...in Body, Mind and Spirit...

The Blue Tigers, Indian's football team,
of different religions, praying
together before they take on Belarus.
(They lost 3-0 sadly).

 "Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit …; give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation."

Words from the Christian liturgy which reminded me of a recent experience with about one hundred parents, the majority of whom were muslim.

We were gathering following the tragic deaths of two children at their school.  These were unrelated, but both indicated suicide.  

My brief was to discuss what we do to minimise the risk of this happening.  I prepared what I wanted to say, but actually, when it came to, others wanted to speak and I sat in the audience with the parents.  The Educational Psychologist spoke about the development of the adolescent brain, with 'risk taking' being the theme.  The Head wanted to talk about the pernicious challenge presented by social media.  I got the idea that direct speech was not not yet permissible.  Feelings were still raw, and only tangential conversation was permitted at present.

So I record my message here for posterity, and this mornings service on the BBC brought it to mind.

I figured that the experience I shared with the majority of the parents I was meeting with was the belief that 'Spiritual Health' is important.  Just as most people understand that physical health is not to be taken for granted, and requires 'action', in the same way, so does spiritual health.  

For physical health we know that what we eat, our routines and exercise are all important.  Without attention, our physical health will decline.  We also monitor our physical health through trips to the dentist, and making occasional but regular measurements (temperature, blood pressure.)

Spiritual health, in a similar way, requires a degree of 'gardening'.  We do not get a specialist to do a garden makeover, and then expect that to be it.  Gardens require constant maintenance.  In the same way we look after our spiritual health through, prayer, recitation, readings and meeting with others.

Body-Mind-Spirit; these are linked.  So how do we promote the wellbeing of the mind? It is my view that most parents have a health anxiety with the naging though, 'are we doing the right thing?  Are we doing enough? Too much?  This keeps us on our toes.  Anxiety, like pain, can be a helpful motivator.

As parents we have great power over our children.  We keep them alive.  But our powers simply boil down to 'influence' on closer inspection.  We can not 'make our children' be happy.

So how do we promote mental health?  We start with ourselves.  Just as the parents who abuse their bodies should not be surprised when their children do; and parents who neglect their spiritual values should not be surprised when their children do; and the parents who do not care for their mental health should not be surprised when their children do also.

There is a national campaign called '5-Ways to promote mental wellbeing.  I like it because I think it applies to all.  The five ways are:-

1) Maintain an active lifestyle- resist inactivity.  Getting the blood pumping round the body has a similar impact to the administration of modern antidepresive medication.

2) Connect with others.  The temptation when feeling down is to withdraw, and close down.  Do the opposite.  Make the effort to connect with others by taking the initiative, rather than waiting for others to act first.

3) Maintain interests, both intellectual and social.  Again, resist the temptation to withdrawn, and criticise.  Pursue knowledge and wisdom.

4) Make a conscious effort to give something to others.  In giving we move away from self absorption and pity, and receive.

5) Focus the mind on the current business of living.  Anxiety inhabits the past and the future, both aspects of our lives that are unpredictable.  One of the strongest factors affecting depression is 'helplessness'.  It is healthy to be aware of the choices we do have in life, and to make good use of them.

I believe that all relationships need to have something in them to give them 'life'.  Again, as with watering an indoor plant, I forget to do this at my peril. This week my team got together to discuss their recent activities as part of World Mental Health Day.  Afterwards we noted that this meeting contained that life-giving element.  We were all greatly encouraged, and felt the shared sense of achievement.  The meeting contained 'the energy of life' that we very much needed to keep us going.

 During the service today, the congregation at St Mary's Warwick spoke the words from Psalm 111.

"The works of his hands are verity and judgement : all his commandments are true. 

They stand fast for ever and ever : and are done in truth and equity." 

I was very struck by the use of the words 'verity', and 'equity',  

Verity (from veritas) is 'truth'.  There is 'truth' that crosses all people and millenia.  Equity is a word used in anti-racist philosophy.  Not everyone is positioned at the same point along the starting line for the 'race for life'.   This is understood, and accounted for. 

I am grateful for the many privileges and advantages of my birth.  Like a European club taking on a Asian club at football.  Just 11 identical people competing with one football, but with very different histories behind them.