Subject: Embracing the Sanctuary of the Soul (06/14/'24) -Message

Subject: Embracing the Sanctuary of the Soul Dear Friends, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share a reflection that has deeply resonated with me, a contemplation on the intertwined nature of our body, mind, and soul. It's a reminder of how our physical and mental well-being are inextricably linked to the health of our soul. Our body is as sick as our mind, intertwined in a delicate dance of health and decay. When sickness wearies our being, the soul listens with its own ears, sees with its own eyes, perceiving truths the mind cannot comprehend. In this realm, we realize: it's far worse to be sick in the soul than in the body. For in the depths of our soul's sickness, we find a profound ache that no physical pain can rival. We cannot be healed in the same mind, attitude, or environment where we fell ill. The Gospel beckons our sin-sick soul to a simple trust in Christ, inviting us to a sanctuary of healing and peace. Our sickness, rooted in thoughts of illusion against conscience, reveals an impossible task: healing the body and mind without first healing the soul. Every evil is a sickness of the soul, festering within us. The sick soul, burdened and heavy, cannot bear the weight of pain. Only a soul engulfed in its own sickness can remain deaf and blind to the sufferings of others. But there is hope in the grace and mercy of God, a promise of healing for every ailing soul. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength," commands Jesus in Mark 12:30. This is the first and greatest commandment, a call to love and trust beyond the bounds of our understanding. “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,” cries the Psalmist, “for my soul trusts in You. In the shadow of Your wings, I will find refuge until these calamities have passed by” (Ps 57:1). In this refuge, we discover the true healing of the soul, a sanctuary where our deepest pains are soothed, and our heaviest burdens are lifted. May we all find solace in the divine sanctuary, allowing our souls to heal and, in turn, restoring the health of our minds and bodies. With heartfelt blessings, Pastor Steven G. Lee (June 14, 2024)