The Benevolent Message of Pain

I just learned that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has resigned, citing differences over policy with President Trump – a day after the President called for the withdrawal of American forces in Syria. This blog isn’t about that, exactly. 

It’s about listening to pain.

I recently listened to a podcast called the “Science of Happiness.”  I heard Helen Weng, a University of California San Francisco neuroscientist talk about the meditation practice of body scans and the importance of “listening to pain.” Weng says there is scientific data that body awareness and meditation can enhance social relationships and improve mental health. I wonder if they can also improve the health of our church?

During a body scan meditation one pays attention to the breath…and then to each part of the body…and even to the mind wandering.  We pay attention. And studies show that during this type of meditation there is increased activity in the insular cortex part of the brain.  Weng says, “I like to think about …each part of the body has its own form of information and wisdom.  Like the feet is more about balance and movement, and the heart may tell you more about relationships, and the stomach might tell you more about digestion and anxiety and intuition.  So, you go back to the raw signals of your body, and then ask yourself, ‘What message is my body trying to tell me?” I like to think of all these messages as benevolent messages, even if they hurt, because it’s trying to tell you something.”

I think a lot of us are feeling a lot of pain right now.  There is grief and sorrow over so much that is going on in our church, our nation, our world.  As much as I want to distract myself and “bury my head in the sand,” I know I need to PAY ATTENTION.  I need to PAY ATTENTION to the PAIN.  It’s good for me to be reminded this pain I am feeling carries with it a benevolent message.  It’s actually “Good News.”  Is my stomach upset?  Don’t eat all the cookies and fudge. Are my knees and hips stiff? Get up and stretch and move.  Am I disturbed about a disagreement with a coworker, friend or family member? Pick up the phone and talk.   Am I crazy-angry about the clerical abuse crisis?  Then DO SOMETHING?

We’re meeting here at St. Francis Xavier on Sunday morning to come up with a response plan. I imagine it will be multi-pronged.  Thank God for the pain that is leading us to action.  I pray we all PAY ATTENTION.

Join us Sunday, December 23, 9:00 am in the Romero Room.