Brian’s Reflection: The Weekend (Sat, Feb 14, 2009)

But [Naaman’s] servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had
commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much
more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and
immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God;
his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

- The cleansing of Naaman [2 Kings 5, of the Hebrew Scriptures]

Wonderful story! Naaman, head of the army of the King of Aram, has leprosy. He learns about the prophet Elisha, that he could cure him. He goes to Elisha, and Elisha tells him to go bathe in the Jordan seven times and he will be cured. Haughtily and angrily, Naaman says he has better rivers at home, and storms off. But his servants – bless them! – say those profound words: “"Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?" He listens; he goes; he’s healed of the leprosy.

A lesson for us all, yes? Whatever “healing” we want, from whatever oppressive physical, mental, emotional, etc illness we have, we are willing to jump through the hoops (most of us). Horrible chemo, drugs for depression that can have terrible side effects, etc. But if someone says to us simply, speaking to the deepest level where healing must start, “Love yourself”, we storm off.

Loving ourselves as God loves us, unconditionally and fully and with generosity, is a simple thing to core happiness and joy in Life – but so often we forget that unless we love ourselves, jumping through other complex hoops in order to be whole and well will not work. Wholeness and wellness starts with love for self, other, and the great Mystery at the heart of Life.

May you have many “servants” in your Life who, at the moments of our proud rejection of offers of help, say simply, “Wash, and be clean”. There our restoration begins.

Brian+