In light of the gospel readings this week, I thought I’d post this gallery by Toni Weingarten: 8 Ways Illness Can Be a Spiritual Practice. To get to it, click here. Here’s the intro:

Most people think of illness as inconvenient at best, tragic at worst. We focus on what we are not doing: our normal daily routines, work, outings with friends, being physically active, time with family. Yes, illness is a time-out from our normal lives of health and activity, but it needn’t be time ‘lost.’ Illness can be a fertile time if you can focus your attention away from what you do not have, and focus on what it offers in abundance.

Even if your illness is one from which you may not recover, making it a spiritual practice will imbue your journey with rich rewards. Here are eight ways to turn physical infirmity into a sacred time of life.

To read more Beyond Blue, go to www.beliefnet.com/beyondblue, and to get to Group Beyond Blue, a support group at Beliefnet Community, click here.