The Big Question

“I have benefitted greatly from friends, mentors and teachers who have various healing ministries.

“Healing is interwoven throughout my daily life and I have experienced betterment physically, emotionally and spiritually during fifty years of joy and heartbreak.

“My inner and outer work which involves personal and spiritual development has enabled me to offer some of what I have learned to others. Celebrating communion with a healing intention, hands on prayer, anointing by candlelight, energy distance healing, ‘Enneagram’ and meditation, therapeutic sounding and pastoral care are some of the healing ministries I have experienced and worked in. I discovered that no-one can heal anyone else and realised that I am fully responsible for my own health and wellbeing. I am referring here to the ‘Big I’ rather than the ‘Little I’ or ego self.

“My awareness of the healing presence of the Christ within me (the ‘Big I’) and the angelic beings and loved ones who always surround me has grown. Often I receive a whisper or subtle nudge reminding me to ask for help and guidance. I have found that living a life defined by healing requires patience, discipline, grace and compassion towards myself and others. Letting go of the ‘blame game’ and asking questions such as: ‘What do I have to learn from this person or situation?’ has been transformative. Rather than judging, feeling guilty or blaming, I have been taught to send myself and all of my teachers healing love, blessings, forgiveness and thanks from the Christ within me.”

“Over the years, I have come to understand the phrase, ‘spiritual healing’, as divine healing from God. To me, it is the ministry of prayer for healing, and this we do in the name of Jesus.

“Many years ago, during Holy Week, I attended a service of prayer for healing at St Mary’s Monastery, in Perth. Redemptorist Priest, Fr Jim McManus, led the service which included a Bible reading, a sermon and an invitation to go forward to receive a blessing for the healing of memories.

“Being a survivor of several childhood traumas, I still felt confined by certain memories, even although what happened was not my fault.

“Fr Jim prayed for me, blessed me and anointed me. That prayer for healing removed unhelpful obstacles which stood in my way of complete recovery.

“My absolute willingness to abandon my right of hatred and resentment towards those who unjustly injured me, moved an almighty weight from deep within my heart during that service and it has not returned. I truly felt at peace with the oil of gladness and experienced an abundance of joyful tears.

“No longer confined by past memories, that healing spirit of joy from the Lord remains with me in abundance as I continue to be inspired by the words in Psalm 16:11 ‘You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure for ever.’”

“In the 1970s I began training in Naturopathy, or Natural Healing, and worked in this area in the years before ‘diet and exercise’ became fashionable. As well as physical factors there were always emotional and ethical aspects to consider as well, and much healing was experienced. Millions of miracles occur in our bodily processes every day.

“But as the years moved on I began to feel the lack of a spiritual element and found myself drawn to Diaconal ministry which opened up a whole new dimension of healing for me.

“My minister around this time, the Rev David Whyte, introduced me to the healing ministry of Cameron Peddie (“The Forgotten Talent”) and Healing Rooms, and a final placement at Holy Trinity, Wester Hailes, further opened my eyes to the realm of spiritual healing which seemed to have taken a back seat in the Kirk in contemporary times.

“As my personal faith and insight matured, I began to realise that I had issues of my own which physical and emotional approaches alone were not addressing and I was directed to a very compassionate and experienced Church of Scotland minister.

“Over two visits we shared discussion, silence, listening, Scripture, prayer and (significantly) Holy Communion and I came away uplifted each time, though with no feeling of an ‘instant fix.’

“Years later as I reflected, I realised that a spiritual ‘healing of my heart’ had taken place gradually yet powerfully after these visits and this sense of restoration has never left me.”

“My husband John and I have experienced spiritual healing, and our lives have been redirected on a journey with God that has been enriching and humbling.

“I lost both parents by age four, then several aunts and uncles, leaving me with a fear of dying and of losing those nearest and dearest to me.

“It paralysed my emotions, making me anxious or angry.

“Everything had to be perfect – not always a very nice person.

“During a prayer retreat thirty years ago, some lovely people prayed for the love of Christ to heal my hidden pain.

“The result over the next six months was startling.

“The fear of ‘death and dying’ was gone, along with the anger and anxiety that had restricted my living.

“I knew a depth of peace which, through life’s joys and sorrows, has never left me.

“God touched me with his healing and I discovered a new freedom to live for him. “Spiritual healing touches the heart and soul with the grace of God in Christ’s love, and he renews us by his Spirit.

“During the ensuing years of receiving healing, and praying for healing for others, I have grown closer to God and see his love in others.

“Since a stroke in October 2017, I have been sustained through an unexpected change of lifestyle, by God’s peace, and the love and support of John, family, and friends.

“A healing gift from Christ.”

“When asked to pray for someone for their healing, we point out that we may pray now but we don’t know when the healing will result. Experience has taught us to leave that to God.

“As a student I fell il and suffered from post-viral fatigue for a very long time. My friend Steve decided that he would pray for me daily for a few minutes, and my wife, Marianne joined us. Nothing happened and I finished my degree though still not well.

“Marianne and I went to Southern Sudan, but I continued to be low on energy. I knew I was better and could function, but it was hard work.

“On Easter Sunday, after 1 1/2 years in Sudan, I suddenly knew that I was well. My energy returned. I knew it was in answer to the prayers two and half years earlier. I have never doubted the connection.

“Recently I woke up feeling absolutely terrible: my head was in a fog, my sense of direction blurred.

“I looked up and said: ‘Help, I don’t understand what is going on, but please help me, Lord.’

“Later that day I met with a colleague and shared my sense of aimlessness. I asked him to pray for me.

“At our evening prayer the group shared the reading of the liturgy for the night. Then it was my turn to read: ‘Lord, you have always marked the road for the coming day; and though it may be hidden, today I believe.’

“Those words lifted a burden off my back. And, yes, ‘Though it may be hidden today, I believe.’”