What if ordinary excesses—not illegal stuff, but things like too much food, too much TV, too much shopping, too much weightless reading—are not so much the result of a selfish, undisciplined spirit and more the consequence of not giving oneself the necessary healthful care?
What if the failures we have seen high-profile leaders make in their personal lives did not announce to the world, "I was so weak; shame on me," but tell us that they did not heed their internal defense system which attempted, early on, to warn them about finding helpful ways to relieve stress and manage the demands made upon them?
What if the people we would criticize for their inconsistent application of "recovery" steps—whether of Alcoholics Anonymous, drug rehab, or anger management regimens—are struggling not just with a habit but with a numbing gridlock of the mind, an addiction begun because there seemed to be no way to cope with the life they faced?
What if we could convince the suicidal person, long before that act of ultimate excess, that the redemptive declaration is valid, "While there's life, there's hope."
What if we could learn to care properly for this vulnerable body and breakable spirit?
Just wondering . . .
Marjorie
No comments:
Post a Comment