Moses and Ted Kennedy

The last of the Kennedy brothers is gone.
Ted Kennedy struggled for years
For health care for all.
Yet he died before his goal was reached.
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt
Into the wilderness.
He died without entering
The promised land.
The Israelites wandered for forty years.
The uninsured and poor have suffered
For at least forty years.
Joshua became leader.
Obama became President.
Has the struggle been placed in Obama's hands?
Is he Kennedy's heir
In health care reform?
Let it be so.
Let Obama be Joshua
For those who suffer.

Photo by Lilachd

Blessings?

What do we believe are the benefits
Of becoming a Christian?
Wealth?
Happiness?
Health?
I have no wealth, only sadness, and many ailments.
Am I a Christian?
I say I am a follower of the Word.
Would my fellow churchgoers agree?
I think not.
In their world, God blesses Christians now
With material goods, a happy life, and a healthy body.
In their world, intercessory prayer controls God.
If true prayer warriors pray for you,
You will be blessed.
I believe that Christ demonstrates God in action.
That he is the highest, truest revelation of God.
Therefore, I must believe in Him.
He did not promise
Riches,
Happiness,
Health.
He did not promise to do our bidding.
He promised to be with us
In an imperfect world.
He promised to be with us
Through suffering, grief and death
As well as
Through peace, joy and life.
He promised another existence
Beyond this world.
He portrayed God's Love for all.
So I must try to love as he did.
Try.

Photo by Hamed Saber

Illness

Malaise creeps over me without notice.
My body has changed,
But I am only vaguely aware.
Night comes and with it fever.
My joints cry out.
Warmth is gone.
I shiver.
The fire returns.
The cycle begins again.
Life seems fragile.
Illness reminds us we are not in control.
"A strange flu," the doctor says.
An antiviral given.
The fever never returns.
Slowly as a creeping tortoise,
Wellness regains control.
A gentle reminder that health is to be treasured.
We must value every day.
Thank you God.

Photo by kretyen

Prayer for Health

Great Physician, who fills Paradise,
Praise Your Presence.
Let Your Essence fill us all.
Let Your mercy reach earth,
As it does all parts of Paradise.
Heal us this day.
Reprieve us from the ills we deserve for sin,
As we reprieve those who make us suffer.
Do not let us find the sickness of the soul
That we are so prone to do.
Minister to our wounds
And repair our souls as well as our bodies.
For you are the Great Physician,
The Healer of all,
The Doctor of Souls,
With all the skill of infinity
And no limits.

Photo by mckaysavage