Comments on: Illness, Consciousness, and Father Damien

By: Angela Olsen

Angela Olsen — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:42:51 +0000

Thank you for this wonderful story with its insight into the meaning of disease in our corporeal bodies. I am traveling a spiritual path and have been wondering what I have been doing wrong, just what I have not figured out that keeps me locked in a body that has so many physical ailments. Although I am able to understand the Oneness of all our being and the idea that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, I have only been able to progress far enough to understand that my ailments have been given to me as a gift that has allowed me to become the compassionate, giving person that I am today. I truly do understand now that the purpose of my life is service to mankind, and I try to find every way that I can to do that. Yet, I still have had that nagging sense that there was something that I have been missing that keeps me in this physically ill state. Shouldn’t I be able to be healed if I have addressed all my issues, I thought? Your article has released me from this burden of self-judgment. I will continue on my journey, but I won’t allow myself to judge myself so harshly any more! Thank you for this release. Namaste’

By: Winslow

Winslow — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:17:38 +0000

When I lived in beautiful Hawaii (all too briefly) Makia Malo came to tell stories at the school where I worked and I learned so much about Hansen’s disease and storytelling, about Hawai’i, about illness, about perfection. My ailment so far is inward, and it is invisible yet it is as maligned as physical ones used to be. But I read your dear post and realized, even with depression, I am perfect. Through it, I have learned not just compassion – but empathy. If I see this with your insight, I realize it is a tremendous gift. Thank you.

By: Sandra Hopper

Sandra Hopper — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:38:28 +0000

Wonderful message, Sky, and one for me to remember. Release judgment and be love. Thanks.

By: Wes Hopper

Wes Hopper — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:17:08 +0000

What a great reminder of how easy it is to judge without realizing it. I forget that “it’s all good” so easily in spite of all the experiences that have shown me otherwise. Thanks for sharing a very powerful example.

By: Doc Moore

Doc Moore — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:22:08 +0000

Thank you for the follow on twitter. I am a cancer survivor of 4 years. I would love to share my story of how I was saved and healed by the Lord. My husband is a Pastor. I would love to get up and out and share. I am a living testimony. I am an author and a motivational speaker.

Thank you for sharing the blog with me.

Blessings,
Cheri Moore
817-247-9346

By: Phyllis O'Shields-Jones

Phyllis O'Shields-Jones — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:29:46 +0000

Beautiful insight, thank you for sharing. Enjoying your tweets and your blog. Lived in Kialua for a few years and love Hawaii, hope to return as a home some day… Mahalo Phyllis O’Shields-Jones

By: Sally A. Lesher

Sally A. Lesher — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:50:23 +0000

On a recent vacation from my beautiful island (Camano Island, WA) to yours I knew that the one thing I wanted to do was to attend service in your church. I had visited there 20 years ago and the memory of that peaceful, blessed and God-filled place stayed with me all those years. The service my sister and I attended on August 9th was everything I knew it would be. As the congregation presented us with our kikui nut leis and then raised their hands in a prayer of blessing my heart swelled with love for each of them and for the gift of being in that holy place once again. The memory will stay with me always. When I think of God’s love I think of Unity. As a member of the Unity Church of Seattle for many years I came to truly understand God and to be able to simply love – without any borders, guidelines, rules or regulations. How free I feel in my belief. How open I am to recognize and truly see God all around me – in every person and every thing. This was the gift Unity gave me all those years ago and it is as fresh and alive today as it was on that first day I attended the church in Seattle. A young boy wearing an aqua running suit had arrived late and sat by me . When we sang “Let There Be Love” and joined hands he gave my hand that extra squeeze of love, of recogition that we are one, and I knew that I had found my spiritual “home,” a place where people can attend in an aqua jogging suit and be accepted and loved. Aloha to each of you in the church. You are blessed to have Sky and that beautiful chapel. How could one NOT know God in such a place.
I converted to Islam three years ago and as a Muslim I still felt at home in Unity. Thank you for giving me a memory for life and for being the highlight of my trip to Honolulu.
Sally Lesher

By: Barbara Eberhrt

Barbara Eberhrt — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:21:15 +0000

It’s a “we” program! I find I learn most Not from being talked AT, but from being talked WITH.

Thank You for your insight into disease. Some ‘diseases’ can help us learn, (patience, forgiveness, humility) and some can help us Help. Some ‘diseases’ force us to practice our spirituality like our
life depends on it – because it Does. The whole Recovery program is based on ‘a daily reprieve based
on maintenance of a spiritual connection’. In that case, what a gift!

aloha, Barbara

ps. this blog thing is fun!