Ho'omana Health Ministries

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

                                                                        ~World Health Organization, 1948

A main focus of the Essene lifestyle is health...how to create it, how to maintain it and how to optimize it. I searched the internet for a good definition of health to use as a standard or goal to be reached.  I found many definitions. None of them were completely satisfactory. I decided to quote the one above because I like the fact as early as 60 years ago, the World Health Organization had already realized that health is a holistic phenomenon, not just a physical state.  I also liked the recognition that a person can be free of disease but still not healthy.  However, while the World Health Organization only recognizes three attributes of human existence: physical (the body) mental (the intellect) and social (the emotions), As an Essene, we also recognize the whole person has a spirit... that part that connects with the Divine.

As pastor of Ho'omana Health Ministries, I created this blog to help maintain the health of our church family. If we are to help other achieve health and wholeness, we must first find it within ourselves. This blog was meant to help achieve that goal of health and a whole and abundant life.  After reading the definition of health above, you can see it is sort of an overwhelming task! It's a pretty tall order to create a guide to "complete physical, mental and social and spiritual well-being."

One thing I have learned is that in any difficult task, attitude is half the battle. A friend of mind once told me a story that is a good illustration of the importance of correct attitude. I used to live on the Big Island of Hawaii.  One of my friends there, Delia, decided she was going to drive to the top of Mauna Kea. In case you didn't know, Mauna Kea is one of the volcanic mountains on the Big Island. It is 13,796 feet high.  Delia had read in a travel book that it was possible to reach the top in a 4 wheel drive vehicle.  So she got into her little Toyota RAV and started driving up the mountain. She arrived at the visitor's information center at 9200 feet and stayed there 30 minutes to acclimatize to the high altitude as the travel book advised. She then started on up the road to the summit.

The road got steep. My friend started to get nervous.  She thought about the fact that she was all alone. She began to worry. The wind was blowing against her little car. It sounded to her like the engine was straining. What if the car broke down? Maybe this was too big a feat for one woman alone in a Toyota Rav?. The car began to go slower and slower. She got more worried. The Rav was barely crawling up the mountain now. It seemed to be stuttering. She stopped on the side of the road trying to decide what to do. Just about the time she was going to turn around, someone drove up in a big Jeep. Delia waited for them to go by so she could turn around. The Jeep stopped. A couple came out and asked her if anything was wrong. Delia explained to them that she did not think her Rav could make it up so she was going to turn around. The couple encouraged her to go on. The man said, "Of course you can make it! I tell you what, we will follow behind you. If you have any problem, we'll be there for you." My friend decided to try again. She got in the Rav and started up the mountain again. This time, she said that the car did fine! It did not seem to be straining any more. It didn't slow down on her like it had before and she made it to the top of Mauna Kea and the view was beautiful. Since that time, Delia has driven to the top of Mauna Kea five times without any back up vehicle! Every time someone comes to visit her, she takes them up to see the view.

I love this story. It is such a great illustration of the power of correct attitude and the power of a good support system. Delia started out with a great goal. Everything was fine until she started to doubt her ability to achieve that goal. All of a sudden, the car seemed to malfunction. Then the couple came and encouraged and supported her. She started to believe in herself again and the car started working again. The problem was never the car. The problem was her own timidity in driving the car because of her fear and doubt. Once she made it to the top with the help of the other couple, she did not need support anymore. She was able to drive to the top on her own and bring others with her.

In your pursuit of health- wholeness of body, soul, mind and spirit- you may find you have some pretty big mountains to climb. I am here to support you... to help you make it to the top of your personal mountains. Once you get there, you won' t need me anymore. Then it will be your turn to take others.