Mtr Taylor Devine
Dear Friend,
We don’t often talk about Jesus' healing power in our modern church. And it’s probably for good reason, a pastorally sensitive approach to a touchy topic. Most of us know the disappointment that accompanies grief—often earnest thoughts like "I wish I could have done something," "perhaps if I had prayed harder or was somehow holier.” There’s wisdom in just holding space together when things go wrong, and there is power in doing the practical and the spiritual—bringing a casserole and praying with. But by saying not much in other times we risk not noticing places that are places of holy healing among us. A few come to mind that I want to share with you. I would love to hear about places where you notice healing, as well.
Kate Bowler is an academic with really interesting work in the history of religion. She also has a life changing diagnosis with which she grapples in her public work. Recently her published blessings for imperfect lives with titles like "a blessing for the lives we didn’t choose,” “a blessing for this beautiful, limited day,” “a blessing for all the firsts without a loved one,” and “a blessing for those who watch over the sick” have been bringing hope and levity to the challenging every day for many.
The work of Thistle Farms, a social enterprise based in Nashville (but which now has a Magdalene house in Phoenix!) has as its slogan: Love Heals. The organization has a great communication strategy and mission, their work focuses on the following: We believe love is the most powerful force for change in the world. Because love has the power to heal. Their work with women in recovery, emerging into the community after incarceration, or survivors of trafficking and abuse, is long, slow, hard work in community, but they hold out hope for many: A Single Candle Cuts Through The Darkest Night.
A few weeks ago I visited New Orleans. The last times I went were in 2007 and 2011, both on church-affiliated mission trips that involved working on houses in communities recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Though many physical buildings and spiritual lives were never the same I am sure for those who survived the storm, after all this time I was amazed to experience the New Orleans I had heard about. It was gorgeous, the music was everything that had been described to me, and the food the best I have had in years. The community, with an incredible amount of hard work, investment, and tears, has at least in parts experienced healing—at least from my outsider’s perspective.
The place I’ve heard the most about healing recently is in a book called Jesus Heals: An Anatomy Primer, by Danielle Hitchen. It is a board book with a different part of the body on each page for a toddler’s enjoyment. Below there’s a picture showing “body,” and Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead. The other pages have short portions of scripture where Jesus healed hands and skin and backs and bleeding. In my reading of it I am amazed at how frequent these stories are the ones chosen to be written down, proving the way he was truly the son of God, truly changing things, truly capable.
Love heals, medicine heals, time heals, humor heals, prayer heals—and I believe it all points back toward the source of healing: Jesus. When we’re in need of one of those blessings for lives we didn’t choose, may the healing power of Jesus be present to us in ways that comfort and restore.
—Mtr Taylor
