A Prayer for Any One, Any Day

I want to share with you my favorite prayer. Even if you normally don't pray, keep reading. This prayer is non-denominational, and doesn't mention anything relating to G0d or religion until the last line, and you can leave that off if you want. I found this prayer in the Reform Jewish prayer book, Mishkan T'filah.It is normally read on Shabbat (Sabbath), but other than the last line, can be read any day. It was written by Rami Shapiro, and originally was published by the Reconstructionist Press in Kol Haneshama.

May these hours of rest and renewal
open our hearts to joy and our minds to truth.
May all who struggle find rest on this day.
May all who suffer find solace.
May all who hurt find healing on this day.
May all who despair find purpose.
May all who hunger find fulfillment on this day.
And may this day fulfill its promise.
Baruch atah Adonai, m'kadeish HaShabbat.
(Praise to You, Adonai our G0d, who sanctifies the Sabbath.)

I often can feel my attention and intention increase while reading this prayer, as compared to other prayers we read during the typical Shabbat service. I think that is because all too often, I can fit myself into one or more of these categories, and I am seeking healing.
For myself and for everyone, I pray for rest, solace, healing, purpose and fulfillment, today and every day.
Amen

Prayer for Healing

Prayer can be a powerful force*.  I have heard about studies that show people improve when others are praying for them, even if they don't know about the pray-ers. On the other hand, we all know of people who have gotten worse, or even died, despite being prayed for. I am not going to attempt to define prayer, that is way beyond the scope of my expertise. To me, though, prayer is more about trust in the process, than that any specific outcome will occur. If prayer had a direct, 1:1 cause and effect with outcome, none of us would have chronic pain or illness. Our prayers to "make it go away" would have done just that, and we would have been cured.  Prayer, then, must have some other purpose.
I would not describe myself as religious, but we do attend Sabbath services at our temple every Friday night, and a shorter service and Torah study session every Saturday morning. One part of these services I find especially meaningful is a prayer for healing. Before we sing this prayer, our Rabbi asks for any names of people we would like to have the congregation pray for. A few times, when I have had a specific issue going on, my husband has mentioned my name. Otherwise, I add my name silently. Many people know I have chronic pain and illness issues, but I don't want to draw attention to myself every week.  A good friend has prostate cancer, and also does not want to draw attention to himself. When our Rabbi asks for names, he and I will make eye contact, and incline our heads towards each other, in this way adding each other's names to the list without doing so publicly. Or, if we are sitting near each other, we may gently and unobtrusively tap each other on the arm or leg. Another friend recently started having some major health issues, and we quietly have added her to our little 'prayer circle', though I am not sure she knows this.
I have found this intimate acknowledgement of the need for healing to be very powerful. I wrote a piece last year on the difference between healing and curing.  Those of us with chronic illness may never be cured, ie, our illnesses go away, but we can still heal, ie, be more at peace with our illness, and in that way, live better with it. I have some symptoms that never go away, others that may be with me for days or weeks or months, and by the time they dissipate, others have taken their place. (My body is an ever-changing source of amusement.) The prayer for healing reminds me that I am not alone in this journey. I have companions and supports, human and otherwise. That knowledge alone helps me get through the tough times, and meanwhile, the prayer is out there in the Universe, working its good.  

*Disclaimer: religion is very personal. My beliefs are my own, and I have no intention of convincing anyone to believe as I do. If I have unintentionally offended anyone by my thoughts shared here, I am sorry. That also was not my intent.

Healing Versus Curing

In Western society, the field of medicine is traditionally viewed as pure science.  If the body is ill or injured, it has to be fixed or cured, put back into its previous state.  To do so, chemicals, in the form of medicines, are prescribed.  Many illnesses would resolve themselves in the course of time with or without medicines.  In that case, medicines may be used to make the person more comfortable while the body heals itself (example- a cold).  Other illnesses do heal faster or heal only with medicines. 

What happens if the illness or injury can’t be cured by medicines, or by any other means that the doctor prescribes?  The doctor, who is used to being able to cure his patients, may become frustrated.  Many doctors don’t like treating patients with chronic illnesses, because they feel ineffectual and impotent to help them. 

It takes a special kind of doctor to really be good at treating chronic illness.  (S)he needs to be able to accept that (s)he won’t be able to cure, but that there are still many things that can be done to help the patient obtain and maintain the maximal possible health, given the circumstances.  Success is measured in smaller increments, and often success is a matter of keeping the patient from getting worse, rather than being able to make the patient better.  If there are medications for that particular illness, it can be a challenge to find the right one, or the right combination, and the right dosage. 

Healing and curing are not the same thing.  Curing implies that the illness is gone.  Healing implies a wholeness, a peacefulness with life, even if the illness is still there.  Healing improves the quality of life whether curing is a possibility or not.  Healing is often not achieved with medicines, but with techniques that touch the soul, or the psyche. 

I have written about guided imagery and visualization, mindfulness, pet therapy, massage and about using art to heal.  Illness and pain can feel huge, can overpower everything else in life, until it seems that they are all that exists.  These healing techniques can help a person to view their illness differently.  They can put things in perspective, making the illness less scary and overwhelming.  This is healing.  Anything that makes your burden easier to carry is healing.  

Other techniques used for healing include Reiki, acupuncture, crystals, prayer, chakras, etc.  I don't have as much experience with these, but I am sure there is abundant info on the web if you are interested.  The topics I write about won't cure you, but they can help you to heal.