I have forgotten to pray.
This reminder came from a respected teacher in a random zoom room that I happened to be in at the last minute because I got “the nudge” to go. She was there to teach us about Feng Shui. I was there to figure out how to stop biting my nails while overthinking the state of the world.
When I forget there is a Creator, I begin grasping for sure footing as if I'm searching for a safe place to hide during a Tornado. Shout out to The Wizard of Oz for delivering the trauma - the fear is real. Maybe I should head to the basement, but then I remember I live in California and how I don’t have one of those. Perhaps I should get into the bathtub because I read somewhere once that the bathtub is really heavy and will stay put even with a shit ton of carnage flying around. Standby dear reader, I’m climbing in.
Will I still have a monthly mortgage if our house gets sucked up into the sky, because I really look up to folks who budget and pay off their homes even with recessions and Pandemics, and especially after surviving tornadoes.
If we make it out, will Tom and I get to Europe for our 25th wedding anniversary next year? Because I have never been to Italy or France, but also that means I will need a vibe with the likes of Julie the Cruise Director from the Love Boat making all the arrangements. And well, maybe we should just stay home, playing Foosball in our non-existent basement.
Once in a blue moon, I feel aligned with the Divine and remember to “quiet my mind”, which BTW, resembles an all night rave with no chance of shutting down, even when the cops are called.
All of this leaves me with one just one thought: what is the percentage of surviving a tornado by climbing into a bathtub?
Quincy Jones once said, “Let’s not get too full of ourselves. Let’s leave space for God to come into the room.” On a good day, I abide by this philosophy of compromise. I ride this see-saw of Controlling the World UP and I’m Good Enough DOWN, remembering somewhere in the middle to come back to peace.
And also, to remember to pray. I’m an out loud praying weirdo. Helps me process all the bullshit. I don’t think it really matters how we do it. What matters is we recognize even in the most dire of times, we can put love into the world through words and intentions: prayer.
We sure do have our work cut out for us don’t we little soldiers? The good news is that I have a bathtub big enough for the both of us.
I love you,
Me
* According to the NWS, bathrooms may be a good shelter, provided they are not along an outside wall and have no windows. Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing magically safe about getting in a bathtub with a mattress. Bathrooms have proven to be adequate tornado shelters in many cases.
