Opening a Door

     Naperville has many places that offer wellness.  Besides Edward Hospital and allopathic medicine, there are many alternative health facilities.  These include Yoga instructors, chiropractic practitioners, massage therapists, acupuncturists, holistic healthcare centers, and a Christian Science Reading Room.

     Much of my life has been spent finding connections between prayer and health.   Some of the authors that have inspired me in this journey include Philip Keller, Ron Roth, Joel Osteen, Mary Baker Eddy, and Dr. Larry Dossey, M.D.  Dossey’s book “Prayer is Good Medicine” is one of my favorites.  Dossey talks about his surprise over finding some statistical support that praying can be a vital part of one’s healthcare.

     He quoted researchers from Spindrift, an organization which has developed experimental tests on the positive effects of prayer.  Former vice president of Spindrift, Deborah Rose, commented, “If we want to bring the ability to heal spiritually back into the world, we must make a place for it.  It is just like keeping a rare bird from becoming extinct.  You must do more than protect the bird.  You must protect and expand its habitat.  We must make a place in the world for spiritual healing.”

     Making a place for spiritual healing begins with opening a door.  We must open thought to the acceptance that prayer can be beneficial in the healing of the body.  Even a small opening is important.  A recent Dr. Oz program interviewed an anesthetist whose practice of medicine included prayer.  Dr. Oz commented more than once, “We are opening a door here.”

      Opening doors is valuable.  I have found spiritual healing to be a viable means of healthcare.  Family members and I have found that prayer healed headaches, fevers, back pain and flu.  A book I read regularly, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, opens the door for me.  I read it with my Bible, and find prayer to be a reliable source of health maintenance, as well as healthcare.       

     Dossey is right.  Prayer is good medicine.  Opening doors for its acceptance will help the practice of spiritual healing grow, and open doors of spiritual advancement for all of us.