October 2009 Dear Members & Friends of PLC: God’s peace be with you in the name of Christ our Lord, as we approach this upcoming grain harvest season. We pray for safety for all involved with fall harvest and hunting activities. WHAT DOMINATES THE NEWS LATELY? In three words, the answer is: health care reform! I’ve been asked, “What do you think Pastor Bob, are you for it or against it?” I don’t have a “yes” or “no” answer because I hear so many conflicting points of view. Plus, I’ve read opinion pieces by those considered knowledgeable on the topic who point out that the public hears only parts of what a total overhaul of the health care delivery system should look like. So I don’t know how to analyze questions such as, “Will I or you be ‘better off’ with so-called reform?” Or, “Who will be the winners and losers?” We sure can’t help but notice that there is much acrimony involved with this debate. Or, is it more correct to say argument because debating carries the suggestion of civil discourse? What is more broken, the system or the process of trying to fix the system? WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND BROKENNESS There are many passages of Scripture where Jesus or others with the spiritual gift of power heal people. For example consider Mark 6:53-56. Jesus and the disciples crossed Lake Galilee and came to the land at Gennesaret, where they tied up the boat. As they left the boat, people recognized Jesus at once. So they ran throughout the whole region; and wherever they heard he was, they brought to him the sick lying on their mats. And everywhere Jesus went, to villages, towns, or farms, people would take their sick to the marketplaces and beg him to let the sick at least touch the edge of his cloak. And all who touched it were made well. This Gospel episode plainly shows the brokenness of body that people in biblical times experienced. In other Bible texts Jesus also heals people burdened with “mind or soul sickness.” In short, human beings are broken many ways in both body and soul/mind/spirit. So, of course we want and need access to medical and spiritual care. Also, in the above Gospel episode the people no doubt felt that Jesus was their only chance for getting well again. Can you sense desperation as people lined the walkway with their loved ones? Can you picture rows of people lying in misery, perhaps not even comprehending the present moment? They were people in need of “The Physician.” What happened to all the broken people who didn’t have the opportunity to encounter Jesus? Perhaps they were so mired in poverty that they didn’t even have family or friends to carry them to Jesus the doctor? “HEALING COMES THROUGH OPENING ONE'S SELF TO THE POOR.” The quote above this paragraph is by Dr. Walter Brueggemann, professor emeritus of Eden Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. He reminds us that all people are broken by sin, Satan, and death. We work at keeping our souls more healthy when we are concerned for those who are (much) less fortunate than ourselves. As we increase the overall well-being of “the poor” there are multiple types of healing possible. Don’t you think that in the Gospel episode above the ones who brought the sick to Jesus also went away in a far better state of affairs? Is there similar blessing for Americans, if one of the goals of the current health care reform proposals, namely, expanding coverage is enacted? DOCTOR STUART COX, M.D. In the September 2009 issue of the news magazine called The Metro Lutheran Dr. Stuart Cox, a Twin Cities physician describes how a detour from medical school changed his perspective on health care. In 1989 Dr. Cox participated in the Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC). This can be described as something like a Lutheran Peace Corps. Then, Dr. Cox was a senior in college before entering med school. He was assigned to work in Washington D.C. at Christ House, a follow-up care center for homeless men who were discharged from a hospital. Dr. Cox states that he was surrounded by tragedy and desperation that year. He witnessed time and again that there actually is health care rationing in America. Dr. Cox says, “Due to the high cost of providing health care, many people can’t get it. The poorest are the least likely to get help.” Dr. Cox learned a deep sensitivity toward vulnerable people, and a conviction that there needs to be attention paid, in our health care system, to those who cannot advocate for themselves. Dr. Cox serves on a legislative committee for health care for the State of Minnesota. He helps lobby for better policy. He admits that it is incredibly complicated. He believes health care is a right, not a privilege. He says, “But the problem is how much can and should we provide? What’s the minimum? What does everyone deserve?” “THERE ARE SIX DETERMINANTS FOR HEALTHY LIVING” (quoted by Dr. Cox) Dr. Cox lists six determinants for healthy living. He believes these are ranked in order of importance. I offer them here for your serious consideration. You may disagree. You may be offended. You may be affirmed in your own judgment. You may question if it is within your ability to effect change. You may be compelled to take decisive action to effect change in your own personal health matters. SIX DETERMINANTS FOR HEALTHY LIVING 1. Whether or not you smoke 2. Whether or not you are obese 3. Whether or not you abuse alcohol 4. Your socio-economic status (Where is a person or a family according to the federal government definition of the “poverty level?”) 5. Whether or not your environment includes basic sanitation 6. The quality of health care you can access THE SEVENTH DETERMINANT – touched by “The Physician” As a pastor who cares for your total well-being, I hope you will work at being as healthy as you can. Do the words from the Apostle Paul’s letter of First Corinthians offer you any motivation? (1 Cor. 6:19) “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own.” When the grace of God’s love in Jesus Christ fills us with a saving faith, then we are more likely to possess better health habits. I think we would do a better job managing Dr. Cox’s list of determinants. In other words, when we are touched by “The Physician” – Christ our Lord, then we might add a seventh determinant. If we are first loved by God through Christ, then we are better able to care about ourselves. May this be part of your personal health care reform. May God help you and bless you with healthy living habits – doing your best with the genetics you inherited. Peace be with you always.