Evangelist
Hey - I have spastic diplegia and a visual impairment. Someone I know has discovered God, and thinks I should pray to be healed. I find this very difficult. I'm used to evangelists in the street saying this - I can't get out of their way all that fast - but no one I know has done it before. I explained that I didn't want to be healed, but I'm not sure she could understand this. She said she had wanted to be healed from her mental health problem. I've had mental health problems in the past and understand wanting them to get better, but I don't think cerebral palsy is the same thing. I'm fit and well and mostly happy - I just have some unusual brain lesions but my life is quite good and I'm doing a Phd and have a partner and am mostly in a good place. I'm not sure how to deal with the evangelism nicely. She used to be a good friend, but I think this is quite a big gap. I wish she could accept me as I am. How can I react well? I understand that this is an expression of concern for me, but it hurts. A real miracle would be if everywhere was accessible and everyone could accept cerebral palsy without turning a hair. Lots of people can. Any polite ideas? Not sure how to react. Cheers. Nuala
Hi Nuala
I have had this too - a friend is a Baptist and they always want to pray for my 2 year old son Tom's recovery but I just tell her that I don't believe that if there is a God he/it has that kind of control - that if I were to believe in a higher power, its one that that made the world like a clockmaker makes clocks. Basically he just wound it up and let it go on it's merry way. If our God has that kind of control why do kids die or good people have bad things happen? If God had that kind of control then would my son either have to received brain damage in the first place or been healed without the need for prayer? Just tell her that you value her friendship but don't subscribe to her beliefs.
Maria x
The couple of times I have this from strangers were both awkward enough - I'm not sure I can fully imagine what it must be like from friends but here goes:
Perhaps debating the nature of god and his choice to make you disabled is the wrong approach entirely. Taking theology with believers, particularly devote ones is a bit of a brick way. Try just telling them that you're happy and that really, that's all you feel you can ask from god or life in general? Hopefully the approach from within their world view will land better.
Alternatively I'd echo Ronnie's comments just explain that you aren't religious and would not be comfortable being prayed for.
I'm an adult with CP and a Christian. I would suggest that people who are asking to pray for you to be "healed" without getting to know you and engage with you about the process of preying are naïve at best, and are misguided.
I often point out that I’m happy being disabled and accepted it a long time ago, perhaps they should prey for understanding of how to form relationships with disabled people, without expecting a miracle!
Thanks guys, that's helpful and thank you for making me laugh chelskipete,
I have been in this situation before, and the nicest thing I can think of to say to them is that I respect that they want to believe in god but its not for me and I would appreciate it if they didnt pressure me into it.
Hope this helps
Ronnie