Horizons: March/April 2021

Although Christians are assured of a life eternal, we, like our savior, are embodied. Death and suffering may not be the end, but they are part and parcel of what it means to be human. Even Jesus “began to weep” (John 11:35) when he learned of the illness and death of his friend, Lazarus. In his ministry, Jesus did not turn away from people experiencing illness, no matter how serious or stigmatized their condition was.

Today, our illnesses tend not to be leprosy or possession by demons. Since Jesus’ time, we’ve come to an understanding that health encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. And particularly in the last year, we’ve recognized we can’t be healthy as individuals if others in our community are not healthy. COVID-19 brought sharper awareness to interconnected health and our role in protecting others’ physical health, whether that be holding outdoor gatherings, connecting with friends and family online, wearing masks, or staying six feet apart. The last year also underscored how much our well-being hinges on justice. Whether the threat is racially-motivated violence, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, or systemic racism in healthcare, these injustices end lives and threaten the well-being of God’s children.

In this issue, contributors explore what it means as individuals, as members of congregations, as part of Presbyterian Women, and as a society to work toward less suffering and more support for all. Writers and artists share their visions of what we can do to promote health and wholeness for ourselves and our communities. Samantha Paige Davis spotlights the work of the PC(USA) task force studying the disparities experienced by Black women and girls and suggests ways we can push for justice. Shanea Leonard explains what reproductive justice means, what the church has said about this topic for all genders, and how healthy communities are vital to individual health.

There’s no health focus too small to be life-changing, as Virginia Bell high-lights in her article about the ways that parish nursing supports everyday health for a congregation in Michigan. There’s no societal norm that should be left unquestioned, as Susan Jackson Dowd describes in her article about Presbyterian Women’s past, present, and future. Healing the sick and building a beloved community—with our neighbor or the planet—is our sacred inheritance as people of faith.