Northern Reflections on Health

  • Home
  • About
  • Q&A
  • Contact

Refuge from domestic abuse

June 7, 2017 By Wendy Margolese Leave a Comment

freedom from domestic abuseMy latest article published in the Christian Science Monitor.

A few years ago, a friend of mine needed refuge from domestic abuse. She’d had the courage to leave the imprisoning situation that had become untenable, but now she was looking to actually heal the fear and hurt.

Emma, who doesn’t want her real name used, had been a student of the Bible for most of her life. It felt natural for her to turn to some of the scriptural stories of people released from prisons – some physical, some mental – who had been helped and healed. One verse that meant a lot to her was from the prophet Isaiah: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you” (66:13, Common English Bible).

Emma said she was also inspired by the idea that we are all made in God’s spiritual image, and by the promise that everything in creation (including her) was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). She began to glimpse that her identity was not worthless, as she’d been led to believe, but that she was the actual spiritual creation of God, which the Divine saw as “very good”!

This helped her gain a deep sense of being loved, that she was not alone, and that she was cared for. The comforting idea of God’s Mother-love began to feel very real to her. She found it also in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science and founder of this news organization, who wrote, “Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 332). This gave her a very natural sense of being embraced by divine Love.

Emma found a deeper sense of worth and freedom from fear, which has continued to this day.

God’s comforting, healing presence is here at all times, for everyone. The light of divine Love leads to comfort and safety.

Knowing who you are

March 27, 2017 By Wendy Margolese 5 Comments

Genes do not define youDoes our genetic code determine who we are? Studies initially suggested we are our genes – we’ve inherited them. We can shrug off certain personal traits, such as a tendency towards obesity, because it’s part of our inherited nature. But with the advent of the science of epigenetics, new studies now suggest there are ways to alter the way genes behave and thus change that predetermined path.

According to the latest theories of this science, we can modify our genetic health patterns through lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise. This may sound promising and appealing, particularly to many of us living in conditions that allow us to eat well and stay active. However, much of the world’s population does not necessarily follow a recommended diet, nor in many cases, have access to what is considered healthy lifestyle opportunities. This appears to create a disparity in having any hope of affecting the epigenetic calculation.

Yet, there is a way to view our heritage that does not leave us defenceless with what seems an undesirable genetic code or dependent upon lifestyle circumstances in order to experience good health.Continue Reading

A sound mind at any age

January 13, 2017 By Wendy Margolese 6 Comments

dementia reversed

As the Baby Boomers enter their twilight years, mental health care systems will come under scrutiny, since studies suggest a high percentage of this cohort may begin to experience dementia. Local news reports express concern over the inadequacy of mental health services to meet this growing need. The cost of elder care threatens government health care spending, not just here at home, but around the world.

Is it disheartening to feel part of a cohort that is statistically doomed to experience this health challenge? If our health and memory are dependent on bodily conditions, and drugs and surgery can’t offer hope, we may feel very lost indeed.

Yet, people are finding solutions. Continue Reading

Recapture the joy of the Season

December 17, 2016 By Wendy Margolese 4 Comments

recapture the joy of the SeasonHas the holiday hustle and bustle got you a little frazzled?

Many of us are impacted by extra demands on time, energy and finances. The stress of a busy holiday schedule ­ from shopping to seasonal festivities – can wear off the joy of the season even for a usually well-balanced person. At times it may not feel like ‘Christmas’, so much as ‘Stress­mas’!

So, how can we maintain – or recapture ­ the joy of this special season? After all, the idea was originally to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the view of our origin as God’s beloved child (Gen. 1:26,27) that his life represented. It wasn’t about checking things off the ‘to do’ list or finding the perfect gift.Continue Reading

Next Page »

Wendy Margolese

Wendy_Margolese

I was born and raised in a small Northern Ontario mining town. You can never take the warmth of the North out of a girl’s heart. So, I would like to take this opportunity to share heartfelt thoughts with you about a topic important to each of us – our health and well-being. Visit my About page to learn more.

Connect with me online!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Subscribe via Email!

Enter your email address to subscribe to my site and receive notifications of new articles by email.

Categories

  • Archives
  • Guests
  • Health and Well-Being

Copyright © 2021 ·Beautiful Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in