Praying with The Deaf
Too often we pray for and to the people around us
rather than to and for God
At some point in the Marvel movies, ‘normal’ humans begin to question if the Avengers, who are all well-meaning, are causing more harm than good in fighting bad guys, leaving a wake of destruction and death in their combatting paths. Pretty soon, this moral dilemma even divides our heroes into two warring factions, one led by Iron Man and the other by Captain America.
Today our team visited an orphanage for deaf children. I can anticipate your sorrow. “On Monday you saw bed and wheelchair bound orphans. Today it’s deaf children. I’m not sure I want to hear any more.” I know. It’s a lot. But it’s worse. They’re displaced deaf orphans moved out of the warring East to the semi-safety of the West. But it’s all war-torn. And in reality, there’s no safe place on earth. But that’s the state of the whole world isn’t it; warring with God. broken, hurting, painful. I want to turn away also. There’s only so much a human heart can endure.
But if you’ll stop to think about it, these orphanages are a reflection of the real world, as much as we want to ignore or deny it. All humans are conceived disabled and deaf. We are born far from God, on the wrong path - to Hell and not Heaven - unable to get to Him who alone is the source of abundant and eternal life. We are also unable to hear God’s saving voice warning us of danger and calling us to the safety of himself. There are two strikes against us. Death will be the third, sending us, not back into the dugout for another at-bat in the next inning but to eternal destruction beyond human comprehension.
Acknowledging our disability and deafness reminds us of our dependence on grace, the Holy Spirit and the intercession of others. We are each in need of that triad of divine love.
And so, with permission from the orphanage Administrator, the doctors traveling with our team prayed over each patient after performing a well check. “Praying with deaf children!” you may ask. “What’s the point?” But that’s exactly the point. Too often we pray for and to the people around us and not to/for God. (How often has the fear of others inhibited your public prayers?)
Praying with the deaf may be the sincerest form of prayer. After all, a deaf child is not impressed with our eloquence. Then again, neither is God. And a deaf child cannot heal herself. Not even a physician can do that. Only Jesus can save the world as it needs to be saved. And that’s why visit, to share the good news. And that’s why we pray. To effect God’s will on earth, as it’s done in Heaven. Because in the end, there are some things even well-meaning superheroes can’t do.
- Reggie Weems


