"Healing of the Mind, Body and Spirit" in Birmingham, United Kingdom

W e live in a society, and a continue, and a common thread of a their life and background in order to world, of increasing yearning for peace running through provide the appropriate care, making a uncertainty and fear, one in everything. It was very encouraging to positive difference in their life and which there is so much need for healing again see a substantial number of giving them the best chance of healing in order that we can live peacefully young people coming to the meeting, well. Effort is made to treat everyone together as part of one human family. including several wonderful young with dignity, and not just those who are ‘Healing’ was the topic of our Women’s women from the Asha Centre in the vulnerable, frail or suffering with Peace Meeting in early November, and Forest of Dean who had driven for 2 dementia. Family members and others the amazing number and diversity of hours to be with us. who care for the patient are welcome in women who attended, 158 in total (!), Our three main speakers all work at the hospital, as are many people who causing us to run out of both chairs and Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth volunteer their time to help out, often floor-space, reflected that need and the Hospital, involved in different aspects doing simple, normal things which desire of women generally to both give, of care and the healing process. First have great therapeutic value. Margaret and receive, healing. Many women, was Margaret Harries, who described concluded with one moving story of a especially those attending for the first some of the modern facilities at the young woman who had lost a leg and time, shared afterwards that they Queen Elizabeth (QE), a recently built received multiple injuries, including gained so much strength from coming hospital with 1369 beds, containing the severe burns, in a very serious road together in this way, simply from the largest critical care unit in Europe. As traffic accident. As a result of the care value of all that was represented in this well as being known for its cutting-edge she had received, she wanted to pay incredible meeting. We were black, technology, the QE is known for something back and helped to raise white and brown, from all faiths and compassion and dignity in the way in money, together with Margaret, by none, both young and old, women from which patients are treated, with the abseiling down the side of a 50-metre the establishment and those seeking hospital and its staff having received high hotel, in spite of having a strong asylum, and with more than 50 several awards for this. Margaret fear of heights! nationalities represented. Incredible! emphasised that high-tech medicine Maureen Foxall, a local preacher in the What a privilege to be in one another’s must be accompanied by ‘high-touch’ Methodist church and a member of the company in such an intimate care, and that this is something which Iona and Corrymeela peace environment, and with the freedom and must be continuously improved and communities, then spoke about her trust to be able to share our heart, and developed. She said ..”We don’t get work as a Christian chaplain at the QE. express our honest concerns and everything right, and if we don’t we do She graduated from the Queen’s feelings. This is the product of a 22 year something about it”. A major emphasis Foundation in Edgbaston, where most journey, with many ups and downs, but in the care offered is ‘seeing the person’ people continue on to become vicars

and ministers. Having had some joining an inter-denominational team done?’ If God is all-powerful and good, experience of mental health issues with (Pentecostal, Anglican, Methodist and why is there suffering - the age-old both family and friends, Maureen felt Catholic) and a multi-faith team question, to which there is no simple called to work in that area and did a (Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, answer. placement with the Birmingham and Buddhist, Jewish, Bahai and Pagan) Finally, Maureen spoke of the Solihull Mental Health Trust. Working which serve the needs of so many importance of the chaplain’s need for at the Juniper Centre, part of Moseley people and their families, both religious self-care, care of oneself in order to Hall Hospital, she joined together with and non-religious (atheist and fulfill the role of chaplain, reminding us another talented lady, a violinist, to agnostic). Her work consists of the that even Jesus took the time to go up offer music and creative arts to patients expected and the unexpected, including into the mountains, or out into the with mental health problems, including supporting members of staff, and desert, to replenish and renew himself. some with eating disorders, some in a providing support to patients at what self-harm ward, and also on a mother- can be the most vulnerable time in their Rehanah, our third main speaker, and-baby ward. Using her ability to life. As well as being a cheerful began by expressing what a privilege it sing, and with the beauty of her friends’ presence on the ward, Maureen and the was to be at the meeting in the presence violin, Maureen would offer spirituality other chaplains can also find of so many wonderful ladies, through art and music as a form of themselves sitting quietly with patients representing so many cultures, faiths, therapy. This would then provide the in the depths of their pain. Maybe nationalities, colours and backgrounds. possibility for patients to express helping people to listen to the ‘language “What more beauty is there in the themselves, and their inner feelings, in of their wounds’, both physical and world to see than something like this?” a way which was often not possible mental, and trying to help them not “I see you as my sisters, because my through words, with many people pine away in the pain of them, but to Islamic belief tells me that God created finding it difficult to talk about their seek to grow and to live for however Adam and Eve, and from those two condition and struggles, even to long that may be, from the depths of scattered multitudes of people such recognised professionals. that pain. In relation to God, of that we are indeed of the same blood”. whatever name, some people find Rehanah mentioned how easy it is, in The opportunity than came up to apply leading busy lives, to allow the world to for a role as a Chaplain at the QE, the strength through their faith while others may ask the question ‘Where is take us away from one another and the ‘crystal palace on the hill’ as Maureen essence of our common spirituality. described it! She was awarded the post, (my) God in all of this?’,and might even lose their faith. Asking ‘Why am I “What a beautiful place to be in now, and began work on January 20th 2015, and to feel that essence amongst us, suffering?’ or ‘What wrong have I and that togetherness. We know it deep down inside, but often we forget to express it to one another.” In describing how she applied for, and was given, the job of a Muslim chaplain at the Women’s Hospital quite some years ago, Rehanah said that she ‘took her hat off (scarf!)’ to the Manager at that time, for his foresight in recognising the need for a Muslim chaplain and appointing her, rather than any great sense of achievement on her part. Saying that she had enjoyed hearing Margaret ‘set the scene’ and Maureen’s personal experience as a chaplain, Rehanah emphasised the importance of their role in bringing healing and its connection to

even if they feel distant from God; ‘If you reach out to me a hand-span, I reach out to you an arms-length’; and ‘When you come to Me walking, I come to you running’. Finally, Rehanah recognised the importance of people volunteering their time in hospital, and asked the ladies present if any would consider applying to become a volunteer. After the meeting, around 10 ladies put their names forward which was a lovely practical outcome from what was a deep and meaningful meeting. As usual, we had lots of contributions from the floor, inspired by the content of our 3 speakers. We passed the spirituality. She said that so many about the value of one human being microphone around for at least 45 people, of faith and no faith, recognise towards another. minutes, and many of us shared deeply spirituality and appreciate the value, about our personal situations and past Many people with a belief, when struck experiences, and the empathy for one the worth, of having someone at their by some severe illness, find themselves side who can bring their spirituality to another allowed the meeting itself to be reflecting about their belief, and asking an opportunity for healing as we shared help them in their hour of need. And questions. ‘Why is this happening to that what’s good chaplains do. It’s not our hearts together. We also passed a me? Where am I going? Am I going donations box round the room, and just about religion and belief, somewhere else? What does God want important though that is, but it’s collected £250 towards Margaret’s of me?’ When Rehanah meets a person ‘Dignity’ project which helps people recognising that every human being of belief, there can be a very powerful was born with spirituality which needs suffering from dementia. connection through the love they share Candle-lit Muslim prayers, Hindu, Sikh to be fed, and if they don’t tap into that for the same Creator, even though their then very often something is missing. and Christian devotional singing, and belief may be expressed in different readings from our sacred scriptures Sitting beside people, talking to them, ways. She mentioned some quotations caring for them, allowing them to be lifted our hearts as one to a level of from the Koran, and sayings from the deep mutual compassion. We who they are, enables them to feel a Prophet which can help Muslim connection to something deep inside concluded with some announcements, patients, such as ‘I (Allah) am closer to and then spent the rest of the evening themselves, and they can understand you than your jugular vein’ such that the importance of it in both their enjoying refreshments and one they can know that God’s love is there another’s’ company. physical and spiritual healing. It’s