My niece and her husband enrolled their children for swimming lessons for the first time. When in a motel pool or in the lake on camping trips, Owen (nearly five), loved the water (of course, he had water-wings and mom and dad). The first time for swimming lessons, he literally wrapped his arms around his big sister Abby (almost seven). The second time, he refused to go into the pool.
His solution: he prayed. His sincere, trust-filled prayer was, “God, help me to not be afraid of the water. And…please, help me not to sink.”
I was touched, struck by so many things about Owen’s response to the reality of his everyday life. There was no hesitation, no long pondering, figuring out of what to do. He knew what he needed to do: ask God’s help. This was bigger than him and God would help him. Such dependence!
Owen also knew that nothing was unimportant to God; there’s not a dividing line between the sacred and the “secular.” Everything is holy; everything belongs to our life, our faith life. Everything is one.
I love Owen’s prayer. It’s ours – for many occasions. How many times can we each pray, “Loving God, help me to not be fearful of ____. And please, help me not to sink.”
When was the last time you thought of going immediately to God?
Do you ever putting a dividing line between parts of your life? Are some things “holier” than others?
Would Owen’s prayer be helpful to you sometime?
Becky Eldredge
Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.
In all things with prayer and supplication, let your request be made known unto God!!!