THE AWESOME POWER OF PRAYER - PART II

Gary

By Bob Connor

Even if you have lived in Houston, Texas only a short period of time, you know that we have two major weather-related problems - the heat of the "dog days" of August and flooding. Yes, we are fortunate that we do not have problems with earthquakes, wildfires ignited by lightening, or mudslides (there's nothing for the mud to slide down!).

The heat in July and August is a matter of celestial fortune for which there is no cure but for fleeing the city on vacation to cooler climates or staying indoors in the comforting breeze of the A/C. The flooding problem is one that - although solutions are possible and some limited ones have been implemented - seems to defy a final solution.

No Houstonian who was here in 2001 can forget that infamous and unsolicited venture of Houston into waterworld known as "Allison." It was during one of these all too frequent floods that Gary was struggling with his car in murky high water. At that time, unknown to all but the villain itself, he was bitten by that small, pesky creature known by the innocuous name of "mosquito."

Normally, such an attack results in nothing more than an "itchy bump." The treatment is to control your urge to scratch it, and to put some soothing medication on it to kill the itch. However, if the mosquito is infected with the virus known as *West Nile*, it can be life threatening.

West Nile Virus has different effects on humans - some more severe than others. The height of the outbreak in the United States was in the years 2002-2003 during which there were 548 confirmed deaths from the disease. I believe that Gary had a severe case of the disease, and his life was in danger.

I went to visit him in the hospital. He had just been moved to a room where he was being watched very intensively. There was a hospital staff person sitting right by his bed and another just outside of his room. He was not conscious, and I was told that his body functions were shutting down. Things looked very bad for him.

There was no purpose in lingering there, and I instantly decided to put to use the most powerful weapon that I had to minister to him. I was going to pray.

The elevator took me down to the lobby to search for the chapel. Of course, a person can pray anywhere, but being in a chapel or church makes me feel closer to the Creator and Master Healer, and words of prayer come more freely.

The lobby was strangely vacant, and there was no one to ask directions of; but, I did find the chapel. It was locked. Well, I was at a loss. I had never before found a locked chapel in a hospital. People started to come through the lobby. I needed privacy to speak with God.

There was a row of pay telephone booths along one wall. I entered one and closed the door. I had my privacy. Holding a crucifix in my hands, I began to pray for my friend Gary - in the pay telephone booth. You may be old enough to remember the role that telephone booths played in the early Superman series. I am not Superman, but I was calling on super powers to help my friend.

Later, I would tell his brother and others that I feared for my friend's life. I was pessimistic about his chances. I did not know how my prayers would be answered. However, Gary was soon out of the hospital. That was several years ago, and he leads a normal life today.

I believe that God always answers prayers. We do not always or even often receive the answer that we want since His perspective on things is far more universal than ours - but this time I did.

"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind."

Psalm107:19-21.

Bob Connor is a continuing education teacher at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. You can reach him at bobconn@earthlink.com