love – Page 4 – Christian Science Committee on Publication for Michigan

Love is a painkiller

By Bob CummingsOctober 3, 2011Healthhealth, love, Mitch Albom, pain, Tuesdays with Morrie

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in” — Mitch Albom, novelist and newspaper columnist for the Detroit Free Press, in Tuesdays with Morrie.

One reason love is important is that it may help alleviate pain. According to a study at the Stanford University School of Medicine published online in 2010 at PLoS ONE, love may alleviate pain in the same way narcotic painkillers do.

Pictures of participants’ own romantic partners were displayed to them to reliably evoke self-reported feelings of love. Several earlier animal studies have shown reward-processing regions of the brain to be involved in pain relief. In this study, viewing pictures of a romantic partner activated reward regions of the brain during periods of pain. Activity decreases were observed in pain-processing regions of the brain.

Does love affect health?

By Bob CummingsJune 27, 2011UncategorizedAnne Harrington, Bernie Siegel, healing ties, health, Herbert Benson MD, love, Science and Health, The Cure Within

(courtesy of Flickr user nyoin)

Two groups of children receiving different levels of hygiene and nutrition and different levels of loving care. The ones being loved fared much better.

Anne Harrington is a Harvard College Professor and Professor for the History of Science, specializing in the history of psychiatry, neuroscience, and the other mind and behavioral sciences. In her book, “The Cure Within – A History of Mind-Body Medicine”, she shares a 1945 study (on page 191) by psychoanalytic psychiatrist Rene Spitz in which one group of babies was cared for with good hygiene and excellent physical care but received little if any individual love or attention. This group became physically and emotionally stunted. Most could not walk or talk even at the age of four. “Within two years 37 percent … had died from infection.”

In contrast, a second group of babies was cared for in a prison nursery that was “far dirtier” but received loving affection from their mothers each day. “Not a single one of the second group of children succumbed to infection during the five-year period of Spitz’s study.”

Thoughts on Memorial Day

By Bob CummingsMay 30, 2011Notes from Bob CummingsJesus, love, Memorial Day, military service, respect, sacrifice, USS Arizona

The USS Arizona Memorial by wallyg

It really was very moving.

A number of years ago my wife and I had the opportunity to visit the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It sits atop one of the ships (the USS Arizona) sunk on December 7, 1941. It was a sobering reminder of the scale of sacrifice that occurred that day.

The observance was quiet, respectful and heart-felt. This experience increased my respect and appreciation for all who have selflessly served to protect this nation and preserve our freedoms.

Of Jesus and his love

By Bob CummingsApril 18, 2011Notes from Bob CummingsChrist Jesus, crucifixion, Easter, eternal life, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, resurrection

Crucifixion (Louvre in Paris) by wallyg

“I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory,
Of Jesus and his love,…”¹

… says the well-known Christian hymn that is used across denominational lines.

So please read on, and behold Jesus’ love!

Does spirituality ADD UP?

By Bob CummingsApril 4, 2011Notes from Bob Cummingsaddition, Christian Science, God's love, Healing, health, love, mathematics, Science and Health, spirituality

What do spirituality, mathematics and God’s love have to do with healing?

“He shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah)

By Bob CummingsMarch 28, 2011Notes from Bob Cummingsbirth, Christian Science, health, infant mortality, life, love, metrics, support

Mother and child from "egg on stilts"

This isn’t the easiest subject to talk about, but here’s something that got my attention recently and I hope it gets yours: Michigan is ranked 37th in the U.S. in terms of its infant mortality rate. Then consider that the U.S. is ranked 33rd in the world. Ouch! In the 1960’s the U.S. was ranked 19th in the world in infant mortality and then-President Lyndon Johnson called this appalling.

Of course, this isn’t about performing better than other states or other countries. It’s about doing better and better until a rate of zero is achieved. It’s about saving lives.

Christian Science has taught me that God loves everyone, and His will for all children, for new and expectant mothers – indeed, for all of us – is always good, always health and life.

Look at this comforting Scripture from Isaiah that conveys God’s mothering love:
“Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord” (66:9)
“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you” (66:13)
“…he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (40:11)

What the world needs now

By Bob CummingsMarch 14, 2011Notes from Bob CummingsBurt Bacharach, Christian Science, earthquake, God, God's love, Hal David, Jackie DeShannon, Japan, love, needs, nuclear, rightful nutriment, tsunami, world

“What the world needs now is love sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone.” These words, from a song with lyrics by Hal David, set to music composed by Burt Bacharach, and originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1965, are so very timely. “The poor suffering heart needs its rightful nutriment, such as

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

By Bob CummingsJanuary 17, 2011Notes from Bob Cummingscivil disobedience, Civil Rights Movement, desegregation, Dr. King, equality, faith, freedom, God, I have a dream, justice, love, Martin Luther King, minorities, Nobel Peace Prize, nonviolent, rights, segregation, Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the U. S. Walter Cronkite of CBS News referred to him as “the apostle of non-violence in the Civil Rights Movement“. I recently listened to Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. You can find the entire speech below in this blog post. If you haven’t heard it in a while – or ever – now’s a good time!

Is God ever uncaring?

By Bob CummingsJanuary 3, 20112 commentsUncategorizedAlmighty, Christian Science, faith, Healing, How Americans imagine God, love, loving presence, Mary Baker Eddy, People's Idea of God, perfect Love, Science and Health

“Would Americans, in the face of unemployment, home foreclosures, two wars and an uncertain economic future, describe the Almighty as a wrathful, cold critic of our failings, or maybe a distant, uncaring force?”

The answer? “For Americans today, God, quite simply, is love.”

This is Cathy Lynn Grossman’s synopsis of contributions from readers sharing their concept of God in her 12/19/2010 article in USA WEEKEND entitled, “How Americans imagine God.” She pointed out that the responses are personal and individual. “Still, one gleaming, common thread weaves throughout: For Americans today, God, quite simply, is love.” Her readers “describe a loving presence”.

So, how does Christian Science imagine God?

About Christmas Gifts

By Bob CummingsDecember 20, 2010Notes from Bob CummingsBethlehem babe, Christ, Christmas, diadems, frankincense, gifts, gold, Jesus, Jesus Christ, king, love, Magi, Magian kings, Mary, Mary Baker Eddy, myrrh, prophecy

“The memory of the Bethlehem babe bears to mortals gifts greater than those of Magian kings, — hopes that cannot deceive, that waken prophecy, gleams of glory, coronals of meekness, diadems of love.”¹

Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, wrote these words in an article entitled, “Christmas Gifts”¹.

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