Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Chaplain-in-training
Every October, on this third weekend of the month, a group of people from 4 Unity churches in the area gather together for an evening and a full day of training. We have something in common in that we are each Prayer Chaplains at our respective churches. Each year there are familiar faces and sometimes some new faces. Between us we have years of experience of receiving prayer requests and answering them on the spot.
This will be my fourth year in this endeavor. Some have been chaplains for over 10 years. Two of the group are “newbies” this year. Last night I thought back to my first training, when I wondered if I would ever be able to pray spontaneously with another person. My first few attempts felt very awkward as I searched for the right words to offer – words intended to bring comfort to the petitioner. People ask for prayer for so many reasons. A congregant might be asking for solace after a loss, prosperity in tough economic times, a request for healing for oneself or another. Each request is gently moved from their lips to a Prayer Chaplain’s heart.
That’s one of the first things we learn: how to leave our heads and take an 18 inch journey from head to heart. If I pray from my head, I am tempted to counsel, or try to offer a “fix-it” solution. Praying from the heart, that place in me where God resides, I call upon God to send words through me to another person, and those words are spoken in a truly spiritual way.
Four years into this and I no longer feel a tightness in my stomach when a congregant approaches me before or after our service. I watch the person come near me and try to read their unspoken body language. Sometimes there are already tears starting, sometimes there is joy around them. I take a deep breath to find my heart space and prepare for this sacred communication. I clear my head and literally feel the energy moving to my chest where my heart resides. It’s hard to explain this, but I feel warmth around my heart.
I’ve had prayer requests for pets, for people, for solutions to a variety of problems. As chaplains we don’t offer solutions. Rather, we ask God or Spirit to restore or enhance each person’s inner strength. Unity believes that we each have everything we need within to live a healthy, prosperous and loving life. Sometimes the words of a prayer help to remind the petitioner of the power that resides with them.
In order to do this, we have to listen very carefully to the words of the prayer request. It’s called listening lovingly to what is being said, and to be aware of how it’s being said. Creating a sacred space in which to pray means paying careful attention to the person whose hands we are holding, (if they are ok with that). Regardless of the request, there is no judgement in this space. We call upon a loving God or on the energy of Spirit to receive the request and the prayer.
In the beginning, I had to remind myself as I was being approached that I have everything I need within to be able to offer meaningful prayer. The amazing part is how words flow easily and are released without effort. It’s as though I am simply a vessel through which God is communicating.
Anything that is said to us is held in strictest confidence, unless there is a concern of harm to self or to others. This promise is sacrosanct and we make sure the congregants know that. If we need to pass something on to our Minister, Jan, we get permission to do so after the prayer.
When all is said and done, as chaplains we release the prayer to God, where it truly belongs. We clear mind and heart in preparation for the next sweet soul that comes to us. It is an honor.