butterfly hope

John is a health care professional. During his time in health care he has had the opportunity to sit with dying patients. He has comforted grieving families.

He has also witnessed many health care miracles, which modern science could not explain. John has a unique perspective on non-traditional medicine and the role of God in health. John will share these perspectives with you, with a new column each month.

Updated 10/28/08 

Happy Holdidays...already??????????????

One of  my all time pet peeves is that you don't start talking about the holidays until after Halloween...and don't even mention Christmas prior to Santa Claus riding in his sleigh in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade.

So this year I am going to break my own traditon...and give the first Christmas story of the year? Why am I doing this? I am not sure...however I am sure there is a good reason. Maybe becasue we are in a recession...maybe because we are all longing to read about something other than politics. Maybe because giving makes us feel better...and it is something we should do year round. This following story involves a very giving story that happened to me  last Christmas. If it touches you...place cut and paste it and send it to all of your friends (or just forward the web site address). It is a story that should be shared.

                            A Christmas Story

I am the persona of the “Grinch,” every Christmas season. I grumble about the lines, the crowds and the music. The closer to Christmas, the more I grumble. Finally, a week before Christmas, the Spirit hits me and I convert into a person that enjoys Christmas.

A few weeks ago, the minister at the church I attend, talked about service to others. He reminded us that during the Christmas season (and actually all year) that we should allow the Christ Spirit to shine through us by helping others. I knew he was not talking about dropping an extra five in the offering plate.

I decided that I would volunteer at a homeless shelter to serve dinner on Christmas day. I called the Salvation Army to joyously volunteer. They turned me down! I was told that they had enough volunteers. They did, however, offer me an opportunity to serve by being a bell ringer at Wal-Mart. Without hesitation I told the volunteer coordinator that I would have to consult my calendar to see if I could help during the hours they needed help.

Of course that was a lie. I knew that I could help. I had a few problems with “bell ringing.” It had just been a few days since I had accused the belling ringers (in my mind) as being “guilt ringer” (the Grinch in me).  Every time I passed them I felt compelled to give my loose change away. Secondly, I did not want anyone to see me.  I really prefer to be anonymous in my charitable activities. After much thought and prayer, I decided to do it.

As I was driving to my post, I telephoned a good friend. I confided in her that I was not really sure I wanted to do the bell ringing. I told her that I felt like a panhandler begging for money. She assured me that I was not being a panhandler.  I was simply wishing people a Merry Christmas, and providing them an opportunity to help, is they chose. She then reminded me of all the good work the Salvation Army provided to the community.

I arrived at my post at 5 pm. The lady I relieved was surprised to see me. She had been there since 10 a.m. and was not planning on leaving until 8 p.m. She was unaware that someone had volunteered for this time slot. It was the perfect opportunity to escape; but I did not.

While this lady was waiting for her ride, we talked. She had been involved with the Salvation Army for almost a year. She said because of all the good work that they do, she felt it was a privilege to help. She explained about helping a family that had recently lost their home to a fire. We talked about our children and grandchildren. We discussed Christmas’ past and about hopes for the future. Towards the end of the conversation she revealed that she was living at the Salvation Army. When she had no place to turn, they were there for her. She felt that it was her duty to give back to the community by volunteering.

One lady stopped by and placed ten dollars in the bucket. She related to me that when she was a young single mother, with no hope, the Salvation Army was there for her. She now has several grown children and countless grandchildren. It is her testament, if not for the Salvation Army; this would never have been possible.

On several occasions people I had met along life’s journey happened by. We talked for several minutes and caught up on old times. Some dropped money in the bucket, others did not. It was fun to see old faces.

People of all ages, gender and nationality gave money. Some a few pennies, others wads of bills. It was heartwarming to see mothers and fathers teaching their children the importance of giving. For the most part people gave because they wanted to. There were a few, very few, that gave because my bell was making them feel guilty.

The Lesson:

There was a group of adults and a few children standing in the parking lot talking.

Out of the group a young boy of about nine or ten approached me. His family appeared oblivious that he had left their group. He gave me a warm smile. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a 50 cent piece. He handed it me. “Mister,” he said apologetically, “I only have two of these. But I want you to have one of them. It is all I have to give.”

Through a child the meaning of Christmas is revealed.

    Merry Christmas.........even if it is a little early!

Updated October 11, 2008 

Why I exercise.

I have always been active…tennis, softball, swimming and walks in the park.

Over the years I also became extremely active at the kitchen table. EXTREMELY ACTIVE!

Over the years my weight start creeping higher and higher…..last spring I stepped on the scale at 270…………270………that was getting a bit too close to the 300 pound mark. Granted I have big bones and a bit of height……….but that was ridiculous. As my weight climb so did other things…..my heart rate……my blood pressure….my cholesterol….the symptoms of my GERD and sleep apnea. One thing did go down….my energy.

I realized if I did not do something I was going to find my way to a heart attack….a stroke or other medical complications due to morbid obesity.

There was only one answer: LIFE STYLE CHANGE. I had to change approach the way I interacted with my self and my environment. Ah yes….you want plain English. I changed my eating habits and changed my exercise habits.

Exercise is wonderful! I walk/jog/run five miles everyday. Besides the obvious health benefits of exercise, there are a few more that sometimes go unnoticed.

1. Vigorous exercise reduces stress. We all live in a stressful world. It is a fact that

exercise reduces endorphins which assist in fighting stress.

1. It gives me a break from the telephone/television and other electronic devices.
2. It gives me an opportunity to think. Taking long walks often aids me in thinking through challenges because I have no distractions.
3. It is a meditative experience. When I am jogging, I attempt to listen to God. My mind is distracted by the jog, so it is the perfect time to listen to the higher voice. I find that I am too tired to resist.
4.  When I finish my exercise routine I usually feeling surprisingly refreshed. It provides me an opportunity to make the most of the rest of my day.

Before we can be an adequate caregiver to others, we must first learn to be a caregiver to ourselves. If we take care of our bodies and minds it is so much easier to be of service to others.

Incidentally…….I am down to 210 pounds and a size 34 pants (never thought I see that again). My blood pressure usually hovers around 100/60 and my pulse is around 60. The GERD that used to torture me at night has taken a vacation.

Maybe 50 is the new 40?  

Updated September 1, 2008

What I learned on the basketball court

Even though I am 6’3” I have never been a great basketball player. I’ve had my moments…but truthfully there weren’t many. When I was in seventh grade I was the last player cut from the team….which is probably my greatest victory. In defense of this as a victory, the coach only kept one seventh grader……so be the last one cut was a victory.

After being cut from the team in 9^th grade, I decided against the embarrassment of future tryouts.

After high school I seldom played basketball. I was fortunate that my son did not like to play… so I wasn’t forced to play with him.

Zoom forward almost 30 years after high school graduation. I was in a minor traffic accident that caused some damage to my neck. Due to the pain, my workout routine at the fitness center was curtailed to swimming and running on the treadmill. Part of my buddy’s Paul workout routine is to shot baskets, he never plays a game; but shots for about an hour after every workout.

After a bit of convincing, I decided I would shoot with him on Friday nights. To my surprise…throwing a basketball loosened up the muscles in my neck and assisted in the healing process. Unfortunately my aim did not improve.

One evening, I sat on a bench to watch Paul shoot. Basket after basket fell through the hoop effortlessly. Paul is at least 5 inches shorter than me, but he made shooting look like child’s play. Finally…..his secret was revealed to me.

The next week, I went to the court. I marked two places on each side of the basket. Those were the only two spots on the court I allowed myself to shoot from. After spending several weeks practicing from those two spots, my average increased to close to 90%. After I became proficient in those angles, I moved to two new spots and did the same.

I wonder what would have happened if I learned this technique in seventh grade?

Update August 1, 2008

Confession of a junkie

Even though I’ve denied it in the past, I am now ready to come clean for the entire world to know. I am a “self-help” book junkie. My bookshelves are lined with them; from Rosemary Altea to Zig Zigler with Dr. Phil smack in between. If it has been written…I have read or will read it.

I would like to think of them as “personal transformation” books as opposed to self-help. When you think about it, the only thing that is constant in our lives is change. The cells that make up our bodies are constantly dying and being replaced by new ones. So when you take this into consideration, we are always in the state of transformation. If our bodies, why not our personalities?

I believe “transformation” books can be used two ways. #1 as a pep rally, to help keep you motivated. #2 as a source to assist you in transforming outdated habits into updated qualities.  When reading a transformation book, I advise anyone to adopt the ideas that apply to you and ignore the rest. Some suggestions in these books, just don’t apply to everyone.

Of course if you are going to read these books, it is useful to apply the principles that make sense to you to your life. What makes sense to me may be nonsense to you! Here are just a few things I have learned over the years:

1. A mistake can be easily erased if you learn from it. Then it becomes a learning experience.
2. No matter what your beliefs are it is wise to place your faith in a higher power.
3. If you keep positive thoughts vibrating in your mind, there is a much better chance of positive things happening in your life. Even if positive things fail to materialize, you will feel better.
4. The old adage from you mother, ‘if you don’t have something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all,’ is true.
5. Positive thoughts produce positive actions which produce positive results…which produce positive thoughts.
6. Every person is a prophet. If you think you can do something, you are probably right, you can. Equally rue; if you think you can’t…it ain’t going to happen! Remember the “Little Train That Thought He could.”
7. If you sincerely smile at another person most of the time they will smile back at you.
8. In the morning when you wake….list ten things you are grateful for, this will assist in having a positive attitude for the rest of the day.
9. Sincerely, ask that God to bless your enemies (anyone can ask for blessings for their friends) and he will bless them….and you.
10. As of today (and without doubt tomorrow) I am a work in progress.

For fellow junkies these are a few books I recommend:

1. The Holy Bible. Regardless of your spiritual convictions this book has common

      sense suggestions for everyday life. Don’t believe me? Learn

     about faith in Job, or love in 1 Corinthians 13. My favorite

     chapter is Ecclesiastes 2.   

1. Harmonic Wealth by James Arthur Ray. This book talks about the “Five Pillars of Wellness.
2. Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain. My all time favorite book. As suggested by the title, the book talks about helping you manifest your wants and needs from life. Think that visualization is bologna?  You maybe right. However, Walt Disney, Donald Trump and Ophrah all utilized by it.
3. The Ultimate Keys to Total Self-confidence by Dr. Robert Anthony. This book teaches ways to feel good about you.
4. The Path to Tranquility words spoken by the Dalai Lama. An inspirational book which provides you many words to ponder.

There are many more……way too many to list. If anyone has a suggestion for a book for me to read, e-mail me the title. If I haven’t already read it, I will put it on my list!

 Update 07/0508

                                  Cuddles

This is cuddles. She is a 7 year old long hair Chihuahua. She is kind, gentle, lovable…and well... cuddly. A great companion! No, I am not giving her away. Cuddles is actually Lori’s dog and my step-dog.

There are a lot of well documented health benefits to owning a pet. Pets have been known to lower blood pressure, increase mood and enrich the lives of the owner. For people that are infirmed they can be a constant companion and source of comfort. Many studies point that pets not only improve the quality of life, but also the length of life.

What is the point of this article? I believe that owning the right pet can improve the life of anyone battling a life altering illness and their caregivers. They provide you motivation to get out of bed in morning. Provide company for you when you are alone. They will encourage you to exercise. They will listen to you( and not talk back). They will lift your spirit with their unconditional love.

If you are interested in obtaining a pet, I recommended that to start your search at the local humane society. They are overflowing with pets (friends) that have been abandoned. The cost of adopting a pet from the humane society is nominal, the return on your investment will be astronomical!

I do recommend that pet owners, whether they are healthy or ill, make arrangements for their pets (friends) in the event that the pet outlives the owner. This is as simple as asking a friend or family member if they would be willing to accept the responsibility for them, if ever needed.

  JAILBIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad…but true…………I John Klopfer was arrested on May 21, 2008 at 9 a.m. I have pictures to prove it.

Within 30 minutes of my arrest I appeared before the judge.

The Judge said: “How do you plea?”

I lowered my head, and meekly replied, “Guilty as charged.”

The judge replied,” I sentence you to 1 hour of hard labor.”

The charge? Not raising my bail for the MDA (Jerry’s kids) “Lock-up Day.”

This is an annual fund raising event sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The money raised assists in buying wheelchairs, hospital beds, medicine, summer camp, and many more items for children who are living with Muscular Dystrophy. It helps brighten their lives and the lives of their family.

I spent  two hours in lock-up (at the Ocala Country Club) making phone calls to friends and family pleading for my bail money. I appreciate all who donated.

Over the years I have been involved in numerous fund raising efforts. What I discovered is that every dime counts. During one event a young boy gave me a shiny half-dollar. For some that half dollar may not seem to be significant; however you add it to another half dollar…and then another….you get the picture.

I urge everyone reading this to give to your favorite charity, even if you don’t have much to give. Every donation counts…even the small ones. Remember the words of Aesop, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

As for the day of lock-up, there were some big donations…and many small ones. The last count that I heard was that all donations and pledges totaled over $104,000! Now that is a fundraiser!

If there is a warrant for my arrest next year, I once again will gladly serve time! Next year……..I will make a plea to readers of butterflyhope to help raise my bail!

 updated 05/06/08

                              A tree

A few weeks ago I was wandering aimlessly in a park. My mind was racing too much to focus on anyone thing. Truthfully, it was almost like the weight of the world was crashing in on my psychic. There was no real cause…it just was.

I walked over a small bridge….and then I saw it. Springing from the ground was a giant oak tree, basking gloriously in the sun. Spanish moss majestically hung from its limbs.

An array of different types of birds flocked around the tree, going from limb to limb as they sang a sweet serenade. Squirrels played tag, running up the tree…then for no reason, they ran back down. The tree was still….one with nature…at peace with all.

A stillness came over my soul….my mind stood still….for a moment I just was….one with nature…at peace with all.

A few days later I went for my Friday evening workout at the fitness center. After running my customary five miles on the treadmill, I retired to relax in the whirlpool.

As I rested I noticed a man quite advanced in his years approaching the pool. He was a frail man, his one leg dragged the ground, as he steadied his self with a walking stick…perhaps made from oak.

After sitting for a few minutes the man and I struck up a conversation. His speech was slightly slurred; he spoke with a thick accent. I soon discovered that he was an immigrant from long ago from Russia. He then revealed that he was Jewish and discussed the horror of Hitler’s concentration camps, and how it had affected his life. He told me that he was a retired professor from the University of Florida, where he taught government. For a while we discussed the modern day politics. Then it was time for me to go.

The next week, while sitting in the whirlpool, I noticed the professor in the swimming pool, working diligently on walking. With every step the man smiled.

Soon he joined my in the whirlpool. He smiled. We sat in silence for a while. I noticed that he wore a wedding ban on his right hand. The smile he wore while in the swimming pool remained.

Finally he spoke. “Youth flees too quickly” he said. Then he laughed and shook his head, “It would be nice to be young again.” He sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again. “But I have enjoyed my journey.”

Once again we parted ways. I am looking forward to my next trip to the gym; I hope the professor is there. I think I would like to have him as a friend.

So what, you may be asking, do these stories have in common?  I’m not sure, except that they are both inspirations. They both point towards a higher power and a higher purpose. And if possible….I would like to have the tree as a friend also.

updated 4/01/08

                                                            Prayer

The American Heritage dictionary defines prayer as: A reverent petition made to a deity. It also refers to it as: A fervent request.

All religions which profess a belief in a God, believe that the way to reach Him is through prayer. All people that believe in God know that he answers all prayers.

This month’s column has been inspired by an e-mail I received from one of our readers.

I would like to share that letter with you.

Dear Family and friends:

I am writing to ask you all to prayer for a special young lady her name is Kathy Heenan, she is the mother of a boy and a girl 2 year old twins.  When they were just 6 weeks old she found out she had breast cancer.  She went through chemo radiation and reconstruction, only to find out her cancer is back.  It is in the chest wall and neck.  So she is again walking the scary unknown journey.

PLEASE HOLD HER AND HER FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS AND PASS THIS ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF WHO WOULD PRAY FOR HER.

Thank you soooooooooo much

Theresa

Teda

She needs our prayers! As does her family and caregivers. But how does a person say an effective prayer? Some people haven’t prayed in years; if ever.

That is okay, there is no time like the present to get started.

The good news is that there is no wrong way to prayer. The simple act of saying a prayer opens our hearts and wishes to God.

For me, there are a few elements that are necessary for prayer:

A belief in God or a “higher being.”

1. A sincere desire to communicate a need.
2. A belief (faith) that God will hear your prayers.
3. A belief that God will answer the prayer in His time and in His way. Unfortunately prayers are not always answered just the way we want them to be.
4. (Optional) I always give thanks to God for all things He has provided me.

After I finish talking I always give God a few minutes of silence, so He can talk back to me. God will speak in various ways; through toughts, knowingingness, or sometimes signs. It is my responsibility to listen

There have been numerous studies on the effect of prayer on medical care. One study was conducted by Dr. Randolph Byrd at

. The study group consisted of 393 cardiology patients. Approximately one half of the patients were prayed for without them knowing about it. The group that was prayed for did significantly better than the patients that were not prayed for.  http://www.iwriteiam.nl/D960916-prayer.html.

Another study performed by Dr. Elisabeth Tang studied the effects of prayer on AIDS patients. The test group consisted of 40 patients, half were prayed for. The 20 that were prayed for did significantly better than those that were not prayed for. http://www.noetic.org/research/dh/articles/HealingDistance.pdf

I believe that pray is a power tool in everyday life. There are times that it is helpful to be involved in a prayer group. It seems as if group prayers seem to strengthen the energy in any room. Jesus said, “When two or more are gathered in my name, I will be there.” I find that it is helpful to have as many people pray for me as possible. One way to get a lot of people involved is to be part of a “web based” prayer group. An excellent site for this is:http://members.tripod.com/~geolion/index-gpf.html.

 A prayer suggestion!             

I would like to ask everyone to join with me for a “candle light prayer” vigil every Sunday during the month of April at 9 p.m. The best part is that you don’t have to leave your home! This is what I suggest. Buy a candle and place it is a special place in your house. At 9 pm on Sunday evening light the candle, and dedicate 5 minutes to prayer. I would ask that you pray for Kathy, who is mentioned in the above e-mail, and for Lori who writes a column for butterflyhope.  Pray for health, for wisdom, strength, and that the Lord’s will be done in their lives.

My thought is that by praying for these two people, that not only will their lives be touched…but also yours. 

updated 3/1/08

 Journaling

What is journaling? Is it just keeping a diary? Why is it beneficial? What if someone looks at what I write?

These are all valid questions. I believe journaling is a step above the typical diary. Whereas the diary tells of life adventures, a journal helps form the direction your life is going in. A journal is a good tool to gage your moods and progress in life. By writing accurate accounts to what is happening everyday, you can discover triggers that causes good days vs. bad days. When we discover our triggers, it is easier to change the way we react to different circumstances. It is also a great tool for monitoring progress towards goals. I suggest after writing in a journal for a week that you review it. During this review look for common denominators that may cause certain moods. When possible modify those denominators to ensure that you are always getting the outcome that you desire. I understand if you are feeling sick all the time that you may not be able to change the denominator…but you can change your reaction to feeling ill. By reviewing your journal on a weekly basis it will empower you to make positive changes in your life.

There is always a chance that someone will read your journal. This though should not inhibit you from using this powerful tool. There are remedies to this problem.  On the first page of my journals I write a letter to the snoop. I request that they respect my privacy. I also ask that in case of my untimely demise that the journal be given to my son, so he can evaluate if there is a need to share the content. Another alternative would be to write in the note that you would like for the journal to be destroyed at your death.

I always put my journal in out of way places, so as the snoop does not stumble on it. A journal sitting on a kitchen table is an invitation for the snoop to look at it. It is possible to buy an inexpensive lock box to place the journal, in order to protect your privacy.

There are many different techniques to journal. None of them is wrong. You have to find the method that feels most comfortable to you. It may be simple diary style where you write a dictation of the days events. Some people will write journals in “letter form” as if they are writing a letter to themselves. I use a seven point system. This system makes the most sense to me, because I believe it helps me develop my emotional and spiritual self.

The following is an example of my seven points system, the rationale behind, and an example of each step.

1 Recording of dreams.

When I wake in the morning I record any dreams I had from the night before. I 

understand many people do not remember their dreams. That is okay, and then you simply document that there were no dreams remembered. A good technique to remember your dreams is to recite this mantra before going to sleep: “tonight I will remember all that I dream.”  The rationale behind recording dreams is that they are a good indication as to what your subconscious mind is thinking. If your dreams are filled with anxiety and terror, there is a good chance your day will start off with you feeling anxious. If your dreams are peaceful, chances are your day will start off a bit smoother. This can provide you with valuable data on things to work on in your waking hours. Though, I enjoy trying to interpret my dreams, this is not necessary to make use of this tool.

Example: I am sitting in a ice cream parlor drinking a milkshake with an old friend. I am feeling relaxed.

The dream may not make sense. However, you can use the emotions you experienced in recalling the dream as an indicator of what is going on in your life.

2. Thought for the day.

I believe in having a “thought for the day,” assists me in keeping me focused on positive things during the day. I try to review my “thought” several times throughout the day. You can find a “thought for the day” on this website or many others. You can create your own, or do a combination of both. It is important after formulate this thought, to take a few minutes to analyze what it means to you 

Example: God has been gracious in providing us with a variety of trees, birds, animals, and many wondrous things in nature. He is the Artist of artists.

3. Letting go.

This step allows me to let go of all things in my life that are no longer of use to me. It reminds me to leave the past in the past. Yes there are times that items appear on this list for several days or even weeks. Sometimes in order to determine what we want in our lives it is necessary to recognize the things that we do not want or need.

Example:  Anger

                Fatigue

                Hurt feeling over my friends not asking me to go to the movies with them.

The theory is that releasing these items to God, I will no longer focus on them. Therefore my day and life will be enhanced by the omission.

4. Goals

It does not matter how minute goals may seem, it is important to have them. Goals at times will give us the motivation to do things that need to be done. They also provide us with a sense of satisfaction when they are accomplished. By having goals it empowers us to move forward with our lives, even when we don’t feel like it.

Example: To do laundry

                To call my grandmother

              To read two chapters in the book I am reading.

5. Gratitude

Even though some days it appears that all is lost…nothing is going right, it is important to look for the good things in life. By remembering things that we are grateful for does two things. First it recognizes all the things God has done; I believe by doing this it invites more good things into our lives. Secondly, it allows us to focus on positive aspect of life, which helps brighten our mood.

Example: The rain

                The flowers

                My children

               Blueberry pancakes

             My ability to reason

6. Affirmation

I do many affirmations during the day. I believe by affirming that something you want in you life is coming or has come; it invites it into your life. In my journal I always write an affirmation for day. Sometimes I will write the same affirmation for weeks. I find by affirming the positive, it assists me in having a better day. Even though I am only recommending to do one in your journal, I will list several here.

Example: God is in control of my life, and all is well.

                 I am having a great day.

                 I am feeling better every minute of every hour of everyday.

                 I am living an abundant life.

                I am enjoying my children.

The two most important things about your affirmation are: 1) it has meaning to you.

2) that it is positive.

7. Notes of the day.

This is the area of your journal that you record your inner most thoughts. There are no rules as to how long it is or what you write. I suggest that always document how you are feeling. I record things that matter in my life at the present time.  When possible, I try to make at least three entries a day. The first entry I make is always in the morning, shortly after waking. I try to make an entry sometime in the mid-afternoon, and then a third before I go to bed at night. There are days where my entries consist of three or four lines; and other days where they take up several pages. The most important element of the notes section is honesty. There is no one to impress, so there should be no reason to be honest with yourself. Sometimes, these entries will reveal the darker side of your personality. Often times they will reveal the goodness of your soul. When reviewing your entries at a later date, some may surprise you on how deep of a person you really are.

Example: I am feeling fairly good today. I slept great last night. I am a little apprehensive about my doctor’s appointment, but I am trying to keep a positive attitude.

1pm. Doctor appointment went well. He told me my recovery is going better than expected. He is making me do some exercises I don’t want to do; but I guess that I need to do them…yuck. I am feeling a bit anxious this afternoon; I am not sure as to why.

10pm Day went well overall. I accomplished al my goals…hurray! I had an argument about some petty b.s. with my son. I think I may have over-reacted. It made me feel a bit uptight, but I was able to refocus by remembering the positive aspect of our relationship. I am getting a bit tired…so I am going to turn in.

Your entries can be as detailed or as brief as you prefer. I believe that if you try journaling for ninety days, that you will find it is a great way to enhance your life.

Post February 08

Most practitioners agree that stress levels influences the body’s ability to fight disease. The higher the stress the harder it is for the body to battle disease. When diagnosed with a terminal disease, or being the caregiver of someone who is, it often times becomes difficult to combat stress.  Being told to focus on things other than the disease is fine. But how does a person do that? Is it possible? I believe that any diversion, even for a brief period of time, is useful in the battle of disease.

As a Care giver, one exercise that I find extremely relaxing is creating a meditation  book. A meditation book is an album of pictures and affirmations that can assist in taking your mind and spirit to a more relaxing place.

I suggest everyone create their own. They are quite simple to do. The only tools you need are a digital camera, a blank scrapbook and your imagination. The affirmations should be something that has meaning to you. They don’t have to be religious. You may want to make them quite simple, such as; “I have the power to battle this illness.” “I feel the medicine healing my body here and now.”

The following is an example of the process of creating a meditation journal.

I start my journey with a walk in the park. As I step on to the grass I take a deep breath of fresh air. I affirm, “God’s goodness is filling my lungs. All is well in my life.” I take a few minutes to clear my mind, to allow God to speak to me. I look at the trees, and say a short prayer of gratitude for their splendor.

My next stop is by the lake. I take the time to notice the details of my surroundings.  I study the textures of the bark on each tree. I experience it with my hands by rubbing both hands up and down the side of the trees. I experience it with my nose, by closing my eyes and inhaling the smell of the bark. I then repeat this process with the leaves. I stop to describe to myself how they feel and how they smell. I walk to the water. I listen for sounds; birds, crickets, and the water gently swish against the land. I toss a stone into the water and watch the ripple. I make an affirmation: “I am serene and calm at this moment.” God is in control.”

I continue my stroll through the heart of the park. In my midst is a single rose bush standing all alone. The roses are beautiful and delicate to the touch. Their fragrance is heavenly. In many way the rose is much like life; beautiful, yet at times full of thorns. I make an affirmation. “I am accepting the thorns of life and do not allow them to over shadow the beauty of life.”

In a nearby pasture I see a solitary cow. She is standing, mooing, staring into open space. I remark to myself how lonely she looks. Her sad eyes are drooping. The question I have is she lost…or just enjoying the moment of quietude. The cow has no real worries. She is well fed. I am sure that she has shelter. Her master must take excellent care of her. I make an affirmation: “The Lord is my Master. He takes care of all my needs.” I trust in the Lord.”

The thunderous sounds of water attract me to a waterfall surrounded by trees. The water is rushing over the rocks as it has for centuries. The only sounds that can be heard is the water. Take a few minutes to appreciate the surround beauty. There are an array of trees, rocks and flowers. By being very still, I can notice the butterflies gently hovering over the bushes; as bees are pollinating the flowers.  I close my eyes so that I may be able to capture the scene in my memory. I say an affirmation: “The life force of the universe is filling me with its energy.”

In the field I watch butterflies hovering over the ground. I am reminded that God is everywhere. I affirm: "I see God in all things." 

I end my stroll by the lake. I sit on the bench to relax. I take a deep breath. I shut my eyes. I say a prayer to the Lord to express thanks for all the good that has happened in my life. I know by showing gratitude for all that I have, I am inviting more good into my life.

I open my eyes and look towards the embankment of the water. There are three turtles basking in the sunlight.  I smile at their contentment. They seem comfortable with themselves and their surroundings. I say an affirmation: “I am surrounded by friends that are in this battle with me.” “I am victorious.”

Your meditation journal does not need to be fancy. It does not have to have meaning to anyone but you. Its purpose is to help you to escape to a place of peace and serenity anytime you need to.