Near Life's End

More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of -Alfred, Lord Tennyson The seriously ill feel a great need for the comfort of prayer. Yet often they find that traditional prayers aren't as satisfying as they once were. Thoughts wander. Medication dulls the mind. Pain makes it hard to focus. They feel that God is distant and unconcerned about them. Perhaps they have prayed for a healing and gotten nothing but bad news from nurses and doctors. Will anything help in this time of distress and discouragement? Many patients find their answer in the breath prayer. This simple way to pray helps them focus their thoughts and stay in closer touch with God. This prayer is nothing that is taught. Rather it is the prayer within-the prayer that we each discover for ourselves. The discovery is made by going through a few simple steps wherein we visualize God asking: "(Your name), what do you want? " Our answer might be a single word, a phrase, or a short sentence. Whatever the response, it becomes the heart of our prayer. Some typical breath prayers would be "Let me know your peace, O God"; "My Shepherd, let me "Jesus, let me feel your love." rest in thee" This ancient way of praying takes its name from the Hebrew word ruach, which can be translated as "wind, "breath" or "spirit." The ruach of God is breathed into all living things. Because this way of praying reminds us that we share God's breath, and because the prayer can be said so effortlessly and naturally, it is known as the breath Prayer. Sharing the Breath Prayer If you have been given this book by a spiritual caregiver, the ill person you are worried about has probably been helped to discover a breath prayer. Although that prayer is very personal, many patients choose to share their prayer with friends and family. It is a way to pray not just for but with that person.