LONGEVITY IN ACTION

William A. McGarey, M.D. in one of his bi-monthly columns, tells about a Soviet physician, Georgi Z. Pitskhelauri who wrote a book entitled "The Longliving of Soviet Georgia," documenting individuals - some of whom were 190 years of age when his book was published in 1982. He goes on to cite other present day instances of remarkable healing that are possible when we understand that healing is a spiritual event.

Dr. McGarey tells us, "If you, for instance, have a series of illnesses and are aware of being body, mind and spirit, you can approach those illnesses with a more enlightened state of mind. You might get a series of manipulations or spinal adjustments. Or you could "talk" to your body, or choose acupuncture as a primary approach, surgery, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage or medication. Your healing - if you allow it to be such - is always a spiritual adventure, allowing you to step a bit higher on your journey of the soul. Various portions of the body may be rejuvenated and regenerated, allowing the body as a whole to live longer, thus activating the concept of longevity in your own experience. The power of choice we were given in the beginning, even to defy God to gratify the 'lusts of the flesh,' brings about a movement in our lives of destructive or constructive activity. It has been called the forces of light or darkness; good or evil, the Christ Consciousness or the Prince of this world, and quotes Edgar Cayce, 'All that would be necessary for each individual soul is to be a companion with God, which is God's desire towards man. . . the sin of man is his desire for self-gratification.'

"We may gain wisdom, spiritual growth, and perhaps also longer years, if we simply live the fruits of the spirit - forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, and love, with those that we meet day by day. If other men and women have lived for hundreds of years, like Methuselah in the Old Testament, then we may also achieve that goal. Many of us as we get old, do not want to stay around much longer. If, however, we keep active, serving and helping where we can, then we may not be old - we may be living a loving and productive life, serving God as we learn how to love Him and love our fellow man." Dr. McGarey has written a number of books.

My son was driving me home from church one day and said, "The way I look at what to believe is to measure each decision with the yardstick of how we practice our daily living - a life of selfishness or not." I believe he was using the same standard as Dr. McGarey has just given.