Dear James, gosh, I'm so glad for your comment! Thanks for weighing in. It's wonderful to hear about the experience from the "other side of the chair," so to speak. I should say that I then moved practices and experienced both a local dentist and endodotist that had very peaceful, non-intrusive presence and practices. It's great to be reminded that the healing intention and outcomes are real, thanks to thoughtful folks like yourself, with help from the Jesus Prayer!
My dear Mark, I resonate with your dental woes, as I have spent an inordinate amount of time in the dental chair in the last 14 or 15 months. I was going to lose an extraordinarily generous insurance 3 years after Philip's death and opted to have everything I could done before it lapsed. Anyway, I cannot tell you the lengths to which I went - the incantations, the mantras, the prayers I sent heavenward, the visualizations, etc. that I invoked to help me get through 5 root canals, 7 crowns (or was it 9?), an implant and God knows what else I endured. Headphones, meditation, oh, my. What an ordeal!
Thanks for these reflections Mark. I also find myself practicing the Jesus prayer in times of desperation, but do have a vivid and lasting memory of losing my sense of time and space as I repeated this simple inspired phrase in the manner of those who came before. It was on a hill in the Sinai under the immensity of the night sky there. Remember not wanting it to end, nor feeling the need for it to end.
Josh, thanks for this comment and that's amazing! You may know that one of the prominent monks who wrote about the Jesus Prayer was Gregory of Sinai, living for a time at Mt. Sinai! It sounds like you felt both the deep impact of the prayer and place.
I’m grateful for your sharing about the Jesus Prayer. I’ll share a personal reflection from the opposite side of the dental chair.
I work as a pediatric dentist and fully recognize the difficulty of the experience for most patients, regardless of their age.
I know that I, and many of my colleagues, feel great pressure during these appointments - always hoping for a comfortable and healing outcome.
I pray the Jesus Prayer throughout the majority of my workday, it’s been a powerful vehicle for grace in the midst of the day’s challenges.
So, whether you’re a patient or a provider, dentistry is pretty darn stressful and a strong catalyst for working with the Jesus Prayer!
Dear James, gosh, I'm so glad for your comment! Thanks for weighing in. It's wonderful to hear about the experience from the "other side of the chair," so to speak. I should say that I then moved practices and experienced both a local dentist and endodotist that had very peaceful, non-intrusive presence and practices. It's great to be reminded that the healing intention and outcomes are real, thanks to thoughtful folks like yourself, with help from the Jesus Prayer!
My dear Mark, I resonate with your dental woes, as I have spent an inordinate amount of time in the dental chair in the last 14 or 15 months. I was going to lose an extraordinarily generous insurance 3 years after Philip's death and opted to have everything I could done before it lapsed. Anyway, I cannot tell you the lengths to which I went - the incantations, the mantras, the prayers I sent heavenward, the visualizations, etc. that I invoked to help me get through 5 root canals, 7 crowns (or was it 9?), an implant and God knows what else I endured. Headphones, meditation, oh, my. What an ordeal!
Wow, Susann : you have much more experience in this realm than I do! Sounds horrible - but thank God for spiritual practices.
Thanks for these reflections Mark. I also find myself practicing the Jesus prayer in times of desperation, but do have a vivid and lasting memory of losing my sense of time and space as I repeated this simple inspired phrase in the manner of those who came before. It was on a hill in the Sinai under the immensity of the night sky there. Remember not wanting it to end, nor feeling the need for it to end.
Josh, thanks for this comment and that's amazing! You may know that one of the prominent monks who wrote about the Jesus Prayer was Gregory of Sinai, living for a time at Mt. Sinai! It sounds like you felt both the deep impact of the prayer and place.
Deborah, Thanks for sharing this amazing story of healing! Incredible - and wishing you well for your procedure coming up.