Group Hug...

So tonight, after a much needed nap, I went over to Moms house. Both her and my grandfather are getting surgery tomorrow and they asked some people from church to come by and pray for them. Group prayers like these are all too few IMO, though perhaps I am not one to talk as this was the first I ever attended. Anyway, I realized that this was entirely for the purpose of prayer and fellowship so I tried to be somewhat prepared. Im my mind I had thought up several, well spoken, things to say or pray. Not that I like the idea of pre-packaged prayers all that much, but it would be better to have an idea then and be more confident than the times back when I would not plan and be to afraid to try at all. So I got there and the room was full of wonderfull people from the Chambershill United Methodist. I said hi and when the last couple showed up we formed a circle around Mom. Everyone laid a hand on her and someone started the praying. I must say it is something else to be standing next to people who have been built up in their prayer lives. Some of these people are prayer warriors who had obviously been through the gauntlet, so to speak, a few times. I waited my turn which ended up being last. I wasn't sure I was going at all as they had covered much of what I had planned. Still, I added my two cents not quiet as I had planned which is not to say that it was not good and someone closed. In text it is hard to describe such an event. It is simply to say that the room was filled with more than people. I hope you know that feeling.

I think they thought I came cause I was worried about them and I didn't have the heart to tell them otherwise. That and I didn't realy want the strange looks as they process the statement. Truth is I am not worried in the normal sence of "will it be ok" and "will it work out". Don't get me wrong I don't want anything bad to happen to my family or friends but when it does happen that doesn't mean it is out of control. It just means that it was always out of "our" control. I always picture it realted to teh opening of the simpsons cartoon show on FOX (if you''ve seen it). At one point their is a little girl in the passenger seat with what looks like a drivers wheel adn she is stearing the car, or so it seems. In the next scene the camera pulls back and reveals the real driver of the car. The little girl who is but 2-3 years old thinks she is driveing but isn't. We are the little girl in the car. The best she can hope for is to pay attention to the real driver to see figure out which way she should turn her wheel too.

No, I came because I believe in prayer and I know that a large part of my families do as well. Though I admittedly still strugle with the very concept/nature of intercessory prayer with God I realize it works. It has effected me and those around me over the years in such a postitive, if not always easy to see, way that I can't help but give thanks for the chance to continue. Unfortunatly it is, as stated earlier, very hard to explain in terms of sentences without loosing the deeply moving feeling of such communion. It is also to simple to say that "it works", but I am not sure what the midle ground is right now so I'll stop.

At any rate, I am better for the experiance and I am glad to see the support that they have from everyone. It is good to see that, in people who are belivers at least, their is often a sence of peace over matters like this to varying degrees. Plus I got dinner, a bag of golfballs, and a slick new hat. Weeeeeeeeeeee!