catapult magazine

vol. 6, num. 13 :: 2007.06.29 — 2007.07.13

Often, the question of why bad things happen to good people is prompted by illness. A physical force we cannot control conspires against a body to interfere with daily activities and life plans. Every day, people find ways to manage these forces, if not heal completely—and every day, bodies surrender to death. On our attempts to negotiate times of physical and mental illness in ourselves and others.

Feature

And heals all your diseases

by Dr. Stan Mast

A sermon on Psalm 103 from a service of healing.

Editorial

Pondering deficiency

by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

Reflection on illness reveals one of a different sort.

Articles

March 16

by Emily Ulmer

An excerpt from a journal about coping with chronic pain.

A reason to smile

by Ryan Snuffer

A daughter’s medical condition requires finding a way to confront and understand death and suffering.

The other side of illness

by Sharon Dziurda

One person’s story of the journey through cancer to self-discovery and renewed priorities.

Suffering and love

by Courtney Steever

Photographs from Mother Theresa’s Home for the Destitute and Dying serve as aids for remembering important lessons.

A post-hospital confession

by Allison Backous

The ‘short answer’ after a hospital stay reveals the brokenness we miss every day.

Reviews

One very long moment

by Raymond Blanton

Sarah Polley's Away From Her explores themes of suffering.

Gallery

Outside the Camp

by G.Carol Bomer

Outside the Camp II

by G.Carol Bomer

In case you missed it the first time

Garret

by Carol Vande Kraats

Sometimes our neighbor really is the person right across the lane.

A good death

by Karla Kauffman

Reflections of a Hospice chaplain a few days later.

Prozac, Paxil, Nortriptyline--Go Noyeses!

by Chris Noyes

An exploration of how prescription medication can affect quality of life for a family.

Weaving the web

The <i>Akedah</i> in Roseland

Perspectives Journal

James V. Brownson on how a sibling’s illness shaped his family and his insight about suffering.

<i>Sicko</i>

Salon.com

A review of Michael Moore’s latest film on the state of health care in the U.S. by Stephanie Zacharek.

daily asterisk

Even in a country you know by heart
its hard to go the same way twice
the life of the going changes.
The chances change and make a new way.
Any tree or stone or bird
can be the bud of a new direction. The
natural correction is to make intent
of accident. To get back before dark
is the art of going.

Wendell Berry
“Traveling at Home” from Traveling at Home

Sign up on our free e-mail list to receive the daily asterisk by e-mail every weekday.