Soul-Sick
Jesus [said], “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the soul-sick, not the spiritually-fit.” – Mark 2:17 (MSG, adapted)
Recently someone hurt me in a way that brought me right back to middle school and the bullying that nerdy brace-face Molly endured by the popular mean girls.
It wasn’t that I was genuinely harmed by the current attack. What upset me was…that I was upset. Wasn’t I a grown woman who had learned how to handle bullies, no longer that defenseless, naive bookworm? Hadn’t my faith, not to mention the wisdom and kindness of many beloveds over the decades, strengthened me from deep within? Hadn’t I done enough of my own ego-and-soul work that a little trouble like this shouldn’t be able to drag me by the collar back to a younger me?
Or was that wounded 13-year-old still running the show?
A couple weeks later, I was back to being (mostly) unbothered. That’s when I realized: the new assault wasn’t a true virus. It was a booster vaccine. A weakened form of the same microbe designed to jump-start my spiritual immune system and remind my healthyish ego-and-soul of their learned strength.
Next time you are beset by a bug from within or without—harm done by others, self-doubt, shame, addiction, compulsion, or any other vector—don’t beat yourself up. Instead, do some discernment about whether this new assault is a live virus or a weak vaccine, activating your spiritual immune system to fight off future threats.
Prayer
Jesus, you said those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. Well, none of us is in the pink of health all the time. Be the doc I need when my spiritual immune system is run down, and give me a booster (even if it will make me a little sore).
About the AuthorMolly Baskette is a UCC minister, psychedelic facilitator and author of books about church renewal, parenting, post-traumatic joy and more. Learn more at mollybaskette.com.