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Published Sunday, May 25, 2008

Faith healer to try extended laying on of hands to cure lion

Zookeepers near Cornwall, England, after four months of conventional attempts to heal a lion's bad back, are turning to alternative treatment.

First, they called in a psychologist who tried thought transference on Major, the lion. The growling of the lion was an indication there was no meeting of the minds.

And when the lion bared his teeth, the departing psychologist said as he fled, "For some reason, I just don't believe we are operating on the same page."

Now zoo officials have decided to call in a faith healer for the laying on of hands to get Major up and going. Talk about faith. It would certainly require great faith to put your hands on a roaring lion.

In fact, my first thought is, I wonder if zoo management gave any thought to consulting with Daniel, of Biblical lions den fame.

I know many ministers, and if they were called on to lay hands on a sick and ill-tempered lion, you'd hear of the development of a new system of laying on hands. The extended hand of healing would be found at the end of a 10-foot pole. And with good reason. Wisdom dictates we remember that we live in a dangerous age -- a time when even lion tamers are advertising for tamer lions.

For this reason, I suspect most faith healers would request the lion be put to sleep before the laying on of hands.

And why not? A lion can be healed just as well while asleep as awake. Evidence supports it. Since time began, preachers from the pulpit have tried to bring some kind of healing to sleeping congregations.