I have always believed in the power of prayer but this testimony has been reconfirmed the past couple of days.
Case study #1: The other night after feeding Bode at 3:30 a.m., he started fussing when I went back to bed. I said a quick prayer: “Dear Lord, if you don’t want me to be a crazed lunatic who cries because the laundry hasn’t been put away for two days, please let this kid sleep.” And do you know what? He stopped immediately. I guess that means I have to put away the laundry now….
Case study #2: I’m a bit ashamed about this one. Y’see, yesterday was supposed to be my first day alone with the kids but it didn’t happen. Why? Because I prayed my husband home. Yep, the night before I prayed I’d get some help and lo-and-behold, Jamie woke up sick for his first day back on the job. Of course, I would never pray ma honey sick. Unless I knew he’d be exceedingly helpful, of course.
Case study #3: This is the one where I learned that I control even the elements through my great faith. Several years ago when I worked as a publicist in the ski industry, I had the opportunity to participate in SkiUtah’s infamous Interconnect Adventure Tour. This tour offers the advanced skier the chance to ski often treacherous backcountry routes through five resorts in a single day for $150. Why would I submit myself to such a crazy thing? Simple: I had the opportunity to do it for free.
Photo: skiing Tahoe in non-powder conditions
I have been skiing since I was 5 years old but to put it mildly, backcountry powder skiing just ain’t my forte so I rented some “revolutionary” backcountry skis to help. In the beginning, I had some minor difficulties balancing my weight on my new skis. I fell quite a few times but overall I was doing pretty well. Doing well, that is, until I actually had to leave the summit. Though not pretty, I did manage to make it down the test run, after which time the instructors separated the wheat from the tares (meaning those of us who sucked and those who didn’t.)
I was labeled a borderline tare: one who was a strong enough skier to complete the tour but who would probably be miserable because of the harsh backcountry conditions that day. I opted to stay onboard, primarily because there were some weaker than I but mostly because I was the only female left.
As we boarded the van, I noticed all of my fellow borderline tares were gone. And suddenly, so was my comfort zone. I subsequently did what I do best in such situations: I panicked. After a few minutes, I resolved I was accomplishing nothing by stressing out so I prayed for the biggest blizzard Mother Nature could muster up.
Sound a bit crazy? I am not one of little faith when my butt is on the line. As we rounded the bend, a freak snowstorm miraculously blew threw. A few minutes later, the guides canceled the trip for fear of avalanche danger in the backcountry.
The moral of these stories?
Never underestimate the “powder” of prayer….
AMEN.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 