Enduring the results of a stroke has been an eye opening experience. I went to bed on May 14th feeling fine and woke up the next morning with a barely functional left side. Being on that side of my body I immediately thought ‘heart attack.’ After a trip to the emergency room of the local hospital, and an overnight battery of tests, I was informed my heart was in great shape, but my brain had blown a fuse.
Now, fully four weeks after the event I find myself with a sense of gratitude. Thankful that my stroke was mild. Thankful for the doctors, nurses, and assorted caregivers that have cared for me in both of the two hospitals and my current rehabilitation facility. I’m especially thankful for the Occupational and Physical therapists who use their skills to assess and determine how I can get my left leg to cooperate. These four weeks have given me a great appreciation for the healing arts.
What I have been able to resume after arriving at the rehabilitation center is my twice daily practice of meditation. I follow the practice of the World Community for Christian Meditation. Each morning I meditate by myself. Fortunately, I join other meditators each evening as we meditate online. I lead three of these evening sessions and join other groups the remaining four. I have found in these times of silence that I have been able to simply allow the silence to envelop me. When I join other folks online I find that a sense of community is always present even though we are literally spread across the globe.
I see my meditation as integral to my healing. After a morning of therapy I sit and reflect on all that has occurred in the past month. That is my afternoon activity. The healing that my body is receiving from a therapist is supplemented by the healing of my soul and spirit by my practice of meditation - silence as healing.
In her book, Mother Wit: A Feminist Guide to Psychic Development Diane Mariechild writes, “Healing is a journey deep within oneself -- a search for soul, the essence of the self.It seeks to balance the inner and outer worlds to connect and to integrate.Healing is the reuniting of the body, mind and spirit.” For me, that is the gift of meditation. Although my body headed off in a different direction on the morning of May 15th, the stillness of mind and a spirit of peace is summoning it back to unity.