> From:    "Score, Robert" <[log in to unmask]>
> John,
> how much can you charge your clients for advising them to pray for less
rain
> inorder to prevent damage from water ingress?
>
> From:    "J. Bryan Blundell" <[log in to unmask]>
> Robert:
> I believe John charges $35.00 per hours. That is the amount he included in
his
> recent article in PERIOD HOMES Magazine.
>
> From:    "Score, Robert" <[log in to unmask]>
> I believe my local clergy will provide the same services for a mere
thankyou.
>
> From:    Ken Follett <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Praying for No Rain
> Who pays their rent? No wonder the churches are usually broke. They should
> charge a decent rate for their preservation consulting work. Having seen
John
> Leeke at work I'd rather go with John. Or is that Luke? ;-)

Thanks for your support Ken. Let's see. Someone asks for help on the
philosophy of intervention and is looking for unusual approaches that could
lead to new ways of thinking about the issue. Why is prayer a subject for
cutting quips and comments? Does the idea that prayer might actually work
make some of you a little bit nervous?

It turns out I have worked with a crew of Seventh Day Adventist near
Chattanooga, a brotherhood of monks in Ohio and the Christian Scientists
here in Maine on preservation projects where prayer played a significant
part. I'm not a religious person but I do have beliefs and principles that
govern my life. When I am on a project I make a serious attempt to "get with
the program" to do a better job of helping my clients. 5:30am prayer meeting
every day before work? (now how does this work?) A break for silence and
reflection 12 times a day? (how can this be used to help achieve the goals
of the project?) These people I have worked with use prayer and other
spiritual techniques as an integral part of caring for their many historic
and fine old buildings. In my experience with them prayer does work, even
with the physical aspects of caring for buildings. I encourage you to talk
with Philip Marshall about what he has learned working with the Native
Americans on their adobe structures in the southwest.

Do you "believe" in science? I do too, but there are many who have other
belief systems that work too. I will use any tool I know works to save old
buildings: antique wooden molding plane, modern silicon computer, timeless
etherial prayer. Stick it in your kit bag, man, then get up here and help us
fix these shingles 'cause tomorrow we're praying for rain to test those new
window treatments.

John Leeke