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Kingdom of the sick

Eventually all bodies break down; human life is finite—it’s a truth most people pretend not to know. Early in Caring Cultures: How Congregations Respond to the Sick, Susan Dunlap writes, “A congregation’s beliefs and practices regarding illness are, finally, a congregation’s treatment of finitude.” This elegant description of the theological meaning of illness is at the heart of Dunlap’s thoughtful and practical work.

Doctors of the soul: Bedside prayers

I have long envied the white coats that physicians wear in hospitals; they’re simple, no nonsense and authoritative. Drape a stethoscope around the neck and the coat is perfectly accessorized.

To me, the coat says, “Trust me. I know what I’m doing. I just came from the lab where I was working on something that may win a Nobel Prize. Since my skills are in such demand, I didn’t have time to take off this lab coat before rushing over here to talk to you about your gall bladder.”