The Prayer-Chiropractic Analogy

Yesterday's post was about prayer.  (Please check that out first.)

Because similarly, I have noticed:

Some get adjusted on a regular basis.  It's a habit.

And some get adjusted many, many times throughout their life.  Spinal alignment is an ongoing, constant process towards achieving better health.  Chiropractic has become more than a habit... receiving spinal adjustments has become a wellness addiction of sorts.  A necessary part of life.

Others get adjusted more infrequently.  Once in a great while, usually when the pains of life get too tough to bear on their own.  Adjustments for them are remembered only during times of suffering.  No pain, no chiropractic is needed.

Despite the frequency patterns of chiropractic we have developed in our life, there is a basis of faith behind it all, regardless.  Those who get their spines adjusted whether once a week, once a month, or even once a year, see their chiropractor because they believe there is a correlation between an aligned spine and a properly functioning nervous system.  Which is essential to a happy, healthy life.

A person who considers chiropractic to be quackery, of course, will never get adjusted.

Someone who hopes that chiropractic might work and hopes that a chiropractor might help them during their struggles, may get adjusted during the hard times.

But when that hope turns to faith and that faith approaches knowledge, chiropractic becomes a powerful connection between the Universal Intelligence and the Innate Intelligence.  A help and a blessing.

Prayer

Some pray everyday.  It's a habit.

And some pray many, many times throughout the day.  Talking with God is an ongoing, constant dialogue of gratitude and supplication.  Prayer has become more than a habit... communication with the Lord has become a spiritual addiction of sorts.  A necessary part of life.

Others pray more infrequently.  Once in a great while, usually when the pains of life get too tough to bear on their own.  Prayers for them are remembered only during times of suffering.  No pain, no prayer is needed.

Despite the frequency patterns of prayer we have developed in our life, there is a basis of faith behind it all, regardless.  Those who pray whether once a day, once an hour, or even once a year, pray because they believe there is One who is listening.  And cares.

An atheist, of course, will never pray.

Someone who hopes that there is a God and hopes that God might help them during their struggles, may pray during the hard times.

But when that hope turns to faith and that faith approaches knowledge, prayer becomes a powerful connection between heaven and earth.  A help and a blessing.

A Thanksgiving Suggestion

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.

--Cicero

For those of us who pray, may I humbly suggest that sometime between now and the turkey feast, we take pause to get on our knees and thank God.

But might we make this prayer a little different, perhaps, than our usual prayers.  Might we forgo our requests, our pleadings, our supplications this one time and instead simply just offer up only our thanks.

That we pray a Thanksgiving prayer where we ask the Lord for nothing, but instead spend this time exclusively on counting blessings with a grateful heart.

And to take our time when doing so.  Because if we truly wish to deliberately identify every blessing, every miracle which our God has bestowed, how much time is needed to do our acknowledgement and praise justice?

Five minutes?  Fifteen?  An hour?

And after the "amen", may we arise and feel more full and more satisfied than we did on any previous Thanksgiving occasion-- in the heart, not the belly!

The Church of Chiropractic

I don't know if this is the honest truth or a false rumor. Either way, I won't mention any names.

I've been told that a certain chiropractor in Hawaii has built a prayer room in his clinic.

Sounds righteous, yeah?

Except one of the main purposes of this room, it seems, is to help close the sale.  When patients are hesitant or reluctant to commit a payment for a year's worth of chiropractic care, they are invited to enter the prayer room and ask God to reveal His will to them concerning the matter.  Because chiropractic is so important, so right, the doctor knows these patients will emerge from the room enlightened, ready to sign on the dotted line, and eager to hand over the credit card.

If they come out of the prayer room still unsure, well, maybe they just didn't pray hard enough for an answer.

All I can say about this is:

chiropractic should center around the adjustment.

Not the manipulation.