“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson; from Morte d’Arthur
I TAKE CARE O FMY HEALTH: I visit my doctors, take my pills and spend time in daily prayer. My daily prayer is just as vital for my health as any medical procedure. We all know how to handle our high blood pressure or other health conditions, and praying for our health should be included right up there with all our healthy habits.
Maybe what we are not including in our whole healthcare protocol is spirituality. Many doctors believe in a higher power and see the positive, healing results of patients who weave spirituality into their whole healthcare routine.
It does not matter what faith we are. We can all be in relationship with our God or a higher power. Some people who might not practice a specific belief can meditate, share their concerns with friends and family, and basically engage in spiritual activities that help them face and deal with their health challenges.
The National Library of Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducts and reports on prayer, meditation, and other experiments on healing and prayer. They state, “Religious practices have been associated with healing for millennia. People pray for good health and for relief from illness. Prayer may result in health and healing through one or more of several mechanisms. We briefly consider these mechanisms.”
I pray in my own little “sacred space” in a comfortable chair—next to it is my grandmother’s refinished little table with a cedar statue of St. Francis of Assisi, an old army photo of my dad, my mom’s prayer book, and a rock from my Assisi, Italy pilgrimage. Near my chair is a basket that holds my office book, spiritual books, and a pen and journal. I keep some bandaids and a prescription bottle there to remind me of health and life.
I believe we are all called to prayer, to talk to our God (or higher power) about what is happening in our lives. When we are worried about life-changing health issues, who better to talk with? If a misunderstanding or quarrel takes place in our lives, we talk to the person involved in the situation. When we talk to the person and ask for clarification or forgiveness, we usually feel better and can begin healing. Placing our health concerns before our loving God must be a part of our total healthcare—right up there with doctor’s visits and our medicines. Prayer is just what the doctor should have ordered?
Not only does our own personal prayer help us heal, but the collective prayer of others does, too. People from our churches or places of worship, or groups of people from our work places, can lift us up in awareness, concern, and prayer.
This year’s health events were pretty challenging for me. I was in two hospitals and two rehab places and was challenged with fear of the unknown, feeling that no one knew what was happening to my health and wondering what my future would be.
When someone approaches me and tells me they doubt that prayer or meditation plays any part in their health or healing, I listen. Then I share that I don’t understand the whole healing and faith phenomenon, but I do pray for my health and the health of others. Just because I do not understand healing does not mean it does not happen. I feel healing prayer works for me.
Sister Karen Zielinski is the Director of Canticle Studio. Canticle Studio is a part of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH’s overall advancement effort and has a mission of being a creative center where artists generate works, products, and services in harmony with the mission of the Sisters St. Francis. She can be reached at kzielins@sistersosf.org or 419-824-3543. ✲
