When You're Feeling "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
As I tried to write this blog, I am hearing Mary Poppins sing "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," loudly playing, for perhaps the 20th time.
It happens to be my 2 year old grandson Philip's song of choice these days. And we play it morning, noon, and night. That, combined with the "Star Wars" theme song. Not exactly the type of music that encourages quiet concentration and writing!
Adding to those melodies is the urgent drip of a leaking ceiling, from a water pipe on the second floor that suddenly sprang a major leak.
As my writing deadline looms, and the ceiling drips, curious Philip insists on sitting on my lap, and watching me type on my computer.
So in desperation, I have this conversation with a 2 year old toddler:
Me: Philip, help! (While he wriggles on my lap). I'm working! What should I write here???
Philip (staring at me with his big round eyes):
Yes. Right is here? (pointing to his right knee.)
Me: No! Not that right. I mean, what should Nana write??
Philip: Mmm...Mmmm...Nana write about..Ummm...Minion??
It takes a desperate writer to ask a 2 year old what her topic should be! And such is life in the real world. Different things pull at us at different levels. What to focus on? What comes first?
How does one become "spiritual" when you're feeling unspiritual? How does one even think of spiritual matters, when family calls, deadlines loom, bills need to be paid, Viber group notices pile up, emergencies arise, problems appear, and the urgent and the important seem to collide? I am sure you know the feeling!
I admire my daughters-in-law and sons, and other young men and women who have the ability to multi-task and keep their cool!
What happens when you feel that you are stretched in different directions? There's a simple solution:
Take a deep breathe and pray, "Help!"
There's no need to always be formal with God. You can come as you are. You can pray as you are.
There used to be a time when I thought that God would only enjoy hearing me if I brush my teeth first before praying. Yes, I'm weird that way.
But no, you can pray "help!" in your workout clothes. Pray"help!" while in your pajamas. You can still be holy, even when you're wearing some holey T-shirt and shorts.
God is not some formal Being in a Tux to whom you have to speak in some hushed, old English, "Downton Abbey" way. Pray. Even when you have no words to express how you feel except supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Even Jesus came casually dressed and simple mannered when he encouraged us to pray to a Dad who loves us.
Paul reminds us of the same thing in Philippians 4: 6-7:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I'm so grateful that during one of my quiet time moments, God gave me a tip that has helped me pray especially in frazzled times when I'm not sure what I should do. Would you like me to share it with you?
I call it Marie's C.O.R.E. Prayer Workout. (I've got my Zumba workout for outside of me, and my Prayer C.O.R.E. workout for inside of me! Haha!)
For my next series (which comes out every Thursday), I will be sharing more of this C.O.R.E. way of praying. I've shared it personally with friends and they've found it useful. I'd like to share it with you too, every Thursday : >
In the meantime, all I could do today was pray "Help!!!"
Thankfully, in time, the answers came. Joseph appeared, and so did the repairmen.
And this blog got written and a new series begins!!
And I am grateful for a Heavenly Father, who knows how life is like for us all in the real world.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Til next Thursday ! : >
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