Living Prayer

Kevin is resting. He went to work this morning then fell asleep here during his lunch.

He does feel much better. Weak as a kitten. Ravenously hungry though. He dropped around 20 pounds in just over a week. There is alot of healing for him to do, but he's coming along, he is healing.

Living bedside in someone's hospital room for 23 1/2 hours a day (30 minutes from hospital room to home to return to hospital) for 5 days gives you a lot of time to think. And since you're tired, worried and grouchy, the thoughts aren't necessarily of the kind and generous variety.

More often though--with a nod of thanks to a God who helps me prioritize after I bitch a little and stop to listen--my hospital middle of the night thoughts were about all of the prayers surrounding Kevin from so many directions. My family. (Heck, I had no idea some of them ever turned to prayer. None. I was astounded to hear it from them. And grateful.) Friends of friends. Friends of our daughters. People we aren't likely to ever meet. And their notes, emails and phone messages reiterating the ongoing work of that prayer.

St. Tom's--our parish in Indiana--celebrates each daily Mass for the intention of someone on the prayer list and Kevin was the Mass intention Wednesday. The gospel was about the healing power of Jesus. Our friend, Patrick, offered a prayer petitioning that healing power for Kevin and that, with God's will, we all move in life as witness to that healing. Deacon Patrick was there along with Joan and Bill.

And something incredible came together...Friends across the country coordinated their schedules to be in prayer at the same time as the mass. From Washington DC to Oregon, Florida up to Massachusetts...all of these people praying for the same effort at the same time.

It wasn't coordinated. It happened.

Some people were able to go to Mass near their home or work, some stopped work at their desk and spent the time praying the Rosary, a college class in Massachusetts paused for prayer even as friends gathered in West Lafayette to pray.

Inmates and the chaplain at a correctional facility in Washington state have been praying.

I am awed. Stunned at the life of this prayer effort.

And we are very appreciative of those prayers--the life, the thoughts, the effort and the faith which inspires them.

Thank you.