We toured Rhodes, an island in Greece just off the western shore of Turkey, on our recent vacation. The focus of the tour was a palace/fortress built by the Knights of St. John to protect the island from Ottoman invaders about 1,000 years ago.
We met our tour guide. As we entered the old city:
- We heard a priest conducting Mass at a Greek Orthodox church;
- Then walked along nearby synagogue;
- Passing by a Roman Catholic church,
- We heard the call to prayer by the local Imam to the Mosque
Noting these different religions, the guide noted, “We have learned to get along together.”
By the way, the St. John in the order’s name is John the Baptist. They were initially a healing order commissioned by the Pope during the first Crusades. They became a military order with soldiers and naval fleets. They still exist today in a different format.
Their healing practice is informative. They carefully screened incoming patients admitting those who would be amenable to their therapy. The assigned an assistant to each patient. The first therapy was sleep. They provided private rooms. At night, they induced opium smoke into the room to help with sleep. The assistant would stand outside the room and whisper positive affirmations through a small window. They would encourage the patients to get up and walk around during the day. Supposedly they had a 100% success rate of healing.
Speaking as someone with a number of health and fitness certifications, I don’t recommend the opium. However, rest, positive affirmations, and exercise as much as one is capable are excellent therapies for many ailments.
Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 