I am NOT about to enter into the philosophical/scientific/religious fray about whether there is or is not a God - no way! I know that research until present has not shown us clear evidence that there is a creator who gives order to the universe and summons chaos theory for more sophisticated phenomena of the universe. I believe in science. I believe that there are other dimensions and I sort of understand string theory, Heisenberg’s uncertainty theory and how light could be bent in space and time. I fantasize how we could one day travel through time and dimensions and I wonder if there is another me, say, some 300 meters from where I write this at this very moment.

But there is something about being a human that is very special - something IRRATIONAL and inexplicable about our very substance that is so admirable and marvelous and that is admittedly IRRATIONAL (even chaotic) behavior!

Just last week, a heroic Indian woman in the Chabad House under terrorist siege in Mumbai escaped with a two-year-old Jewish child, saving his life no doubt before he would have been executed, as were his parents. The act was at once impetuous, heroic and IRRATIONAL. Why did she risk her life to save the life of another? Because she is a human and we are a noble species! We fall helplessly in love, dance in the streets after last year’s Super Bowl win of the Giants, sing our hearts out in churches and talk awfully silly to babies who may not have a clue about what the heck we are saying. Yet, there is meaning in these acts - sometimes inexplicable. They help define who we are as humans - often IRRATIONAL- NO rhyme or reason - just human! So is it with me and God. I can’t swear there is a God, but I talk to him (her?) everyday. I pray at home. I pray with my patients. I pray with my children and sometimes in public places. When I am around those who pray I feel good inside - secure. I love prayer when accompanied by music, whether it’s a Baptist choir, a Jewish cantor chanting or the haunting drumming and prayers of Native Americans. I am not a fanatic! I can’t say that I am a terribly religious man. I just believe and I just pray.

This might be IRRATIONAL, but it works for me and apparently for others because it seems that those who pray and participate in some form of religion live nearly 20% longer than those who do neither - at least according to one study.

It appears that rational scientific thought allows little or no place for religion, prayer and belief in God. I do not reject science but what’s RATIONAL got to do with it? Thank God that I was born IRRATIONAL! God bless!