Three Guiding Principles for Christian Herbalists
Early in my herbal education, I was asked to write down three guiding principles I would like to base my herbal practice on. As I reflected on this question, I asked myself, “What is it that I want to accomplish through herbal medicine?”
As I pondered this question, I determined that I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I want to go where He sends me. I want to bind up the wounds of the people He places in my path.
This reminded me of the story of the “Good Samaritan” from Luke 10:29-37,
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
I believe there are three principles that the Samaritan followed as he cared for the wounded man. These three principles should be the foundation of a Christian herbal practice as we lovingly care for our neighbors.
1. Every life is sacred.
We are created in God’s image. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We were known by God before He formed us in our mothers’ wombs. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:14, Jeremiah 1:5)
From the tiny embryo that has yet to implant into its mother’s womb to the aged and crippled that must be carried from room to room, every life is precious.
Everything that I do as an herbalist must be based on the assumption that every life is sacred. With everything that is in me, I have to protect each life I am entrusted with.
The good Samaritan had every reason to leave the man for dead. After all, the Samaritans were despised and looked down upon by the Jews. The Samaritan could have held bitterness in his heart against the race of people who had very likely treated him poorly. He could have reasoned that being half dead, his chance of survival was very low. Or perhaps he could have told himself that the man’s wounds were too debilitating and his quality of life would never be the same. Instead, he looked on the man and had compassion on him. Even this man’s life was sacred to the good Samaritan.
2. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Every person that crosses our paths becomes a neighbor. And while we may not particularly like all of our neighbors, the Bible tells us we are to not only love them — we are to love them as ourselves.
One of the most profound scriptures is 1 Corinthians 13:3.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity {love}, it profiteth me nothing.
Wow! I can give to charity and even give my life up for the Lord, but if I am not loving my neighbor as myself it is of no profit. The good Samaritan was not moved by ulterior motives. He didn’t bind up the man’s wounds to achieve worldly fame or fortune. He was simply moved by love.
3. Go beyond what is necessary.
When the Samaritan bound up the wounds of the man, he was facilitating the physical healing of the man. But when he took him to the inn and paid for his room and board, he was doing more than meeting the physical needs of the man. He was facilitating both emotional healing and spiritual healing. After being brutally attacked by thieves and barely escaping death, I am certain the level of emotional trauma the man experienced was devastating.
When experiencing such brutality, it is easy to question God and ask, “Why me? Why did you leave me Lord? What have I done to deserve this?”
When the Samaritan went beyond what was required of him, he was showing the man the love of God. Without speaking a word, he was telling the man that God cares about him and his hurts. He is a provider of love, of mercy, and of grace.
As I see clients, I want to remember that sometimes emotional and spiritual healing are needed just as much as physical healing. And just as the Samaritan poured in wine and oil to heal the physical wounds, he also went beyond what was necessary to heal the emotional and spiritual wounds. May I strive to use both herbs and love to heal those the Lord places in my path.