Post by Liisa Analore on Oct 13, 2009 9:51:33 GMT -5
Greetings,
Some of you have probably met me already, some of you haven't. I wasn't raised in "the church" and could probably count the number of times I have been in a church on my hands <ok, maybe my feet also>. I grew up embedded with a scientific approach to religion and am among those of the world who haven't yet found how religon synchs up with life.
In some sense, God has found me. He took an avenue that is well known to me - through my work. I've been with the Wisconsin Conference for just over a year now, and initially was interested in the position because it was with a non-profit and it entertained my philanthropic nature. Sitting on the sidelines, but immersed in religion all around me, I've gotten quite accustomed to the once foreign to me parts of religion - which have often included knowing when to sit down, when to close my eyes and pray and what part of the hymnal has the song we are going to sing.
Yesterday, in a staff meeting with Conference Ministerial Staff we did the usual prayers, and then the prayers from individuals asking for help for specific people. I've never prayed during the time, I believe it is called intercessional prayers. I closed my eyes, wrapped my hands around each other and asked for an inner voice of guidance. What should I pray for? Who? How do you pray? There's always a lot going on in the lives of the people around me - my fiance who hasn't has been employeed for 10 months. My three children who miss their father who is in graduate school. The people who lost their home next to me due to a fire. Always there are many...I think of them often.
Yesterday, in trying to muster together my first prayer while my mind ping ponged back and forth about how ridiculous I would sound if my voice cracked, or if I prayed the wrong way - it was in that moment that I was given a gift of my own. I didn't need to even open my lips, as if taken someplace serene - the voice in my head said to me - "Pray for Patience". It moved me to the point where I wanted to blurt out "pray for patience", but reminded myself for whom do I pray for patience for? While I definately wish that everyone receives the gift of patience in their lives - I couldn't exactly reel out the names of people I know or say I pray for patience from the people in the room. They WERE patient.
The prayers passed. My prayer for patience didn't enter the room, but rather it entered my mind in a way that wraps itself around you like the wind in October in Wisconsin. Fast, all encompassing, and knowing.
It was then that the answer came. My prayer for patience was for myself. Patience to evolve into the christian that He wants me to be, and the knowing that that time will come and I will open my lips and feel the words of prayer for all those I have empathy for who need these prayers.
I don't sleep well at night. I wake at 3 and 4 am with uneasy feelings. This morning, I woke...heard the words of patience - his gift to me and drifted back to sleep.
So with that, I bring to you - can prayer help healing? What's your take on it? Here is a link to a pretty good article:
host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_3cdac8ea-b509-11de-8c6a-001cc4c03286.html
Thanks for listening.
Liisa Analore
Some of you have probably met me already, some of you haven't. I wasn't raised in "the church" and could probably count the number of times I have been in a church on my hands <ok, maybe my feet also>. I grew up embedded with a scientific approach to religion and am among those of the world who haven't yet found how religon synchs up with life.
In some sense, God has found me. He took an avenue that is well known to me - through my work. I've been with the Wisconsin Conference for just over a year now, and initially was interested in the position because it was with a non-profit and it entertained my philanthropic nature. Sitting on the sidelines, but immersed in religion all around me, I've gotten quite accustomed to the once foreign to me parts of religion - which have often included knowing when to sit down, when to close my eyes and pray and what part of the hymnal has the song we are going to sing.
Yesterday, in a staff meeting with Conference Ministerial Staff we did the usual prayers, and then the prayers from individuals asking for help for specific people. I've never prayed during the time, I believe it is called intercessional prayers. I closed my eyes, wrapped my hands around each other and asked for an inner voice of guidance. What should I pray for? Who? How do you pray? There's always a lot going on in the lives of the people around me - my fiance who hasn't has been employeed for 10 months. My three children who miss their father who is in graduate school. The people who lost their home next to me due to a fire. Always there are many...I think of them often.
Yesterday, in trying to muster together my first prayer while my mind ping ponged back and forth about how ridiculous I would sound if my voice cracked, or if I prayed the wrong way - it was in that moment that I was given a gift of my own. I didn't need to even open my lips, as if taken someplace serene - the voice in my head said to me - "Pray for Patience". It moved me to the point where I wanted to blurt out "pray for patience", but reminded myself for whom do I pray for patience for? While I definately wish that everyone receives the gift of patience in their lives - I couldn't exactly reel out the names of people I know or say I pray for patience from the people in the room. They WERE patient.
The prayers passed. My prayer for patience didn't enter the room, but rather it entered my mind in a way that wraps itself around you like the wind in October in Wisconsin. Fast, all encompassing, and knowing.
It was then that the answer came. My prayer for patience was for myself. Patience to evolve into the christian that He wants me to be, and the knowing that that time will come and I will open my lips and feel the words of prayer for all those I have empathy for who need these prayers.
I don't sleep well at night. I wake at 3 and 4 am with uneasy feelings. This morning, I woke...heard the words of patience - his gift to me and drifted back to sleep.
So with that, I bring to you - can prayer help healing? What's your take on it? Here is a link to a pretty good article:
host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_3cdac8ea-b509-11de-8c6a-001cc4c03286.html
Thanks for listening.
Liisa Analore