More Thoughts On Prayer

Yesterday’s post got me thinking about the power of prayer. My mother was one of these people who felt everything had to be in black and white. If you could not explain it, if you could not show it, then she did not put much weight in it.

A couple of years before she passed away she was working with my oldest nephew, who was in yeshiva. The paper was about the healing power of prayer. What studies showed was when someone was not feeling well, if another person prayed for the sick individual, even if the sick person did not know there was someone praying for him or her, there was a better chance of a full recovery. At the end of the project my mother said, “You know, maybe there is something to this”.

Do not get the wrong idea. I grew up in a house that enjoyed the traditions of Judaism. I grew up in a house where there was prayer and where going to shul was part of the weekly ritual (with a father who was a reform Rabbi, that certainly is not surprising). Still, is it not fair to wonder if G-d listen more, or cares more about a person who prays. Will G-d ignore the individual who does not pray.

All I know is that by praying, it made me feel like I could do something, maybe even in some small way have some destiny over the outcome. I do go to shul on a regular basis but it is interesting how the thoughts change when you are praying if you feel you are faced with a serious situation.

Fortunately it was not a serious situation and everything turned out well. Still, I guess we should never underestimate the power of prayer.