download available)

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