Church Offers TCC to Integrate Mind Body and Spirit

From: The Healing Word, February, 1997. Entitled, Why Is T’ai Chi Offered at St. Lukes? by Pastor Scott Dunfae, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Walnut Creek, CA.

Synopsis: This article, written by the minister at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek, explains why T’ai Chi Chih is the perfect vehicle for members of today’s modern healing community – the church — to integrate body, mind and spirit. Text is reprinted in full by permission.

Why Is TCC Offered at St. Luke’s?

T’ai Chi Chih is one of a number of disciplines that have their origin in China. Some Christians are suspicious of anything “eastern”. Christ has been so mixed with Western Culture that we have forgotten – or maybe never realized – that Christianity is an Eastern Religion in its origin and roots. This has been the struggle of the church in almost every age – to distinguish between what is essential to the Gospel and what are cultural values and influences.

We don’t have any problem eating Chinese food, appreciating Chinese art or buying Chinese goods. Perhaps it’s time to examine Chinese medicine, health care and methods of promoting well-being. That’s what T’ai Chi Chih is all about. It is NOT a martial art (that’s called T’ai Chi Ch’uan). It is NOT even exercise in the technical sense but consists of 20 simple, repetitive, non-strenuous movements which involve no physical contact, but rather emphasize a soft flowing continuity of motion. It’s often been called a form of ‘Moving Meditation’.

The practice of T’ai Chi Chih promotes feelings of physical and emotional well-being, relaxation, inner peace and serenity. Spiritual people will of course understand God as the source of our well-being. Practicing T’ai Chi Chih can help persons of faith become more aware of their bodies and of their Creator. “I praise you, O Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14).

The purpose of T’ai Chi Chih is to circulate and balance the body’s energy. This in turn has been documented to improve circulation, breathing, flexibility and coordination; helps to regulate blood pressure, reduce stress and tension. Great improvement in chronic ailments, such as arthritis, have been observed. Many Western Doctors are now encouraging patients to learn T’ai Chi Chih.

In a healing community that seeks to integrate body, mind, and spirit, it’s natural to offer classes in T’ai Chi Chih. Classes at St. Luke’s are led by members of our own community – Pat Huseby and Barbara Dinehart, our Parish Nurse – who are both certified T’ai Chi Chih instructors. Participants range in age from teens to seniors in their 80’s. Watch bulletin boards and check your Sunday morning bulletin for announcements about classes. As we conclude this Epiphany season when Christians remember the journey of the “Wise Men from the East” (Matthew 2:1), who followed the star to the Christ child, let us seek and share the truth and wholeness of Christ the Healer in all the ways God would make manifest.