Chattanooga Pulse

Written by Dr. Rick
Tuesday, 30 December 2008 21:10

All my life I’ve been drawn to the exploration of different religions. I make a distinction here between “religion” and “spirituality” for a couple of reasons. First, because many non-mainstream theologies do not consider themselves religions per se, but spiritual practices. Second, I believe that organized religion and spirituality are actually two very different things.

I think of religion as a set of beliefs to adhere to (or, when open-minded and supportive of intellectual discussion, to question), and including an organized fellowship of some kind. And I think of spirituality as that part of our inner selves that connects with, and has an ongoing, evolving relationship with, one’s Creator, Teacher, Universal Presence, Divine Spirit, etc. One takes place outside, one inside. They may co-exist, or may be separate. A person can certainly be spiritual, but not religious. These are my distinctions, however…you might agree, or perhaps have your own definitions. By and large, though, we’re probably speaking a similar language.

At any rate, I’ve always been grateful that my childhood included support for my diverse spiritual exploration. I remember being invited to a friend’s bar mitzvah when I was a kid, and my family encouraged me to go and to enjoy learning something about the way others worship. And this was in a very Catholic town. (Little did I know this openness would, in later life, lead to my becoming an “honorary Jew” among my LA friends! Invite me to a Seder and I’m there, oy vey.)

Recently I had the great pleasure of attending a Buddhist initiation of a friend’s advancement in her studies. Having a great fondness for Buddhist teachings, I was quite moved by what I heard and saw: a handful of peaceful, attentive, and humorous folks coming together in support of my friend, in a service led by their sensei, or teacher, whom I found to be wise and very funny.
And on Christmas Eve I attended a candlelight service at “my” church. I somewhat meekly refer to it as mine because I’m not a regular attendee. (And I’m grateful that my friend and pastor doesn’t rub it in.) But I felt something quite wonderful during that song-filled, inspirational gathering: a strong sense of both peace and freedom. Peace to be in the gentle presence of like-minded spiritual beings, and freedom from the rat race that all too often consumes the hours of the day, the days of the week. It was a time to exhale, and be filled.

I read an article recently about the connection between spirituality and wellness. According to a study in Annals of Epidemiology, people who attend religious services, be they at a church, mosque or synagogue, tend to be healthier than those who don’t. The research found that prayer and meditation are associated with improved immune systems and lower rates of depression. This certainly makes sense when you think of your house of worship as a setting in which to create friendships, which leads to a greater support system to help you battle the stressors of life.
And speaking of stress, it has been found that roughly 20 percent of us worry that holiday stress will negatively affect our health and more than a third of us turn to food and/or alcohol to cope. On the upside, nearly half of us attempt to use exercise and/or spiritual activities to relieve stress. Wellness and spirituality to the rescue again.

In the field of bereavement, it is widely understood that for people anticipating, or recovering from, a major loss, it’s not important what type of religion or spiritual practice they engage in; what is more important is that they have a religious or spiritual practice to turn to. It’s the belief in something greater than ourselves that can bring us acceptance and peace, even in the most challenging of times.

I always used to think of prayer and meditation as pretty much the same thing…at least close enough to be kissin’ cousins. But again, as I evolve in my own spiritual practice I find that there’s a distinction here, too. When we pray, we are talking to God. When we meditate, we are listening. Perhaps listening to the Divine that exists within each of us. One reaches outward, one turns inward.

So is a house of worship a healing place? Surely it can be. I think we know this instinctively. But what we may not always give ourselves permission to believe is that a place of worship-a healing place-can be anywhere, in a forest, or at the water’s edge. Along a busy boulevard, or in the quiet of your own backyard. We can pray and meditate (communicate and listen) anywhere and at any time. I believe I’m in church when I’m snuggling with Betty Lou the wonderpup. Or sitting in the Bluff View sculpture garden, in companionable silence with a friend, overlooking the river. I know this to be true for me because I feel spiritually connected and happy during such moments. If you believe that you exist in concert with all that is good in the universe, then wherever you are can be church.

Prayer and meditation, formal or informal, may not cure, but they can certainly heal. Think about that. Connecting with your spirituality may help you feel better about yourself, live healthier, and have a more hopeful, positive outlook on life. This, my friends, is healing.

Something to meditate on.

Until next week: “Stress is the common cold of the psyche.”