On a Wing and a Prayer

I had worked and planned hard for this moment. I was setting off on my favorite beach walk. I had not planned on a painful left knee, despite the fact that it had been grumbling. But I was determined to get a few precious miles in, come hell or high water. And hell it was! I hobbled along, cursing my knee. I soon realized I was contracted, angry, frustrated, resistant, and miserable.

I tried adjusting the alignment of my legs, hips, and feet. I examined the balance of the body. Nothing was helping. I soon recognized that I was targeting my knee with all the negativity that was in my head and heart. Out of any better ideas, I decided to direct love, kindness, and gratitude to the hardworking joint. It couldn't hurt.

The Hawaiian healing prayer (Ho'oponopono) popped into my mind, thankfully. I hadn’t thought about it in a decade or more. I tried it. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.” At first, I just repeated it to the knee like a mantra. I could feel it improve a little with each step. Or more likely, I improved a little with each step. Then I elaborated the prayer, such as:

I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all the ways and times I have neglected you, ignored and resisted your feedback, pushed you beyond your comfort, expected too much of you, judged you harshly.

Please forgive me. I promise to treat you better. I will listen closer to your wisdom. I will respond quicker to your feedback. If need be, I will get help from more knowledgeable sources. I will honor you and your needs more than my ego and its needs.

Thank you. I’m grateful because I know you already forgive me as I feel you relax, as I, too, relax. I’m grateful that you support me willingly, dependably, and without judgement. You’re always there for me, performing your job and supporting my every step. You know exactly how to function. You provide constant and complete support as best as you can, under so many adverse circumstances of my creation. You’re always ready to serve to the best of your and my ability.

I love you. I love you, knee. I can’t live my life fully without you, nor would I ever want to. I want to treat you as well as you treat me, with mutual kindness, appreciation, gentleness, and love.

And so, I walked the beach in constant prayer, comfort and gratitude. The knee responded well. It felt like it knew how to fix itself, in a supportive environment. Now, every time the knee twinges, as it does, I start the prayer.

While results may vary depending on the origin of the discomfort, it feels better to pray for healing than to curse the pain. The body and nervous system, like the mind and emotions, respond more readily to loving support than to negative, stressed out messages.

During this brief opportunity to engage in the world and all its adventures, I love and appreciate the body that carries me along. I may as well act that way.