SARS의 출현과 목회 상담

The life of human being is being extinguished by a virus. The cause of SARS(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) seems to be a new type of Corona virus. Such new types of virus are threatening human life.<BR> The emergence of SARS has made people experience the crisis of life. How can we overcome this crisis in the dimension of pastoral counseling?<BR> First, a pastoral counselor should have a basic knowledge of the virus and take precautions against becoming infected themselves. If the counselor becomes infected with the virus by one of their clients then disaster may follow. If the counselor is infected, all the clients who come into contact with the counselor may be infected. The counselor then becomes responsible for propagating the virus.<BR> Second, it is necessary for the counselor to encourage the patient and the family of the patient to seek medical treatment. The patient may suffer during the period of isolation. Counseling by telephone could be useful in this situation. The pastoral counselor can help the patient in cooperation with the medical doctors.<BR> More important than crisis counseling is preventive counseling. By reducing the anxiety of clients their immune system will be strengthened against the virus. How can we enhance our immune system in the dimension of pastoral counseling?<BR> First, the pastoral counselor makes the client recognize that God gave us our body to care for. Our body is not an object of hatred but of love.<BR> Second, true health harmonizes both body and spirit to enhance our immune system against viruses. The source of good spiritual health is to be found in the Sermon on the Mountain. The Sermon is a source of spiritual health which leads to true happiness.