by Rune Marie Nielsen
Welcome to the May issue on Spirituality for Health Concerns.
When deciding on the topic for this issue we struggled to find the right words. Healing? Too broad. The Chronic Illness issue? Not broad enough, and it doesn’t convey the faith aspect of our message. Putting words to any medical crisis is tough. What do you say to someone who is grappling with a new disability? What do you even say to yourself in the face of a medical diagnosis that shocked you to your core?
We want to express hope and peace for those living with illnesses of any kind. As clergy, we often know what we want to say to those facing major illness, but we’re never quite sure if it is the right thing to say or how to say it.
When asked to provide a cover image for this issue, the Arctic Sea Cathedral in Norway came to mind. I wasn’t sure why at first. Perhaps it is because the glass of the front exterior reflects the sky so clearly. On a bright day, it looks as though clouds are passing directly through the giant cross spanning the outer windows. Indeed, we look to the cross for clarity.
None of us have the “right” answer to life’s problems. But we all have Christ who feels pain alongside us. The articles of this issue reflect the poignant wisdom of young clergy women who know what it’s like to be deemed not whole, not useful, or not worthy due to medical symptoms. When you enter their perspectives, you may find that something vulnerable or uncomfortable within yourself is actually a holy space where God is waiting.
No matter what words we use, God understands what we are going through, even when we don’t.
Rev. Rune Marie Nielsen
Content Editor, Fidelia Magazine
Articles in this issue
-
Reframing Illness in My Life, Part 2: The Gift of Anxiety
I am whole, including my anxiety. It does not need to be healed or redeemed in order for me to be more fully me. I simply need to be aware of its presence and hold it gently, allowing it to speak but not lead. For me, that is the gift of anxiety.
-
A Prayer for Loved Ones with Dementia and Alzheimer’s
The person who I have loved for my entire life is changing before my very eyes.
-
Reframing Illness in My Life, Part 1: Illness as an Invitation
That season of the body’s unpredictability brought with it something I never would have imagined – the stability of community.
-
Spiritual Healing in the Face of the Unknown
At first, I had hoped my hospital janitor job would be a temporary position. What I didn’t expect was that my custodian role would become a fulfilling, unofficial micro-ministry.
-
Ministry with the Full Expression of the Body of Christ
The body of Christ is incomplete when it does not include people with disabilities…How do we help our churches and congregations better reflect the body of Christ? We make our churches and congregations more inclusive through education, conversation, and creativity.
-
A Blessing for the Woman Whose Body Fights
May Christ, who knows the language of suffering, walk beside you in every shadowed valley.
-
Letter from the Editor
In this issue of Fidelia, we take an in-depth look at how faith connects with illness and disability in the lives of young clergy women and the people they serve.
