SERVICE AND SELF HEALING

SERVICE AND SELF HEALING
Concurrent with that experience with Mr. Beethoven, I sought the help from a dear friend who uses music in therapeutic ways, by the name of Deanna Edwards. She suggested that when I was feeling down, I should go to hospitals or rest homes and sing for the patients. I countered by saying that I am an opera singer who is most comfortable in costume, with orchestral accompaniment and the benefit of stage technology and colleagues about me. I admitted that it is unnerving to sing one on one without those aids. She was not surprised and said, “I didn’t say it would be easy, but it will work”. I reluctantly tried, and have continued to this day. It has become easier to walk into hospital rooms of friends and strangers and ask if they could use a song. On rare occasions I have been thrown out, but usually it has been a remarkably therapeutic experience for them and especially for me. There is something about giving in those conditions that lifts my thoughts away from my own challenges and causes me to rejoice in having the gifts to help others. I commend it to you, whatever your gifts may be. Recently I met a friend in town whom I have known throughout my life. His name is Hi Whitney. He has been a well known business man in our community, providing appliances to a major segment of our community for decades. He was in a produce market buying vegetables with the use of a walker. I inquired after his condition, and he informed me that he had just recently had his foot removed through the challenges associated with diabetes. He explained that the surgery had preserved his life, and taught him a great deal. His countenance was cheery and he wanted to tell me about the experience. He said that when he awakened from the anesthesia for the surgery, he had a compromised respiratory function. His breathing was weak, and the doctors and nurses warned him that if he did not get more respiratory exercise, there was the potential of complications including pneumonia. They brought him a respiratory machine in which to blow, which was intended to assist him in the process of regaining his respiratory-pulmonary function. He said that he simply could not bring himself to do it, but thought that he might be able to get the same effect if they could get him a harmonica. They did as he requested in soon he was blowing for extended periods of time on the little hand-held wind instrument. Soon patients in the adjacent rooms heard him, and asked if he could come for a visit and play for them. He did so. It could not have been easy at first, but he explained that his own challenges seemed to disappear as he felt the joy of lifting the spirits of his neighbors in the hospital. He made rounds all day long to lift the hearts and spirits of his fellow patients. A great deal of healing took place, both for the giver and the receiver. It works!