Healthcare

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that healthcare is a function of eating wisely – also called eating ‘healthily’ – and regular exercise.

That said, there are billions on this planet – too many children – who do not have the opportunity to eat healthily or to exercise on an over-priced machine.  There is a third and most important element to maintaining health:  we must ask for it, particularly when we are denied the other two, or even worse, choose not to implement them into our daily regimen.

Though I’d heard the story many times in my life, I have taken it truly to heart in the last 20 or 30 years.  It is the story of the leper.  As it goes…

A leper came to Jesus, knelt before him, and said, “If you choose, you can make me clean.”  Jesus looked at him, smiled, stretched out his hand, and touched the leper.  His smile grew broader when he said, “I do choose it.  Be made clean!”  And the leper was made clean.

People get sick.  I get sick despite my diet and exercise routine.  When I do, I pray,

“If you choose, you can make me clean,”

and it becomes so.  I do the same for family and friends when they encounter health challenges – physical and/or mental.

If and when you get sick or someone you know and love takes ill, ask for help.  As the leper learned, it is simple and effective.

Mitakuye Oyasin