Good health in body, mind and soul

Aug 09, 2024

Faithfully Speaking - Julie Lim Seet Yin
I went for a surgery in early June. Since the procedure was non-evasive, the downtime was minimal and I could return to my usual routine within two weeks.

Despite the low downtime, I felt discomfort and was physically weak. I could not walk for a short distance without feeling tired. My body was also bloated as a result of the medication. There were five different types of pills that I had to take before and or after meals.

The whole experience underscores (once again) the importance of taking care of our health. And good health does not mean good health in body only, but also in the mind and soul. And when we are unwell, we learn new things and are reminded of what is important.

Anointing of the Sick
Before going for surgery, I arranged to receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. I don’t remember receiving the sacrament before and did not give a thought about it. But I was encouraged by a church friend who received the sacrament before her cataract surgery.

Many Catholics confuse the Anointing of the Sick with Extreme Unction. They think that the sacrament is solely for those who are at the throes of death. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following:

The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as any of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive the sacrament has certainly already arrived. (CCC 1515).

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing their forehead and hands with duly pressed oil – pressed from olives or other plants – saying, only once: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord, in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up. (CCC 1513)

Receiving the Anointing of the Sick a couple of days before surgery gave me hope that the procedure would proceed well. I was particularly moved by this prayer that the priest said whilst anointing my forehead with the oil:

God our healer, in this time of sickness you have come to bless (N) with your grace. Restore him/her to health and strength, and make him/her joyful in spirit, and ready to embrace Your will. Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Letting go
I make it a habit to clean my flat every weekend. A complete process would include wiping down surfaces, as well as vacuuming and moping the entire floor space.

In the two weeks after surgery, I could not do the cleaning as per my usual routine. As I mentioned earlier, my body was physically weak and I could not walk for a short distance without feeling tired. Therefore, standing for long periods and carrying pails of water were out of the question. In the end, I left my dwelling place uncleaned for two whole weeks! It is something that I don’t usually allow to happen under normal circumstances. However, this time I had to let go. And the flat was cleaned again after I got back on my feet.

In many situations in life, we have to learn to trust God and let go. And the situation often turns out for the best.

Decluttering is therapeutic
During the two weeks of post-surgery medical leave, I took the opportunity to declutter my flat. And what a therapeutic experience it was.

I went through my overflowing bookshelf and donated three bags of books to a preloved bookshop at GMBB. With help from a friend, I cleaned and sent plastic containers and glass jars to a recycling centre. I packed worn out clothing and dropped off the items into the Kloth Care bin at my parish.

At the end of two weeks medical leave, my flat looked much neater than what it was before. I felt good living in an environment with less clutter. The key now is to ensure that the neatness and less clutter environment stays that way, for the good of my mental health.

Conclusion
The experience of undergoing surgery and temporarily being unable to go about my usual routine reminded me of the saying, “Health is wealth.” All the money in the world certainly cannot buy us good health.

However, even though we are aware of its importance, many of us neglect taking care of ourselves. We don’t exercise enough, we don’t watch what we eat, and we don’t manage stress properly. Perhaps having to undergo the surgery and the experiences thereafter was a reminder to double down my efforts to take care of my health. There is no quality of life if we don’t have good health and are unable to enjoy the gift of life.

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. All that you have is from God, and not your own. For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.

(Julie Lim Seet Yin believes that a satisfied life measured by one’s heart, mind and soul is better than a successful life measured by worldly yardsticks.)