Date sent: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 12:20:21 -0700
From: Laurie Lalko <>
To: 
Subject: Healing

On the subject of why some are not healed, I think there are some more
pertinent points we should consider.

First, God is not like some great ATM machine in the sky: pray and get
good things. If we are to truly exercise our free will, then some bad
things must happen to good people, just as some evil people must appear
to prosper. If we keep faith in God we will ultimately be rewarded for
that. If “good” people had nothing but good happen to them there really
would not be any free will.

Second, not all healings are of the expected variety. Those who trust
in God frequently find that even with a chronic illness or severe pain
that there can be benefits to the soul.

Finally, Catholics at least, accept the concept of the “victim soul” a
person who experiences great pain as a penance for others’ sins in a
gesture of love to God.

Clearly one of the more common reasons for a lack of healing is exactly
what was mentioned at the end: lack of going with options that exist.
Too many people indulge in things which we know to be unhealthful. God
removing consequences from our choices is not a reasonable expectation.

Just in case it makes a difference to anyone, I am chronically ill and
have been for more than 20 years. This is not just “theoretical” to me;
I live with these issues on a daily basis.

Laurie L.