When I was little my mom would take care of me when I got sick. She would help me cool down when I had a fever, she’d make sure I had tissues when I had a cold — whatever I needed, she would make sure that I had it. When I remembered to thank her, which wasn’t nearly often enough, she’d say: “I just want you to feel better.” My mom just wanted me to get back to doing what I was meant to be doing; going to school and playing with my friends.

World Health Day is on the calendar this week reminding us to reflect on some of the big issues related to public health; the importance of clean air and water; the need for affordable medicines in developing countries; for our awareness of how our own habits can stop diseases from spreading. Our physical health is an important issue to think about, not just on one day of the year, but every day.

Spiritual health is important, too. Many of you will know the word ‘shalom’ – we use it as a greeting and its basic meaning is simply peace. But Shalom can mean physical health or the well-being of the nation, a sense of being content or happy in our relationships. Shalom describes a state of completion or wholeness. One writer said that shalom is ‘the webbing together of God, humans and creation in justice, fulfillment and delight.’

The Bible teaches that shalom is found in the presence of God. We were made to live healthy, content, and even happy lives filled with wholeness and peace, all in the presence of God. Whatever else might be broken or wounded in our lives, we were made to live in shalom with God and with each other. I don’t know what that means for you, but for me it reminds me of the way my mom took care of me when I needed her. God’s shalom is his way of restoring our spiritual health, of getting us back to who we’re meant to be and what we’re meant to be doing.

‘The webbing together of God, humans and creation in justice, fulfillment and delight.’ I often wonder what it is that might give us that sense of shalom. I hope that as you think about your own spiritual health, you’ll get a sense of God’s shalom right now, right where you live and work and study and play.