Stories Of Health

SUN., APR. 12, 1987, 10:10 PM
MINI-PRICE INN, LAS VEGAS

I had purposed for you to hear this Teaching on the aircraft, for these meditations at 31,000 feet or more always have a nice quality to them. But the interchange with Liza was quite valuable for you both, so here you are, settling in for convention. You know that My recommendation on stories is coming forth again, and you are closer to the focus for your next sabbatical. And you should be even closer after this Teaching and others you shall receive this week. These need not be every day, but I shouldn’t be surprised if you are here quite often.

Stories are a marvelous means of communicating truth. If you were diligent about collecting and writing down stories that tell of human/spiritual interaction you would be much wiser than you are now. Whenever you resume this quest you shall begin to profit. You have many ideas and concepts about health. Most of these shall be clearer if they can be illustrated by stories, and some of the factual knowledge can be translated into story form. What an opportunity lies ahead.

Good health means high quality functioning. Yet this word, “functioning” is hollow and academic. It can mean nothing… or everything. What is a context? What are the interactions? How, truly, does a person function well… in a healthy fashion? Some stories will be almost unidimensional; others will be longer and more holistic. Some will be almost straight narrative; others will include value comments, by the main character and/or by you. Am I beginning to whet your enthusiasm?

Many stories of health will focus on adapting, a particular kind of functioning. Good health is in evidence when one can adapt to a new situation, react positively to change and to the unexpected. You are part of a culture in which change and unexpected circumstances are frequent. Your present stories are much about adaptation. There are many more to develop and write. I throw out the challenge.

Some stories have a beginning, some action, and then a rather clear end. Some stories are part of a life or of some institution, and the end is arbitrary, if put in at all. You wrote a story about blood-giving which had an apparent end. The real story is a continuing one, with more donations than seems reasonable, and an increasing consciousness about the value of this practice. This story may encourage others to become regular donors… more so than facts and figures. Further ramifications are possible. You are challenged.

What might be called “accuracy” is sometimes important and sometimes not. Most details are important in developing the truth, but need not be “exactly what happened.” I know this seems sloppy or even dishonest, but I’ll illustrate with some of My favorite stories, from the Gospels. This is Easter week, the week of passion. During that trial did I, as Jesus, have on a scarlet or a purple robe? Did I carry the cross myself, or did someone else? Was I scared and unaware of My destiny, or was I in full command of the situation? Each interpretation has some meaning. For one person, at one time, one story detail may be important. For another person some variant version may be just right. It is not a matter of deciding “which is really right.”