Tag: Easter

photo of cross in an ocean during dawn

Renew and Restore

Joanne Dragun, M.D.

As I round the corner to the exam rooms, I get a ‘Sugar’ rush! The fluffy white “emotional support” Bijon broke free from her owner and careened toward me, a great big smile on both our faces. She remembers me from months ago and now her “mom” is here for follow up. What a fun, joyfilled moment as we cuddle. Perhaps she had hope of secondary gain of a treat hiding in my big white pockets, but mostly she loved the attention. The patient is just as delighted as we reconnect. This little homecoming Thursday was a God- send for me as they lift my own spirits during a challenging day in the clinic.

Passover, Easter and Spring break are joyfilled celebrations, but for so many, (even King, Princess and Pope!) interrupted with health concerns. What we anticipated is now derailed, never expecting that the holidays days and holy days will change, while undergoing treatments, unable to travel or even for many, with loss of a loved one. We could all use some resurrecting.

Easter Resurrection, celebrated for over 2000 years, is still meant for our benefit and healing today. Right here and right now we are all reaching out to engage and lift each other.

Today is a simple message. With suffering in the world and pain and personal loss, we can each have and share a spirit of hope. Our own restoration in health and relationships can come by opening our hearts. Our loss of loved ones can be healed through remembrance and gratitude. I believe that the teaching and faith are meant to help bring this miracle into our daily lives, and that spiritually we are meant to extend our devotion in our lives. We are gifted with the means and hearts to embrace others, helping them renew after a tough journey. I see it everyday. It is such a big part of our loving missions.

And so this Easter weekend, let us all be grateful for the gifts we have to lighten and enlighten, to have sympathy and empathy, to lift and resurrect each other. It is a real blessing that the true spirit of living in God’s grace is not just for a holiday, but everyday.

Happy Easter. Happy Passover. God bless you and your families.

THE RISING

Joanne Dragun, M.D.

We have all been instilled with amazing grace. We each have internal fortitude beyond what our thoughts can bring to awareness. Human history is defined by suffering, but it is our own personal pain and persecution that can seem so unbearable. There will be prayers passing over and Easter Resurrection this week and in each, the collective religions and universal humanity will offer up this new suffering in hopes of rebirth.

Now more than ever we must draw strength from the generations before us. Money, food, jobs, even health have been forever changed. Isn’t that true for the Jews protecting their firstborn in the passing over?  Jesus’ disciples being persecuted? More recently the grandfathers who went to the city dump to find shoes for their children in the great depression?  The parents who fought for years, not a few months, in WWII and the men and women who battled in Vietnam and mid-east? Weren’t there times when the pain and suffering was so great that the world as they knew it ended?

We are here today because they did not give up. We do not have all the answers- not for cancer- not for this virus and not for the economic challenge ahead. Neither did they. But every one of us can get up, reach out, pray, plan, and be strong for those to follow. A friend is sending videos of her new grandchild getting ready to crawl. She pushes back and forth in what looks like pushups with such anticipation and energy. She will get there, she will bring hope and light because she has a beautiful future.

In war, as my husband says, its not the country you fight for its the man beside you. So let us fight for each other. Let’s be strong together. While in this pandemic, governments can help, but no government has ever saved. For that we need higher power. We need to pray boldly and be unafraid. We must believe that this pain will Passover. We should believe in the Resurrection and for ourselves. Belief is necessary for the future and  no one has power over what you believe. We are in our own (literally) trenches. I believe the pain will pass. I believe the suffering will diminish. I believe that this pandemic and trials will define a generation and history will find we were resilient and strong. I believe if we pray as one voice we are heard. I believe you have within you every cell of compassion, hope, and strength to survive this and that we will each find our way to thrive again.

Your personal Resurrection is coming, just believe it. Jesus may have opened the way but His followers found hope, persevered and spread His teaching not for a generation but world wide for over 2000 years. This virus may be highly contagious but you have weapons against it- Belief is contagious, courage in battle is contagious, strength is contagious, laughing, positive attitude, joy, empathy,  and gratitude are all contagious. Let’s open our hearts to hope together.

Now put on a mask or scarf and go out for that walk, knowing that you are not alone. You are in a family and a community of believers.

God Bless you this Passover and Easter season. Have faith that we will all hug our loved ones soon.