Facebook and the power of prayer

I originally wrote this article in the early morning hours Tuesday, Oct. 18. There was a delay in publication which I've come to believe was divine intervention. It would have been tragically inappropriate for this to be published Tuesday because the little girl in the article, Lily Gomes, passed into another life the next day. Knowing that, I would still like to publish it in Lily's memory.

Last Winter’s revolution in Egypt began on the social network, Facebook.
One simple page protesting that country’s oppressive government grew into the revolution that toppled the government. Can that same social network appeal to a power greater than us to save the life of a little girl in Oklahoma?

Lily Gomes is a pretty 12 year old girl who likes soccer, the Oklahoma Sooners, her cat, the Twilight movies.  She loves her family. And her family, mother Misty, father Rana, her younger sisters Bethany and Olivia love her. Today Lily’s family and hundreds of her friends are praying that God will give Lily back to them.

Earlier this month a massive and excruciating headache put Lily into Oklahoma University’s Children’s Hospital. Eleven days later Lily is on life support.  Doctor’s found a cancerous brain tumor. The cancer had spread to Lily’s spine. Her life threatening condition rushed Lily into emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain. As if that weren’t enough for a beautiful, innocent child to endure, Lily suffered a massive stroke. Her doctors said they’d done all they could do. They said there was no brain activity. Her little heart continues to beat but her brain isn’t functioning. Her life is now in the hands of the greatest healer and surgeon there is.

Lily’s cousin, Cheyenne Reed lives and works in Palm Desert. Two days ago she asked her Facebook friends to pray for Lily. Her brother Travis did the same. They started a Facebook page for family and friends to post their thoughts and prayers, their hopes, their pleas. Hundreds already have.

They’re not asking for money or material goods. They’re asking for something far greater than money or material goods. Something money cannot buy nor material goods can replicate. They're asking for prayer. Prayer. The word comes from two Sanskrit words ‘pra’ and ‘artha’ meaning “pleading fervently. Asking God for something with intense yearning”.

Asking God. Talking to God. Pleading with God.

If you believe in heaven Lily went there Wednesday afternoon. But in reality she’s closer than that. How close? How close is your heart?