UPFRONT February 16, 2009 Issue

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DOSAGE

BY JENNY ROEMER, STAFF EDITOR

Walking to work one frigid winter morning, I passed a sign that bluntly asked pedestrians if they were feeling sick. Then, it encouraged the reader to seek shelter from the cold at a nearby bus stop. As I continued down the sidewalk, I saw more ads, complete with images of cozy blankets and hot drinks, with logos for medication at the bottom. All of them suggested: "Get comfortable and wait sickness out." Nothing so unappealing about blankets and warm drinks, I thought. But wait a minute. ... What exactly were all those ads selling?

This week's Sentinel explores a topic that's often front and center in public thought—contagion. And the articles help us face up to the matter-based assertion that we're bound to get sick; it's just a matter of when.

In fact, our lead article this week recommends a kind of strong dosage of spiritual thinking to counter fears about contagion. One that doesn't agree that pain or discomfort is inevitable. Margaret Rogers writes, "Regular contemplation of God lessens the possibility of contagion taking a hold of our thoughts" (see "Our defense from contagion," p. 6). She also points out that the concept of contagion doesn't just apply to seasonal illness. Caring for ourselves by giving weight to our intuitions "that we shouldn't have to live in dread and suffering" of any kind can have powerful effect. She goes on to share a quick healing that took place when she was writing that very article.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

ITEMS OF INTEREST