THE, "I DON'T KNOW PRAYER."

     

    Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as the"I Don't Know Prayer." I thought this would be appropriate for those of us looking ahead with dread at the coming 4 years. This is how it goes, and it came from one of my Catholic sites.  Go to a quiet place and sit in prayer. Say, "I don't know."

 

     I don't know where to go from here. I don't know what is happening. I don't know how to process this. I don't know what to do with these emotions. I don't know how to handle this situation."

     And then, with a bit of faith answer, "But you know" to God. Then leave it there and say, Amen.

   I realize the repetition of "I don't knows" can seem wearying, but then, God knows, we are weary. Weary of corruption. Lies. Racism. Homophobia. Transphopbia. Misogyny. Disdain for the poor and the homeless. Autocracy, Weird genetics. And so much more.

 

   Frankly, I am unsure of how I will navigate the next 4 years. How to keep my spirits up? How to stay sane and grounded? And how to be somewhat informed without going crazy?

     I am going to set up a Prayer Space somewhere in my study with an electric candle (I am too wobbly to have a real flame), my Prie Dieu, Scripture readings, and a big box of Kleenex as I mourn the most vulnerable among us and pray for them.

     Perhaps I shall put a comfy chair out on the deck with a warm coat and shawl and my binoculars, so I can Breathe the Air, watch birds, and listen to the sound of snow falling off pine branches. Research shows that just being out in nature grounds you and helps sanity.

   I am going to listen to a lot of Baroque Music and Taylor Swift to calm my heart and lift my spirits. You probably know that our hearts begin to beat in time with the music we are hearing. Good for the soul and the body!

 

    Snuggling with my dog and my honey will feature big on keeping Annie sane until 2028. Again, remember that for a hug to do its work, it has to last 20 seconds. Do not break away, stay close and feel the dear warmth of another person.

 

    And you know there will be serious Cooking going on in Annie's kitchen, because organizing, prepping, and cooking ingredients always helps! Plus serving something delicious to a beloved one is a true mood-lifter.

    I know I have repeated this before, but I will do it again as it is so helpful. Remember the 4 things that my therapist friend told her clients to do during lock-down:

1/ Reach out to someone in a text, email, phone call, or FT.

2/ Do something creative.

3/ Learn something new.

4/ Exercise.

I would add to that: Pray as if your life depended on it, for it does.