Meditatio of the third Beatitude

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth

My choice from among the versions of the Aramaic translation by Neil Douglass- Klotz from Blessings of the Cosmos.

Healthy are those who have softened what is rigid within; they shall receive physical vigor and strength from the universe

I recently attended a seminar where the presenter was Dr Norman Shealy, MD, Ph.D. Dr Shealy was a practicing neurosurgeon whose interest in the management of his patient’s pain led him to get a Ph.D. in psychology. For over thirty years, Dr. Shealy has been teaching sick people how to get healthy and healthy people how to stay healthy. He says some pretty wild and controversial things about modern medicine or “sick-care,” as he calls it. But there is one thing he says that has been confirmed in study after study for over 40 years….Stress can make you sick. Stress can kill you.

Dr. Shealy has a list of five items that he uses a guide for healthy living. He begins the list with “Be positive.” Forgiveness, humor, having a positive outlook are all antidotes for stress, he says. I was thinking about that as I meditated today on the third Beatitude.  What is the thing that is rigid and how does it become soft?

Forgiveness, humor and a positive outlook require a softening of something rigid. To harbor unforgiveness is to be stuck, made immobile and Dr. Shealy says “trying to harm another by drinking poison yourself.”Having a positive outlook means being fluid, adaptable and willing to look for good in any situation. And laughing is always good for you.  The other items on Dr. Shealy’s list- Don’t smoke, Don’t be overweight, eat at least 6 servings of fresh vegetables a day (or the equivalent in nutritional supplements), drink plenty of good water. 

Interesting that the Aramaic translation links “softening what is rigid” to health.  What is even more interesting is that studies on race-related health disparity shows that racial minorities in the United States have more chronic health conditions than age-matched controls of the same race that do not live in the U.S.  Racial minorities in the U.S. also have higher levels of some chronic illness than white Americans. A few examples: Native Americans suffer high levels of depression and addiction. Hispanic Americans suffer higher levels of diabetes and African Americans have higher levels of hypertension.

It could be diet or living conditions. It could be poverty and the stress of being poor. It could be cultural. It could be genetic OR It could be the need for forgiveness.

We may need to forgive America. We may need to forgive White People.

In this political climate, we have our work cut out for us!

Healthy are those who have softened what is rigid within; they shall receive physical vigor and strength from the universe.


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PREPARATION
We are using this week to prepare for a fast. We are looking for issues. Perhaps your issue is not an issue but a person. Who do you need to forgive? (It can be a person or a group of people).

REMINDER of the Daily Practice
Make the verse of your choosing the focus for Lectio Divina:
Before 10:00 a.m. Lectio (repeat/memorize the verse)
10:00-2:00 Meditatio (make the verse your own, reinterpret it for your personal situation)
2:00-6:00 Oratio (make the verse a prayer)
6:00- until bed time  Contemplatio (Be still inside and Listen for your answer)