The Winter of my Discontent, and the Most Earnest Prayer

By: JANA GREENE

Is it just me, or does it feel like a giant spiritual Band-Aid is being ripped off in the slowest way possible on a super hairy part of your body? This mess, I mean.

So I interrupt this crawling, spiritual Band-Aid removal to remind you of some things I have to remind myself of daily.

There are still sunrises – ones that spill orange and yellow and pink into the sky. Grounding thought: I am witnessing proof that God still creates beauty and purpose in a broken world.

There are still friendships, although we might have lost a few through this debacle. Grounding though? We are finding our kindred ones, those who are also worried but still keep the faith.

There are long naps – respites for our rest, even as the cold and unknown have not settled yet. Grounding thought: Sleep gives me a break from reality, while giving my body rest.

There is still laughter – endless reels and jokes and hilarious entertainment. You cannot be despondent while laughing. For as long as the laughter lasts, we get a break from the anxiety.

There is chocolate to place on your tongue and taste the melty goodness, a brief respite from worry. There are books to read, which literally takes us away from this existence that tests us, and music to listen to to literally rewire our brains.

And we still have prayer, even if (as my favorite author Anne Lamott writes) our prayer is simply “Help! Help! Help! and Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

And that is the prayer of my winter of discontent. Perhaps you are feeling it too?

Help, help, help.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

It’s the little things, Dear Reader.

Sometimes those are the most fervent and genuine prayers that exist. And they are enough to remind you that you are tethered to the Most Holy, divine in nature, and built to get through this.

There is always a grounding thought to reel yourself back in, even if you have to do it a thousand times a day.

I’ll keep going if you will.

Blessed be.