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Peace and Healing does not intend to promote the merits of one
religion over another, or the benefits of a specific religion over
the more nebulous “spirituality.” Of course we know
that organized religion and spirituality differ greatly. Spirituality
is a necessary ingredient of any recipe for living a stress-free
life.
Prayer is defined by Webster’s as an address, a petition
to a God in a word or thought; a set order of words used in praying;
an earnest request or wish. Prayer can be related to meditation,
or vice-versa. Prayer is used as a direct request or statement of
giving thanks to a higher power.
There have been numerous studies done on prayer. The most famous
study occurred between April, 1982 and May, 1983, where a double
blind study was performed with “cardiac” patients in
the ICU of San Francisco General Hospital. One group was prayed
for, and the other group was not. The outcome was pronounced, with
decreased incidence of cardiac arrest, decreased death rate, decreased
need for ventilators in the group that was prayed for.
In Jet Magazine in 1998, a study showed
with a significant P-value that individuals between the ages of
65 and 74 with high blood pressure who routinely prayed did lower
their blood pressures by 10-15 mm. of mercury. Dr. Barker was asked
about placebo effect, and he stated it seemed unlikely, in the sense
that bacteria, viruses and fungi are not susceptible to the power
of suggestion.
Other studies have shown that prayer definitely affects all living
things. For example, two bottles were filled with water. One bottle
of water that was prayed over, the other was not. Both bottles were
used to soak corn seeds. The corn seeds came from the same group
of corn. The seeds soaked in water that had been prayed over germinated
one day earlier than the other group of seeds. This study has been
replicated, with similar results.
Needless to say, studies of this sort are quite controversial.
So what does all this mean? Does this reinforce the existence of
God? Of course not. It does, however, reinforce that prayer is powerful,
a power we really cannot define, results of which are measurable
as demonstrated by the studies listed above. How does this relate
to our own personal health and well-being?
Evidence supports the fact that since the beginning of time, Man
has prayed. Native Americans have prayed to one God for hundreds
of years. Ceremonies and rituals in many religions including Native
American spirituality, are very important. These ceremonies and
rituals ground individuals if you will, and function as a strong
backdrop for prayer. Can prayers exist without ceremonies or rituals?
Most definitely. However when combined, there is a greater power.
Having spent 8 years in Catholic schools and memorizing many prayers,
then spending the past 12 years learning about Native American spirituality,
I can personally attest to the fact that the closeness I feel for
the earth, combined with the free association of thought and prayer,
is more meaningful than the rote memorization of prayers in other
religions. This is not to suggest that one is right and the other
wrong. It’s to say that Native American spirituality has worked
for this author.
It is clear that we cannot overlook the studies and research regarding
prayer. Many individuals search for hard evidence to substantiate
their beliefs. There are Christians seeking answers to questions
uncovered by their study of the bible. They seek evidence for bible
accuracy, looking for Dead Sea scrolls for example, or reading bible
predictions and looking for current world events to support these
predictions, such as the turmoil in the Middle East. Certain individuals
have to have this foundation before they move forward. We could
discuss forever how this, in itself, leads to its own pathology.
It seems to me that in order to seek out peace and healing in our
own lives, we have to have some type of faith, something we believe
in that helps us move forward, something that grounds us, that we
can rely on in times of stress and turmoil. This is prayer. Of course
we can, and should rely on prayer during times of happiness and
joy.
We live our lives in a world where prayer is used to ask for specific
things, or at specific times, in the event of illness, or death.
What amazes me is that for Native Americans, this is not the case.
Prayers are performed ritually, morning, noon and night, prayers
of thanksgiving overwhelmingly constituting the majority of their
prayers. Prayer was not looked upon as necessary avenue to the gates
of Heaven, nor was it looked upon as a way to prevent or circumvent
sin. It was looked upon as a way to express appreciation for all
that was had.
When was the last time you sent up a prayer in thanks to your
God, for the shade of that oak tree, or the warmth of the sun, the
coolness of the breeze, or the nourishment of the rain? Every cue
in nature, the changing seasons, the geese flying south for the
winter, is a reminder of all the things we should be thankful for.
Perhaps these cues flood your mind with childhood memories, putting
you in touch with things past, of all the good—and bad things
that have happened in our lives.
If you are not praying, reconsider. Take another look. Go back
to the beginning and learn how to pray. Take a walk in the woods.
My father said he went to church ever day that he was in the woods,
whether he was hunting, fishing or camping. As Dr. Hammerschlag
says, step out of your shoes and look at things a little differently.
The way you learned it in the past may not be the way it is in the
present.
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