Good morning…
A funny thing happened on the way to the office. My mind zeroed in on a quirky question. So, when I got to the parking lot I sent out two group texts to inner circle friends, sharing the sentence swirling in my head: “Okay. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what habits would you establish first to make you feel ‘yourself’?”
Responses rolled in throughout the day.
“Create a ‘home,’ a space that I feel is restful and holds beauty (flowers, collected items). Then, seek a rhythm for days — including prayer and meditative practices in tune with the new space and chapter. Finally, establish restorative rituals to calm my heart and mind. All that said, I would prefer NOT to be stranded! Yikes — all the wild animals, bugs, and unknowns. I would def be chatting with God about the situation!”
“Great, thought provoking question…mmm?! Shelter. Practice Daily Gratitude. Walk and Talk w/God. Self care (eat, sleep, drink). Practice Mindfulness of Nature’s Beauty and Provisions. Set up a System. Ask for peace from fear and loneliness. Thanking God right now for ALL I have!!”
“My habit would be to find you and nestle into the home made of natural beauty and the patterns of peace. :)”
“I’m not on an island but I am moving into an empty condo during a 30 year snowstorm so I’m taking a bath and using the lotion from your Christmas gift and feeling loved and saying my prayers in my down time. People are nice and it’s fun though no furniture but a blow up mattress so I sit on the toilet as my chair. Kind of startles work guys. Talking to strangers and trying to make a home are my habits.”
“Begin each day with a prayer asking the Lord to direct and guide. Ask Him to bring people He wants me to meet, to calm my anxious heart, to give me courage. Let Him be my guide and let Him do the work. Do things I enjoy. SMILE! (it is the universal language). Discover my strengths and notice strengths in others. Pray daily, ‘Ok God, help me to let go and follow You.'”
Then a close friend texted from a true, proverbial island: “Sorry this is off topic. Been spending hours and hours talking to insurance companies since last Tuesday about getting them to pay for our daughter’s huge cancer treatment bill. We are with the same insurance company but they are being really strict this year plus they forcibly moved us to another plan. Just got the call this morning that they are denying to pay. I have been praying insurance issues get easier but not the case here.”
Because of her honesty, our close knit group was able to join her by text in her stranded state. “If you want me to call insurance company and pretend I am you, I can. I know they are so difficult. Repeat calls sometimes wears them down.” “Wish I could bring your issues to the news somehow so insurers get their feet held to the fire and get really awful publicity. I would love to call local media on your behalf.” “If I can help – please let me know. Hang in there. Xo.”
Then words of encouragement came through my fingers, revealing why the Spirit had sparked this quirky question: “God knows you feel stranded on this deserted island, feeling so alone as you fight for your daughter’s life. We come on that island with you right now, praying for God’s power to open doors, to make a way in your wilderness. You are not stranded alone. We feel powerless right beside you, but we all know the all-powerful God who never leaves us. I am asking God to show up, to make Himself known, right in the midst of the desert of your day. We love you. We love your daughter. We love your family.”
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid (Psalm 118:5-6b).
…Sue…
