This past Sunday I spent the afternoon collaging and painting an old wooden box into a prayer box while watching The Water Horse – Legend of the Deep. 

As I mentioned a few blog posts ago, I have some family members and a dear friend going through some health challenges right now. It has left me feeling helpless at times and wondering what it is I can “do” to be of support.

The thing is, I know we must each walk our own journey and that we must also honor each person’s journey even when we feel like we wish there was something we could do to take away their challenging time. Balancing our own needs with wanting to help and respecting the dignity and choices of other’s can be a fine line to walk. 

Earlier this year going through a dark night of the soul myself, I came to feel Spirit envelop me for the first time in my life. I continue to be more comfortable with saying Spirit as I see this higher power as this swirling, right beside me, within and outside of me, as energy rather than sometimes labeled as male and/or God. But I came to understand that Spirit, even in those dark moments, was there for me.

And what if what my family members and my friend who are going through this difficult time could come to this same feeling and understanding of Spirit as I did this year? I’d certainly want that for them. Maybe that is how I can best support them and hold this in my heart and in my prayers.

And so the idea of creating this prayer box was born…I didn’t have any idea of what it would look like when it was complete, but just followed what felt right as I dug through decorative papers, paints, and pictures from magazines.

While I still think I may add something to it, though not sure what that is yet, I posted a photo of it on Facebook with this note: Spent the afternoon collaging this wooden box as a prayer box. With many I know going through a difficult time right now, I will add each of their names to the box as a way of holding space, love, light and peace for each of them.

Ronnie left a comment: Beautifully created…sincere& beautiful wishes. But how does light get into a closed box?

I found the question so intriguing! And so I thought for a few moments and wrote: It’s the light within each of our hearts – that when we say a little prayer filling our whole being with the light of Spirit, that we wish for the person we are praying for to be filled with that light, too.

I can’t help but think of the movie I was watching also while collaging this prayer box. The movie’s description of what it is about in case you’ve not seen it: On the shore of Loch Ness, Scotland, Angus (Alex Etel) finds an unusual egg. When it hatches, it releases an unexpected surprise: a water horse, the legendary creature from Scottish mythology. While the boy tries to keep its existence hidden from his mother (Emily Watson), he and his new pet, Crusoe, quickly become inseparable. But as the water horse grows larger, eventually becoming the fabled Loch Ness monster, Angus must protect his friend from those who would want to do it harm.

We’d do anything to help those we love to not suffer or come in harms way. While we can do what we can and be of support, we have to trust that this is their journey to walk as it is each of ours. And so it was with Angus, who loved that water horse he named Crusoe, with all his heart. But in the end it was for the highest good to allow Crusoe to continue his journey in his sea home that was best for him and it was that Angus could not travel with him as his  home is on land.

But it didn’t mean he didn’t love Crusoe any less — but all the more — for he loved Crusoe so much he set him free to swim the journey he was meant to.

XO,

Barb