Finding Purpose

Because I am in the business of therapeutic massage, I always ask my clients if anything hurts or is not working well before I begin. While this is appropriate, even necessary, I prefer to look at massage as one of the ways we have to build on our gifts, develop our strengths, and recognize how amazing the human body really is. Massage is more than therapy. Even when stricken with disease or disability, the human body is as amazing to me as the myriad stars of the universe, the inspiring beauty of nature, or the compelling elegance of language.

Any study of anatomy and physiology is tedious in its detail and complexity. My introduction to these disciplines didn’t happen until I was 65 years old and studying to become a licensed massage therapist. While the rigor of these studies was challenging, I found myself in awe of our bodies and how beautifully and appropriately we are created for the tasks of human life.

Every microscopic cell of our bodies has something to contribute. Some cells are fairly latent, while others work tirelessly and endlessly. Some become diseased or damaged and cannot contribute as they were designed. Other cells and organisms compensate and enable the damaged parts to function in an amended but no less marvelous form. We ignore some parts of our bodies and pamper others. We appreciate some parts more than others. We usually fail to recognize the contributions of the invisible, microscopic assets within our bodies.

For me, massage and the study of the body that was necessary to become a licensed massage therapist have been some of the best teachers my life. Unlike learning from lecturers, my own body and the study of all bodies required that I explore and discover on my own how best to understand the design and function of the many parts and processes mostly unseen by our human eyes.

Perhaps the effort required is partly why I have come to appreciate anatomy and physiology so much. There is little theory to be learned. Science has made and continues to make previous conjectures factual or dismiss them altogether. There is little in our vast universe that has been as thoroughly researched as the human body.

What I have learned though is that I must continue to make meaning of all the facts. Knowing how our bodies work and putting them to a meaningful and fulfilling purpose require two very different kinds of thinking. Massage, for me, is about finding in appropriate touch and quiet reflection some of the “meaning of life” and the purposes for which God enabled and my parents conceived me to be on this earth.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that massage has helped me find purpose in the twilight of my life, When I purposefully massage another human being, I pray that the gift I share is more than a technically competent massage and a healthy boost to the body. I hope that our time together, my touch, and the body’s response are complemented by new insights into their own meaning and purpose.