Bread of healing

Neil M. was not very fond of talking about his work. “It’s just a job,” he said more than once, “just a way of paying the bills.” Neil has worked for this one employer for nearly ten years and although it has allowed him to maintain an existence, it has never provided him with health insurance. “I know many other people who don’t have health insurance, I guess I am one of them,” he remarked dolefully. When you are healthy this state of affairs doesn’t pose much of a problem, but in 2003 Neil wasn’t feeling well. He ended up in a hospital where it was discovered that he had diabetes. Now he needs regular medical care and daily medication. When Neil was in the hospital he was directed to the Bread of Healing Clinic by one of the nurses. “I am very grateful for the clinic,” he said with emotion, “I don’t know what I would do without it.” For the past six years Neil has been coming to the clinic, receiving medication and being checked over by the medical personnel. He has developed a very nice rapport with the staff. “They talk to me as if we are friends,” he said, “I’m not just another patient to them.” But lately he learned he has “other health issues,” one of which is arthritis in his knees. He is worried that this may be “just the beginning.” It is not surprising that he sometimes has trouble sleeping. Neil described the situation as “lousy” but it should be noted that he was not referring to just his medical problems, but with the country as a whole and what he called the “greed” dominating America. He said he has personally seen how this greed is “causing so many problems for so many people.” It was apparent that he didn’t want to go into it any further since it was so frustrating to realize that this state of affairs doesn’t have to be like this. “It’s fine to have things, fancy cars and good health insurance, but not at the expense of others.” Neil would agree that we need to sharpen the line that tells us when having enough is enough.