Wholeness

I've thought a lot lately about responding to the whole of a person. As a chaplian I'm obviously interested in their spiritual wholeness. But, this can not be divorced from other needs - physical, social, psychological and financial.

I recall when I was involved in helping physical needs - developing a laser to remove birthmarks - that I was amazed at the transformation that could result in people with what could be classed as a cosmetic change. The man who used to work night shifts to avoid people ended up training to be a helicopter pilot - a life long dream. The elderly lady who had spent her life wearing a scarf on her face becoming the life of the party and telling everyone that "now I will live". Obviously there are more serious physical issues than birthmarks, but it is apparent to me that they all impact our psychological and spritual lives. This is one of the reasons I am building a business (using some laser technology again) that is aimed at helping prevent people getting degenerative diseases like cancers, heart disease and stroke. In doing so I have also seen the difficult financial situation so many people are in and how that can also affect their spiritual and physical health.

This has all reiterated to me the fact that we are not merely "bodies" nor merely "spirit" (psyche), nor, in fact, merely "human resources" - cogs in some economic machine. Being truley whole, therefore, is being fully physical, fully spritual, and in proper relationship to the world - including the economic system - in which we live.

For me personally - whether I am wearing my hat as a Chaplain or a businessman, or as a father, a son, a husband, or friend - I need to learn to treat people as whole human beings. Practically, this starts with listening to their needs and responding with compassion, wisdom ,a and grace - so help me God.