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Dr. Tamar Earnest on if You are out there
Prayer To Whom It May Concern
While I was serving as chaplain, during the early spring of 2001, I introduced myself to a patient who told me that he didn’t believe in God. “Could you just use a visit with a caring person?” I asked. He agreed, and we had a wonderful conversation. His wife was also present and participated in our discussion of his illness, his personal and family concerns, and much more. At the end of the visit, I asked him if I might offer a prayer. “It is something that chaplains do,” I told him. He shrugged. His wife agreed with some warmth that they could use a prayer.
Here is an approximation of what I offered:
This is Tamar and I am with John and Marilyn (not their real names). We would like to communicate with Whomever or Whatever is running the universe.
John has been through very serious surgery, and now faces a long rehabilitation. He has great courage and has faced tough times in the past. Marilyn wants him to be well. She misses her beloved life partner and hopes that John will soon return home, free of pain.
If You are out there, and if You are listening, we ask Your help as John walks through this valley of shadows. He has a wonderful family, great friends, and marvelous people who are caring for him, but he could use some extra help to get through this. So, if You are listening, please let him know that You are present in his life, even when You seem most absent. Strengthen him and grant him healing of body and healing of spirit. Bless Marilyn with patience and understanding.
We are deeply grateful for all the wonders we experience in our lives. And, if You are listening to this prayer, I just want to thank you for allowing me the privilege of meeting with these wonderful people today.
The patient’s wife responded with "Amen." The patient, who had been watching me with a mixture of curiosity and surprise, nodded his head in silence, and then just smiled.
Dr. Tamar Earnest was a surgeon for
23 years in Allentown, PA, and is currently
enrolled in The Academy for Jewish Religion
as a rabbinic student. She earned 4 units
of CPE at the Jewish Institute for Pastoral
Care of The HealthCare Chaplaincy and
was part of the Compassionate Jewish
Leadership class (2004) at the JIPC
in New York City.
Do you have thoughts about spiritual development
you’d like to share with your colleagues?
Send an e-mail of any length to info@PlainViews.org.
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