“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” – Matthew 7:7
Flying to San Francisco was an experiment to see if it is feasible to travel with my mobility scooter. The traveling itself was no problem. Airport and airline personnel were — to a person — helpful. The weather, of course, is another issue. But you can prepare for that.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the Uber ride back to the airport. The car radio was tuned to a talk radio program. I asked what it was and the driver said it was a Christian program about the power of prayer. Eventually the driver asked why I used the scooter. My answer — Parkinson’s disease — led him to ask if he could pray for me when we got to the airport.
I accepted this moment may be especially powerful. Maybe — just maybe — something was “supposed” to happen in that moment. So I agreed.
The car in front of us had a lot of luggage needing to be unloaded. We couldn’t move. So he began to pray. He rebuked the disease, commanded every vestige of the disease to leave and never come back. He called on the name of Allah, Abba, Elohim, El-Shaddai, Yahweh, Jehovah and Adonai.
It was the most intense, powerful prayer I had ever witnessed. This man was sincere. Of that there was no doubt.
We finally reached the curb. As I got out he suggested I try something which had been a challenge and then I would know I had been healed. I did and I wasn’t.
Then I began to think. What is ‘healing?’ Does it mean I would be sixteen again? Does it mean never experiencing physical problems till the day I die?
Or is it possible ‘healing’ means something else? Like gaining insight into the lives of those with ‘disabilities?’ My sense is that Bible stories of healing or getting what we want are, ultimately, stories about people being empowered to help others deal with difficult issues. In the dusty villages of Palestine or the crowded streets of San Francisco. So go out into the world asking, searching and knocking. Spirit will be with you.
Prayer: Gracious God, help us find and celebrate the moments of grace wherever they appear. Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rev. Ross W. B. Putnam was ordained forty years ago in his hometown of Lyme, New Hampshire. He served churches in Indiana, Connecticut, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and California. He self-published a book of original poems and art called “An April Shower of Poems.” He is now writing a second book of poetry — this time about Parkinson’s disease with which he has been dealing for about twelve years.
Healing is one of the devotionals written in honor of Disability Awareness Month 2017.
