Today’s find: Therapy

Ahhh…relief!

It’s been nearly two months since I last wrote about cervical radiculopathy (AKA, my self-imposed pain-in-the-neck). And I’m delighted to report that the torment, for the most part, has subsided. I can now move about the world – without boring every unfortunate soul I encounter with an “aching shoulder update.”

God is good.

Physical therapy is good, too. In recent weeks, it’s given me simple tools and exercises to use – which, together, have been far more effective than the parade of Salonpas, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin I’d been using to relieve the pain.

I look at these tools almost like set-pieces in an Easter story. A towel roll and a stretching strap truly have transformed my outlook on the day ahead: I’m much more free now to try to be Good News to others, rather than get all wrapped up in my personal misery index.

An Easter story…and perhaps more accurately, a Second Sunday of Easter story. A “Divine Mercy Sunday” story. I noticed that subtle theme emerge in the gospel passage we hear on this occasion every year: Jesus first steps into his dear friends’ grief and misery … and then sends them out.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Yes, physical therapy is good. And “Kairos therapy” is good, too. 

I thought about that … as we wrapped up Team Formation yesterday and prepared to enter the prison on Tuesday. Simple tools (what we call “agapē”) are key elements of the work we do inside Menard – posters, cookies, placemats (all prayerfully fashioned by members of our Christian communities) will help to relieve the spiritual pain experienced by the men we serve there. 

It’s one thing to hear about God’s abundant mercy. It’s another thing to see and touch and taste the proof: that’s what “agapē” provides … the prayers, posters, cookies and placemats. They’re like a breath of Holy Spirit, moving over an otherwise dreary and hopeless place.

They are instruments of relief. They are Divine Mercy, made present at Menard:

And when [Jesus] had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

So – a huge “thank you” – to all who have provided these simple tools of agapē. And please, keep us in your prayers in the coming days – that we can complete the work the Lord has called us to do.

Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy & Merciful One.

IHS