OT splainin'

Ooh, yes, please! I'll take one Thank-ee, and an extra large Margarootle, extra salt and a dishy footman!

Glad you're mending! No need to thank us, really. Remember we're a network by our own volition. What affects you affects me, both the good stuff and the bad. And that quote-I-can't-remember about how shared joy multiplies, while shared trouble reduces? It's perfectly true. We bask in the light of our friends, even the cyber-light. I know for a fact that it's not even necessary to tell you my troubles to feel a calming presence. Reading the ng every day keeps all of you in my thoughts, just as I am sure to be in all of yours. Thanks! Roberta in D

Howdy! Welcome home, RZ!

SHE'S BAAACK!!

Roberta & I "did" Fort Worth lightly the other day, finished w/ a glass of cold tea and a lonnnnng talk. Met Roberta's lovely older daughter; she does quilt shops, too. Now let's talk Roberta into Houston 20-0-4 !

Ragmop/Sandy--leaving the charming thoughts from the original post

Is that one of those words you give to your kids and tell them to make as many 4 letter and above words out of it? With a prize for the longest they can come up with?

I can get "copyshop" for 8...

Suzie B

-- "From the internet connection under the pier" Southend, UK

Nurse Ratched, ain't it enough she had gallbladder surgery? Now you're gonna afflict her with esophagogastroduodenoscopy? I am in reasonably good health -- at least out of the hospital--and it is too much for me!

Nell in Austin

I agree. I'd love to see the reports for these studies.

-- Teresa in Colorado snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net

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Howdy! I neither know for a fact nor worry about whether it's scientifically proved that prayer increases healing. However, there are some reputable groups researching this issue:

and so on, and so on. As a scientist yourself, you know that some people will study anything. In this case, it's more than just vague theory and opinion. Many of these studies include clinical tests, analyzing data, testing, researching, and studying the results. As you yourself have stated many time that you're not "a believer" in this area. I accept that. However, for those who are, keep up the good work. Often it's Faith that produces Action. ;-) Ragmop/Sandy--I'm a little addicted to on-line search engines

Thanks, Ragmop, for finding all those links. I knew I had seen some articles on the connection between prayer and healing and was going to do a search, but I had to leave for a meeting and didn't have time. You found some good ones!

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The question of the day is - and this is probably one that none of us can answer - does the prayer increase the patients chances of survival because of divine intervention or just because the patient BELIEVES that he has a better chance of survival?

We all have different beliefs on this one (and I'd be happy to compare notes in heaven later on, hopefully - I have no guarantees that I won't be going in the other direction, but I'm trying to be good ) and I am quite willing to listen to everyone's beliefs - the world would be BORING if we all believed the same thing!!!! As long as beliefs are not dictated to me, I'll listen.

I believe that God is a busy being - very busy (hopefully creating new worlds and beings for us to visit someday) - and doesn't always give his full attention to the needs of every single individual. Like the song says "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." I think that he intervenes from time to time (Way to go Mo!), but for the most part, we are on our own.

I also believe that our minds are much more powerful than we give them credit for and are capable of more than we do in a normal day. Believing that we will survive is a powerful medicine. Never underestimate yourself!

Like I said, I know that my beliefs won't be shared by everyone and I don't expect them to be - I respect your beliefs too!

Thanks, Shelly and others, for the chance to THINK about something - thinking is good.

-- Teresa in Colorado snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net