What is Prayer?
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.
