Prayer, illness, cure and insensitivity.

[Le Chat]

Several weeks ago my husband and I were out for dinner with a couple of friends. The husband of this couple, I have known for 30 years and his wife, for 14yrs, since they married.
She is a 'holier than thou' Catholic, who did not go to a friend's wedding (C of E) as it was not a 'proper' wedding. She mentions God in most sentences and of course the local priest, mass and the Virgin Mary get plenty of references. She had a very bigoted view of non-believers but I excused this as she was young when my friend met her and had had a trouble free life. I have found through the years that religious superiority is easily spouted when there is a lack of life experience. As soon as some family problems arrive like a family member being gay, the superiority tends to drown a little, as was the case.
So for quite a few years, she has been less bigoted, much more open minded and pleasant to be with.
At dinner, all the superiority was back!
She told my husband, who has MS that it is a manifestation of a blockage caused by his athiesim! He could unblock it and return to full recovery if he prayed to God. (Although not after a few drinks, as God would be insulted)
Needless to say, the night , for us couldn't be over quick enough.
Several weeks on, I find that her daughter (aged 12) has been ill since Jan with weakness and badly swollen legs. The specialists cannot find a cause but the poor girl is spending more and more time in bed.
What I cannot understand is how she could say that my husband's illness is caused by being an athiest, when her own daughter (who has been to Lourdes, for fun, and St Geminiamo in Italy on many pilgrimages) is now struck down with a mystery illness.
Obviously prayer hasn't worked for her!
I'm just spouting really, as I don't suppose there is any real question here!

[Le Chat]

Theland - In what form will the answer come? Do you have to have 3 messages of the same theme to know that you have your answer? Wll God talk to you the form of a dream, or will it be a reoccurance of say a phrase?
For example, You may see a headline in a paper " On the right track" talking about an ex railway employee, then you may hear this on TV during a film and then finally a friend may just happen to say it in converstion. Would this be enough to let you know that you have your message, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[Octavius]

It will probably be in the words of that irritating song that you hear first thing in the morning and end up humming all day long, to much annoyance. Something like that maybe?

If its a Mariah Carey song then its more likley to be a subliminal message from the devil. You have been warned.

[Theland1]

Le Chat - I make decisions in much the same way as you do. However, I pray for the wisdom to make a correct decision, for guidance.
The guidance will usually come through human agency or circumstances closing one door and opening others. There is also, sometimes, just a feeling that a decision is the right one to make. For example, before I finished up in my job, I could have taken sick leave, and been entitled to six months pay, then I could have left my job. But that simply felt wrong, and I made the decision to pack it in because of my health, and simply see what other doors would open for me. Already, I am appreciating the time off, and it is giving me the opportunity for reflection, and taking stock of my life.

[Theland1]

I still hate it when the postman calls!

[Le Chat]

Thank you Theland. Although I am agnostic I have 'tried 'in the past to become a Christian but it didn't work as I am unable to have the faith required, as essentailly I find it hard to believe in God, for all the reasons that people argue about in theses posts in R&S.
However, I do acknowledge that if you give up the descision making to God on a regular basis, it would lead to a perhaps less complicated and anxious lifestyle!

[Theland1]

We are not endowed with intrinsic faith, it is a gift of God.
Some people with faith fail to use it, others fail to ask for it.

[naomi24]

Theland, one thing that bothers me about your faith - and it's said with all due respect (of course). You worry the life out of yourself, but if you have such faith, why worry so much?

I've had lengthy conversations with you about your life, and I have more confidence in you succeeding than you do. It makes no sense.

[naomi24]

Sorry, another thought. Do you think it all boils down to a person's individual outlook on life? I don't have faith in your God, whereas you do. However, you seem to have a permanent cloud hanging above your head, but the word 'failure' doesn't appear in my vocabulary - so at the end of the day, is it really down to faith in your God - or is it down to us?

[Le Chat]

Theland - I have asked for it in the past - many, many times, believe me!

[naomi24]

Le Chat, it's self-delusion.

(I've been meaning to ask you, why aren't you La Chat?).

[figure]

I believe that most times when we asked for things, they are given to us. But, we fail to see it because we expect for it to come to us on a gold platter without us lifting a finger.

[naomi24]

Hi figure, I don't know what you believe, but do you ask?

[figure]

Hi Naomi! How are you?

- I am not religious, but spiritual and I do believe there is a higher and powerful entity in existance.

[figure]

sorry question got posted before I completed my answer.

Yes, I do ask but not for material things. Very rare I don't find my answer.

[naomi24]

I'm fine thanks, figure, and I hope you are too. I understand exactly what you mean, although I'm not sure there's a higher power or a spiritual entitly in existence, as in 'a being'. I have my doubts there - but I'm convinced there is a spiritual 'realm' (for want of a better word) - that being the whole universe probably. I think everything is interlinked somehow. Wish I knew how.

[naomi24]

figure, do you think you find your answers because you have a positive outlook - or do you really attribute it to some supernatural force?

[figure]

I'm an optimist who sees everything positivly. Mostly our lives are shaped on the choices we make. But, despite the wise choices we made and make in creating our path, sometimes the unexpected happens which we cannot control.

We can choose to give up or we can choose to keep going and turn the situation into a positive vs. a negative. We can spend our energy looking for positive solutions or we can waste our time focusing on the problem which is negative energy that will get us no where fast.

[Theland]

The book of Job illustrates how a man, stripped of all of his earthly possessions, family and friends, still clung to his God, in complete trust that what was happening, although painful, was not the final word.
He trusted God to deliver him from evil.

[naomi24]

figure, that's very well put. I totally agree.

Theland, Is there any point in remaining mentally in the doldrums while waiting for God to solve the problem? With a more positive outlook we may well see the issue in a different light and find the solution ourselves.

[Theland]

Yes, we have to do what we can and trust God to do the rest.