| Recent surveys have shown that the overwhelming | | | | a young man or women with a bright future who |
| majority people believe in a god, creator or a Supreme | | | | despite the doctors best efforts and the outpouring of |
| Being. Most people pray and believe their prayers are | | | | prayer dies. Why? Of course we will never know. I do |
| heard. There have even been studies indicating that | | | | believe that all things happen for a reason. There is a |
| prayer can speed up healing. | | | | purpose to our lives. I also believe that in this lifetime |
| The great majority of the world's people believe in the | | | | we can never know or fully understand the mind of |
| existence of a Supreme Being. We may call God by | | | | God. |
| different names but fact is all civilizations, cultures and | | | | This is where faith comes in, faith in the goodness of |
| tribes since the beginning of time believed in a power | | | | God and faith that we all have a purpose or mission. |
| greater than themselves. There is a saying that there | | | | Being open to our spiritual nature and accepting the |
| are no atheists in a fox hole. As some one who has | | | | role a Supreme Being plays in our lives will enable us to |
| experienced combat I can attest to the truth of this | | | | learn and fulfill our life's purpose. |
| statement. When faced with a crisis even the most | | | | Okay, so how do we go about connecting with our |
| battle hardened soldier prays. A November 1999 Gallup | | | | spirituality? We are all on a journey. This journey ends |
| poll found that 84% of Americans feel that spiritual | | | | with our death and then I believe we begin an even |
| growth is important to their lives. I am willing to bet that | | | | greater journey. Also, as with any personal growth we |
| since September 11, 2001 this percentage has | | | | have to want it, desire it, yearn for it. This intense |
| increased. | | | | motivation drives us along our path. |
| There have even been studies showing the power of | | | | Connecting with God and beginning our spiritual journey |
| prayer and the role it can play in healing. I have seen | | | | involves taking action, below are some actions that will |
| the power of prayer in my own life. A few years ago | | | | help you on your journey. |
| my father was dying. His liver was failing. Fifty years | | | | Practice Forgiveness |
| ago he had contacted Hepatitis after being wounded | | | | Practice Gratitude |
| on Iwo Jima. The local specialist gave no hope of | | | | Be Generous |
| recovery. Undeterred Dad went to Boston for a | | | | Practice Compassion |
| second opinion. | | | | Honor the Sacredness of Life |
| The verdict was the same, take him home and make | | | | Try meditating pick up any book on yoga or mediation |
| him as comfortable as possible. At that point we only | | | | and practice daily. It's not necessary to assume a |
| had one option: prayer. Dad went to the local priest | | | | difficult yoga position. Simply get into a comfortable |
| and received Absolution and the priest performed a | | | | sitting position and begin slow deep breathing in and out |
| healing prayer and blessing. Miraculously Dad's condition | | | | of your nostrils. As you breathe repeat a phase that |
| improved. Today at 83 Dad and Mom are still with us | | | | means something to you. This is called a mantra. It |
| and living independently on a small lake in | | | | could be something from the Bible or Tora a yoga |
| Massachusetts. | | | | mantra or something as simple as God is good. If |
| Was it prayer that saved him? What special blessings | | | | thoughts enter your mind acknowledge them, let them |
| did the priest performed? Was it Dad's will to live? Or | | | | pass through and refocus on your breathing. Try to |
| just random luck that he was cured? Who knows, but | | | | build up to ten minutes. Once you have practice this |
| if I was a betting man I would bet on the power of | | | | you will find that by breathing deeply and concentrating |
| prayer. | | | | on your mantra you can quickly relax. It's a great way |
| If it was prayer than why was Dad spared and not a | | | | to relieve stress and connect with the infinite creative |
| younger person? How many times do you read about | | | | power of the universe. |