Lebanon #5: Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Rev. Dr. Annette Brewer, for the team
Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church
“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” We greeted each other with words that ministered to us on this beautiful morning of bright sunshine. Of course, we’ve heard stories of how God has previously met and provided for participants in this conference, so we were expecting to have reasons to rejoice today.
We started the morning devotional period by sharing our stories – reflecting on the ways God has knit our lives together with his presence. We marveled at his callings, our responses, and the tremendous blessings we’ve experienced as a result of accepting his will throughout our journeys. We rejoice in our God!
The morning worship was led by us, the Americans. Rev. Dr. Toby Mueller preached an insightful and inspiring message based on Mark 2:1-12. While she focused on Christ, she also included the necessity of having friends who support, encourage, and visit with us. Such is this conference, especially personified when we sang, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” in Arabic and English simultaneously! We rejoice in our God!
Rev. Rola Sleiman blessed us with a Bible study on Luke 8:43-48. She talked about how Jesus alleviated the suffering of others, including a woman who had been bleeding for years. Rev. Sleiman showed us through this healing story that people are important to God – an importance that blesses us when we acknowledge it and when we demonstrate it to others by helping them receive healing. We rejoice in our God!
Dr. Sabah Saliba followed with an engaging talk on “How to Face Traumas” by inviting participants to comment and ask questions. Surprisingly, she insisted we all need crises, pointing out that though they are difficult, they help us grow. One of the first things she said we should do in a crisis is to accept ourselves and our feelings without shame. We can be as sad or grieve for as long as we need, but then, we have to decide to reach for the future. She stressed the importance of not making major decisions while in a crisis.
During the discussion, Dr. Saliba presented a few short, helpful suggestions. First, by having us count the pleasant things that happened to us this morning she showed that practicing gratitude helps us heal. Yet, she insisted it must be intentional and continuing. Next, she encouraged us to draw two hands on a piece of paper and list our inside resources (i.e., prayers, hope, etc.) on each finger of one hand and outside resources (i.e., support groups, etc.) on the other. As a result, we can better develop a plan for dealing with crisis and its aftermath. Finally, Dr. Saliba spoke to those who hear the traumatic stories of others. After listening attentively to them, she suggests we ask, “How can I help you?” In addition to helping them feel heard, the question relieves us of the sole responsibility of solving their problems.
Although Dr. Saliba was quick to declare that spiritual care is not her specialty, she spoke of the need for us to take care of our whole being, including our soul. She pointed out that faith and endurance are needed after a crisis. We rejoice in our God!
The last session of the day started with vibrant praise and worship. Even though we didn’t know what was being sung, the clapping, uplifted hands, and smiling faces spoke to us. Dr. Assaud Skouri followed with a presentation full of general guidelines we should follow for optimal health – eating food for energy, drinking water, avoiding excessive milk products, fatty foods, and sugar. He pointed out that the digestive and nervous systems work in tandem. Stress affects them both. However, he says medications, sharing our problems with others, and exercising can help. Dr. Skouri then answered individual questions and gave us information about various digestive diseases. We rejoice in our God!
Today we learned about healing our bodies, minds, and soul. The Lord made this day for us; we rejoice and are glad for our God!
