Once again those under the age of 30 are gathering in stadiums and convention centers around the country hoping to be the next American Idol. The television was on and on my way from my art studio to the basement where I was painting some fabric I caught a glimpse of a background story of one of the contestants. This story was unlike all the others because the contestant was part of an entertainment dynasty. The contestant was born into entertainment royalty and with it comes certain perks. Enough about the politics of television and in particular reality shows.
The contestant was David Osmond, son of Alan Osmond of the Osmond Brothers. If you’ve seen any coverage of the Osmonds over the past two years you’ve seen that Alan Osmond is often sitting during performance and walks with a brace. He lives with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As the background story progressed we find that David Osmond is also challenged by Multiple Sclerosis. I know that many people can’t believe that someone so young could be facing a challenge, but as you also know illness doesn’t play favorites.
They showed a picture of David Osmond in a wheelchair and then we see him walking in to his audition. There are varying types of MS and it is possible to have a flare or an episode and then have it subside. The disease is unpredictable to say the least, but for this moment on this day David Osmond stands tall and sings.
There are a lot of things you might think about the Osmond family but one thing is for sure; they support each other in good times and bad. They are one of the most cohesive family units in the spotlight and that energy, that love can be a healing force in and of itself. The other aspect of David’s inner life aside from his faith is the music that is in his genetic code. Can you think of anyone more genetically predisposed to music and the healing power of music than someone in the Osmond family. If you don’t know about the healing aspects of music read Don Campbell’s book, The Mozart Effect. Campbell shares his knowledge, his research and the gifts that music can bring to our lives.
The next time you’re thinking about what you can do to assist your body in healing, consider artistic expression. Find a way to share who you are, what you’re experiencing and the impact the challenge is having on you in a non-traditional way. Creativity is a healing force to be explored. What type of artistic expression might suit you best? What do you need to extract from your inner life and share with he world? What forms of creative expression get you excited that you might want to try?
Pilgrim Pathway/Surviving Strong 