Service of the Sick

There is an excellent article called “The Sikh Gurus' service to the sick can be a lesson for today's pandemic” at https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/health/the-sikh-gurus-service-to-the-sick-can-be-a-lesson-for-today-s-pandemic-70308 . They give several great examples of the Guru Ji’s service to the ill from Guru Nanak Dev Ji serving and curing a person with leprosy, Guru Ramdas Ji’s sarovar at Amritsar curing Bibi Rajni’s husband (Dukh Bhanjani Beri), Guru Arjan Dev Ji building a leprosy home, Guru Har Rai Ji making a herbal garden that cured Dara Shikoh, and Guru Harkrishan Ji curing those with smallpox.  They give examples of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, and Bhagat Puran Singh (Pingalwara). The service of those who are ill is an important task and although many take it on professionally for work, many also take it on for their loved ones like parents or children. 

In today’s world service for the sick also comes in the form of Gurbani camps like Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam Ji and Sarab Rog Ka Aukhad Naam which build faith and are run by physicians. It also comes in the form of taking care of those with mental illnesses. For example through kathas. It means helping to support and uplift people through the depression and anxiety that the world is facing with coronavirus. One of the other ways of service is a service of food for those who are ill. I know of initiatives that Sikhs are putting on in India to serve the food in the hospitals, and in Canada for serving groceries to the elderly. Serving the ill comes with phone calls and messages of support and encouragement. It can come with doing simran with a loved one. I know for a friend who was in the hospital, once her family brought her a tape of Sukhmani Sahib to listen to it made a big difference to supporting her. 

I’ve been both the person who has been ill, and the person serving the ill. As the person who has been ill I can say that even things that are seemingly small can become huge tasks and it is extremely helpful to have help with those. As the person who serves the ill I can say that it is fulfilling and meaningful. I think especially with the elderly generation we need to pay more attention to their service. They have made so much sacrifice and done so much for us to get us to where we are today, we shouldn’t be forgetting them now. Many of them don’t ask for anything from us, and they spend their time continuing to serve the generations to come in old age. I think though, that those are the feet that we should be rubbing, and those are the hands that we should be holding. Though they don't ask anything of us, we should be offering. We should serve those we love as best we can while we still have them.