World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day

Prayer

Compassionate God,

As a ministry of healing, we desire to become more effective in identifying and responding to the mental health needs of those we serve, and also of those with whom we serve, our associates and colleagues. Help us on this World Mental Health Day, to renew our commitment to listen lovingly to each person we encounter, that we might serve them well in body, mind, and spirit. Amen.

Reflection “To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, but to live gratitude is to touch heaven.” –Johannes A. Gaertner Prayer Generous love, We pray for the grace to be civil and courteous in all our dealings, even in moment

Prayer

Generous love,

We pray for the grace to be civil and courteous in all our dealings, even in moments that would otherwise tempt us to be just as rude and unpleasant as the one who confronts us. Even and especially then, empower us to use our words in ways that build-up a culture of gratitude and thanksgiving, so that a generosity of spirit will become more the norm. May we live gratitude in such a way that, in our own small ways, we see your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Reflection “Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and

Prayer

Guardian of peace,

In this moment of prayer and unity, we implore you to guard our hearts and minds from anxiety and fear. For the patients and families we serve, let our service give them support and encouragement in the trials they face. For the colleagues who share this good work with us, may each of us be filled with a peace beyond understanding, that we might spread your goodness with love and compassion. In all thanksgiving, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.” –Carl Sagan Prayer God over all, The religious tradition that informs our ministry has always affirmed the harmony between fai

Prayer

God over all,

The religious tradition that informs our ministry has always affirmed the harmony between faith and science, encouraging us to investigate as far as we can the world you have made. We do so gladly, not despite our spirituality but precisely because of it! Fill us today with wonder at what the good world you created offers, so that our science and our research will become extensions of our worship. As we strive to improve the health and well-being of all, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “If you cannot be positive then at least be quiet.” –Joel Osteen Prayer Word of life, Many of us were taught that if we have nothing good to say we do well to stay silent. It’s not bad advice! And we all know the dif

Prayer

Word of life,

Many of us were taught that if we have nothing good to say we do well to stay silent. It’s not bad advice! And we all know the difference between voicing real concerns that need to be addressed and simply polluting the atmosphere with our unhinged negativity. So if it’s time for us to remain quiet, help us to do so. Even better, encourage us to become more conscientious in the way we speak. May we discover each day how to speak truth in love, to speak life, and to lace our words with sincere and constructive positivity. Amen.

Reflection “In examining disease, we gain wisdom about anatomy and physiology and biology. In examining the person with disease, we gain wisdom about life.” –Oliver W. Sacks Prayer Personal God, As we strive to extend your healing

Prayer

Personal God,

As we strive to extend your healing compassion in the world today, we boldly ask you to bless us with greater skill and wisdom in treating the diseases that rob so many of wholeness. At the same time, we pray you would bless us with the even more creativity and insight, that we might integrate all we have learned within the whole-person approach to care that makes us unique. May we see our patients and their families in all their depth and learn from their wisdom, even as we commit to providing the highest quality care. Amen.

Reflection “Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping.” –Thich Nhat Hanh Prayer Gracious rest, We run in so many ways and in so many directions. From the past and from our mistakes and almost aways just to mak

Prayer

Gracious rest,

We run in so many ways and in so many directions. From the past and from our mistakes and almost aways just to make it through the busyness of our days. Yet whatever our reasons, help us to find the healing rest that comes from learning to stop. Stopping so we can live more fully within each precious moment we’ve been given. For the sake of those we have the privilege of serving as much as ourselves, help us all grow deeper in the peace that comes from truly being here, now. Amen.