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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rayww on December 23, 2003, at 15:39:56
There is a lot of confusion on the subject of mind altering drugs and religion.
A person's religion is their belief.
Spirituality is the unseen experience that strengthens our faith, rewards our patience, and sustains us and brings us peace in the midst of trial and turmoil. One is a constant and the other is a variable. Applying other laws to this may help us understand how the constant can stay the same as the variable changes. (what do I know about science? not much)
When we are unsure of what is happening in the variable, we can hang onto the constant having faith it is correct. The religious experience will be different for everyone, yet within it are some constants as well that we can hang on to when we aren't sure about the reality of our spirituality.
What is a constant on the spiritual side?
#1. God's love for us can be felt by all who ask.
#2. Spiritual witness of truth - - that warm electric feeling that sends a charge through our body from time to time as we search out truth
#3. Revelation leading to undestanding and wisdom as we discover treasures of truth in the scripturesWhat is the constant? The official doctrine of the religion you believe in. Or if you don't have religion, the 10 commandments and Sermon on the Mount - those universal truths taught in most religions - basic rules for living and loving.
When I am unsure of the spiritual/psycho feelings I am having, I can fall back on what I believe, and allow my belief, not my feelings, to carry me over the rough spots.
The 10 Commandments teach that I should not lie, steal, hate, or commit adultry. If my feelings and spirituality are driving me to do something I know in my head is wrong, I can trust and rely on my belief to convince me to go write a book instead. Usually it just takes a little patience to get over a rough spot, or a diversion of some sort. With each passing, the next one gets easier, until eventually it isn't even a temptation. Proof that you can trust the constant when the variable is going crazy in you.
If you don't have a religion you can trust, then trust God. Trust the Ten Commandments. Trust the Sermon on the Mount. But, find something you can trust.
In the world of psychotropic medications and mental disturbances, we need a constant, or an anchor to hold onto when times get rough, as they always do.
Posted by Dena on December 25, 2003, at 14:55:08
In reply to Anti depressants and belief, posted by rayww on December 23, 2003, at 15:39:56
Dear Rayww -
As usual, I love how you write. You have such a way of putting nebulous concepts into concrete phrases, & as I'm reading, my mind thinks, "yeah! that's what I meant to say!"
We all need that anchor in the storm, that solid foundation that's unmoveable no matter what else is shaken down. I praise God that He delivers such a place of security.
Shalom, Dena
P.S. Hissy fit was no where to be found this morning!
Posted by rayww on December 25, 2003, at 22:51:04
In reply to Re: Anti depressants and belief » rayww, posted by Dena on December 25, 2003, at 14:55:08
Thankyou for reading and understanding, plus for your kind words.
Dec 25, 2003. Quite a year. What would you say has been your greatest leap of faith this past year, and in what ways have you grown spiritually?
I would say that this year I have caught hold of the second trapeze. I have moved past the transition away from that in between place.
Was 2003 a friend or foe?
Posted by Dena on December 26, 2003, at 14:39:24
In reply to The year 2003, posted by rayww on December 25, 2003, at 22:51:04
Dear Rayww -
I knew we could count on you to bring the focus down to a question of faith!
You wrote:
>>What would you say has been your greatest leap of faith this past year, and in what ways have you grown spiritually? ... Was 2003 a friend or foe?
Hmmm... My leap of faith has been to trust God when things went far differently than I wanted or expected.
After my 7th child was born, I was overwhelmed. Not just because of so many children, but for many reasons (among them, my husband's health; he was dealing with the repurcussions of Grave's disease, & things were tough, basically being a "single" parent). Since we don't use birth control, I prayed that God would close my womb. I wanted to be done with having babies. I loved my 7, but I was 41, & seven means "perfection & completion" in the scriptures, so I wanted to be finished. I felt it was time to move on.
God had other plans.
Due to my husband's health, we were sexually abstinent for 14 months (not that I minded - my antidepressant had basically killed off my desire anyway). When my husband had recovered, we made love again (it was his birthday, after all - anyone want to guess how many of our children were conceived on his birthday?), & voila! We conceived.
Adjustment time: we're both over 40, we already have more children that is politically correct, & I'd sincerely prayed for my womb to be closed. It didn't take long for me to become thrilled - I love being able to participate in the miracle of life, & I've been populating my corner of the planet with darned cute children.
Eight weeks later ... while my husband is 3,000 miles away, I start bleeding. I miscarried my son, Samuel (don't ask me how I know he's a boy, I just know). There was nothing I could do to stop it. I was in agony, alone, bleeding in my bathroom by myself, & I knew I had a choice -- to believe in the goodness of God or to be bitter against Him.
Some people, in their well-meaning way, told me that perhaps this was God's way of telling me to stop having children. I don't buy it. Why would God answer my prayer to close my womb with a child, only to "take" that child away to "teach me a lesson"? That's not the God I know & serve.
God gave me that child for a short time, for reasons known only to Him. Perhaps to bring me to that point of trusting Him more. Perhaps to allow the child to be a part of this family long enough to know how to pray for us in heaven. I don't know. I know my child is real, & that he lives on in the presence of God. I know I'll get to meet him face to face one day. I know that this life is but a brief prelude to the real life that's to come - it's a test, a proving ground, a preparation for the true life in eternity.
I knew all this before, but losing my child brought it home to me in a deeper way.
Ever since I lost him, I've been hoping to conceive again, but I can't make it happen. I've done all the things one does to ensure conception, but still, it's not up to me. So, the lesson continues - am I going to trust God in this, regardless of the outcome, or am I going to become bitter against the hand He's dealt me?
He gets the final say, which is how it should be, how it ultimately is.
2003 has appeared to be a foe, but all that comes to me is my friend, if I allow myself to see it as coming from Him - knowing that all things work together for my good, as I'm conformed into His likeness.
Thanks for the question.
Shalom, Dena
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