DST’ED

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."– Franklin D. Roosevelt

My friend Betty died Friday about noon. Just that very morning in the newspaper there was an AP story, datelined New York and headlined “Study: Prayer may not help seriously ill.” The article summarized the results of a $2.4 million study that followed 1,800 patients at six medical centers. The study’s results will appear in the American Heart Journal on April 4, 2006.

According to the story,

In the largest scientific test of its kind, heart surgery patients showed no benefit when strangers prayed for their recovery.

And patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications. The researchers could only guess why.

The researchers emphasized that [they]…could not address whether God exists or answers prayers made on anothers behalf. The study could look only for effects from the specific prayers offered as part of the research, they said.

The highly anticipated study “did not move us forward or backward” in understanding the effect of prayer, said Dr. Charles Bethea, a co-author and cardiologist at the Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. “Intercessory prayer under our restricted format had a neutral effect.”

My friend Betty died Friday about noon. Her doctors were devastated not only by her death but also by their inability to know what caused her sudden illness or how to cure it. Her daughter was devastated because the natural therapies failed to save her. After one of Betty’s several rallies over the course of her seven-week hospitalization, another daughter said, “The doctors say it’s the steroids; my sister thinks it’s the vitamins and minerals; I think it is prayer.” Betty’s pastor—that would be me (I?)—grieves not only for the loss of a fine woman, talented artist, a dedicated church woman, and a faithful and generous disciple; I grieve also—in the word “grieves” root meaning—that I have been robbed at least one understanding of prayer. I generally put little stock in God research. Certainly, given my own experience, I’m not surprised.

So, taking the advice of FDR, I am trying something. I am trying the approach of a song in current play on country radio here in Casper.


Jesus take the wheel/Take it from my hands/ Cause I can't do this all on my own/ I'm letting go/ So give me one more chance/ To save me from this road I'm on /Jesus take the wheel

I’ve worked too much recently, I’m grieving and seeking to be a pastor to those who are also grieving, and I got the Daylight Savings Time spring forward, I lost an hour blues. Jesus take the wheel.

Lynn