Prayer

One of my more sagely patients remarked today that whenever he is asked to donate to a “worthy” cause, he asks what percent of his donation goes to administrative costs.  He followed that comment by stating that his favorite means of giving was to say a prayer for those in need.  “Prayers have no administrative cost” and can do great good.

While today was obscenely busy, taking a few minutes to listen to my patient’s viewpoint on the healing power of prayer and prayer trees was well worthwhile.  A few years ago, I received a subscription to an alternative care journal.  In a scholarly way, the journal would print research articles designed to prove the power of prayer.  I always thought that investing money in proving the obvious was foolhardy.

I was once blessed with two elder patients who ran a local prayer tree.  I would have sworn that their prayer tree had a direct line to G-d’s ear as I witnessed miraculous changes in patients’ health once placed on prayer list.  I know the skeptics in my audience will challenge this concept, but they sure made a believer out of me.

I actually discussed the formation of a prayer tree with my Rabbi only to find out that my own religion had its own prayer tree and I was simply ignorant, having daydreamed through Sunday school.

The moral of the story is that prayer is a powerful way of giving to those in need and that 100% of what you give goes to the person or group you are giving it to.  So, whatever your religion, join a prayer tree and give prayers to those in need of good health.

Dr. Segal blogs at www.livewellthy.org and is the co-author of "Diets and Other Unnatural Acts."