by Rev. Bob Johnson
The new mind-body connection we talked about in the first article is helping us realize that our "biography becomes our biology." In other words, you and I are walking history books. All our thoughts, regardless of their content, first enter our systems as energy. Those that carry emotional, mental, psychological, and spiritual energy produce biological responses that are then stored in our cellular memory. So our attitudes begin to form.
The idea that biography becomes biology implies that we participate to some degree in the creation of illness. But--and this is a crucial point--we must not abuse this truth by blaming ourselves or any one for becoming ill.
Few of us ever consciously attempt to create illness. Illness develops as a consequence of behavioral patterns and attitudes that we do not always realize are biologically toxic. Illnesses force us to review our attitudes so that we may comprehend our day-to-day fearful or bitter attitudes and the negative substances they create in our bodies.
What causes negative substances in you and me? Anger, hostility, fear, hatred, prejudice, jealousy, enmity, strife, dissention, selfishness, and other guilt-ridden activities, all contribute to negative or toxic biographical happenings. (Galatians 5:18-21) Each feeling produces an attitude, and in its own way contributes to our susceptibility to illness. Why, you ask? Each person's body has an immune system, when that immune system is functioning poorly, or not at all (AIDS comes to mind), then illness of one kind or another can enter our systems.
What can we, or might we do? First and foremost, hold to what is positive and learn the meaning, reason, and purpose for your being. The more positive, the more you will know of a state of self care and the love of your Creator. The soul is the meaning of the body.
So what does that do? Simply put, it says that when the stresses and changes of life come, and they do, above and beyond the confusion of the circumstances, I have a quiet center telling me that I am still loved and can always be forgiven.
Do friends and mutuality of relationship help? We will look at this next week!