The illness experience is chiseled by the search for meaning, for purpose, for greater understanding of existential suffering. This seeking is at the center of the spiritual journey. Increasingly, it is being recognized that spirituality is deeply intertwined with illness, as the trials and tribulations of sickness and recovery prompt us to ask questions of deep significance. It must be recognized that physicians can serve as companions for patients through the treatment and healing process. It is often through the care and compassion of the clinician that patients can derive solace and healin...