Monday, January 14, 2008 at 12:12am
When I get a cold
Column: Woman at the Well
My high school English teacher Ethel May Shaw, a beatnik with long black hair who told us stories about her free-spirited boyfriend who could walk on his hands in gravel, once told me that colds are caused by un-cried tears, which has presented a problem for me over the years: Once you have a cold, crying does not help!
Louise Hay, author of "Heal Your Body," says that colds are caused by "too much going on at once, mental confusion, disorder and small hurts." That covers a multitude of little sins.
I've had a head cold for almost a week now. I told myself at first that it was just allergies caused by cat dander, because my favorite cat, Tiggy, has been sharing my pillow lately. But the itchy-watery eyes and sneezing turned into a full-blown cold on Sunday. I've been drinking plenty of fluids, resting, popping Vitamin C and zinc lozenges, and now I am ready to be well.
I sleep almost sitting up in order to breathe. This gives me plenty of time to meditate on the meaning my cold has for me.
I reject the notion that getting sick is in any way my fault, let alone punishment from God. I'm not going to add insult to injury by blaming myself for falling victim to the latest virus floating through the air. But I do believe "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28) — or at least they can. So I expect some gift to come through this experience.
Certainly the cold slows me down and asks me to rest in the arms of my creator. And when I have a headache, I am absolutely forced to lighten up on my left-brain obsession with analyzing things, even the cold. I also know that when I can't breathe easily, breathing is the most important thing, so I focus on my breath, which leads to natural meditation.
Finally, today's headache seemed to encircle my whole head and I began to experience the subtle power at the base of my brain where my alligator brain tells me everything is about fight or flight. My faith whispers there is always a third alternative - the audacious commitment to unconditional love that brings a peace that passes all understanding.
I'm recovering fairly quickly, taking it slow, thankful that the healing presence of a loving God works in me and through me to cause even this down time with a cold to have meaning for me.
— — —
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Kristi Denham.
Louise Hay, author of "Heal Your Body," says that colds are caused by "too much going on at once, mental confusion, disorder and small hurts." That covers a multitude of little sins.
I've had a head cold for almost a week now. I told myself at first that it was just allergies caused by cat dander, because my favorite cat, Tiggy, has been sharing my pillow lately. But the itchy-watery eyes and sneezing turned into a full-blown cold on Sunday. I've been drinking plenty of fluids, resting, popping Vitamin C and zinc lozenges, and now I am ready to be well.
I sleep almost sitting up in order to breathe. This gives me plenty of time to meditate on the meaning my cold has for me.
I reject the notion that getting sick is in any way my fault, let alone punishment from God. I'm not going to add insult to injury by blaming myself for falling victim to the latest virus floating through the air. But I do believe "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28) — or at least they can. So I expect some gift to come through this experience.
Certainly the cold slows me down and asks me to rest in the arms of my creator. And when I have a headache, I am absolutely forced to lighten up on my left-brain obsession with analyzing things, even the cold. I also know that when I can't breathe easily, breathing is the most important thing, so I focus on my breath, which leads to natural meditation.
Finally, today's headache seemed to encircle my whole head and I began to experience the subtle power at the base of my brain where my alligator brain tells me everything is about fight or flight. My faith whispers there is always a third alternative - the audacious commitment to unconditional love that brings a peace that passes all understanding.
I'm recovering fairly quickly, taking it slow, thankful that the healing presence of a loving God works in me and through me to cause even this down time with a cold to have meaning for me.
— — —
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Kristi Denham.