Articles

For many people who live outside of South Asia, the effects of the earthquake and tsunami that killed over 225,000 people in late December may seem far away in every sense of the word. But the questions raised by this event and others like it can hit much closer to home.

One Christmas, my wife gave me a bicycle. Everyone else in the family knew about it, but I was completely surprised.

When I was a teenager, I injured my ankle playing basketball. The medical prediction from X-rays was that, due to the severity of the injury, my ankle would never fully recover its original strength and capacity for movement.

Two summers ago, I was bitten by the "I want to be someone else" bug. I'd just turned 36, and one failed, childless marriage notched on the bedpost had not done much to improve my already faltering self-image.

She has long limbs, toned legs, and a flat stomach. Her muscles are lean, her collarbone and ribs stick out.

When a new state law required me to have a physical examination before I could play soccer during my junior year in high school, I went to the doctor thinking I'd be in and out with no trouble at all. After monitoring my heart rate, though, the doctor became concerned.

For about seven or eight years, I had a growth on the back of my head. Although I couldn't see it, I noticed it whenever I combed my hair.

Stepping out onto our semi-wet, sloped driveway from my car, I quite unexpectedly fell, landing with a heavy thump on both of my hands. My lips kissed the slippery macadam, and though they were only slightly scraped, my wrists were badly hurt.

I was flying out of Monterey, California, to San Francisco on an eight-seat commuter plane. Visibility was poor, and not long after takeoff we were immersed in a sea of fog.

Sometimes there's nothing more discouraging than hearing that someone else has had a quick healing, especially if you've been longing to have more of them yourself. It's so natural to desire health and well-being; it's also natural to expect the kind of quick and permanent healing that assures you of your wholeness and wellness—right here and now.