Post for Luke

When I think of God, or when I think of my "idea" of God, I have this beautiful picture in my mind of billions of people lifting up their faces to the sky. The best way I can explain what God means to me is this: when human spirit comes together and puts energy out into the universe as a collective, peaceful body...that is God.

I've always believed that if you really need God to hear you, ask others to pray with you. I've personally experienced the power of prayer when more than one voice reaches out. I wanted to share a special example of recent prayer power.

My friend, Jane emailed me on Thursday and said that she really needed my prayers. Her brother Luke, while living in China, was diagnosed with a rare malformation in the capillaries in his brain when he was brought to the hospital after having a seizure. It turns out that he had been hemorrhaging, and he was rushed into emergency brain surgery.

Jane was devastated, as well as her family, because her brother was so far away and in such a critical state. Luke survived surgery, and he was awake, but the doctors (who spoke only Chinese) were saying that Luke wouldn't be able to come home for months because flying was too dangerous. Jane's parents flew over to China, but they had little idea of what to expect.

Thankfully, Luke has been getting stronger and stronger every day, and it looks like he will be able to come home much sooner than everyone anticipated. Today, Jane told me about several "miracles" that happened because of prayer chains all over the world. There was a pastor who did not know Jane's family, but he heard about Luke through a prayer chain. He spoke Chinese, and he was able to contact Jane's family and help them get in touch with the hospital. Isn't that amazing?! A stranger was praying for Luke.

People all over the world have been putting their energy out into the universe in the name of Luke. God has responded with swift healing and nurturing, and Luke will rejoin his family in the US next week.

There have been several times in my life when I needed a prayer. Instead of baring the load alone, I turned to friends and family for their energy and strength. Their prayers combined with mine yielded peace, safety, health, and happiness. For this, I am truly thankful every day.

Keep Luke and Jane's family in your thoughts and prayers, please.

Strength in numbers,
Jess