God Box

Nov 24, 2024

I have a God box. It’s for when I have a dilemma that I can’t figure out, and I’ve been advised to take some action that I don’t want to do, usually to confront someone.

I don’t like confrontation. I am not one of those let’s-get-this-all-out-in-the-open types. I’m a sweep-it-under-the-rugger.

But I do have a God box, because there are some problems (and by problems, you know I’m talking about people) who just jangle my jello. When I realize I can’t deal with them, I write their name on a slip of paper and drop it inside the God box. The theory is, some cosmic source will take care of it. Not me.

It occurred to me the other day that many people I’ve relegated to the God box have disappeared from my life.

It had nothing to do with me. Honest. All I did was put them in there.

Now, you may be thinking, what on earth did I think was going to happen tinkering around with something so woo-woo? The answer is, I don’t know. But results this conclusive are not what I expected. It made me curious. What other names or situations are in the God box? And what has this God entity done to take care of them for me?

I lift the lid of the box. (It’s a stiff cardboard box that a gorgeous art mug came in, and I am the type who cannot bring myself to throw away such a well-made box.) I lift the lid and peer inside. There are torn slips of scrap paper and folded tiny yellow post-its. I recognize the swirly indigo ink of my favourite pen on the papers. Yup, the fate of all these “problems” lies right here before me.

The first one I pull out is a troublesome person who…well, I don’t want to get into it here, but suffice to say, God has distanced me from Mr. T. Trouble in a mysterious way.

The next is a woman who annoys the sawdust out of me. On her paper I actually wrote a prayer, because I was feeling no compassion for her. Has that changed? Probably, but I’m not sure, because I don’t really think about her anymore. Weird, huh?

The next one is money. Can we skip that one? I don’t expect “money” will ever be solved for me, or for anyone else on the planet. But by leaving it in the God box, at least I’m trying. Right?

Oh jeez, this next one makes me laugh, because it’s a doozy. It’s my mom. When and why did I put her in the God box? I must have been finding caregiving overwhelming that particular day but I don’t right now. Earlier today, she made me laugh.

I was passing through the living room, where she was sitting listening to CBC radio, as she does every day, with a woolly rug over her knees, a soft blue sweater on her sloped shoulders, and a puzzled look on her bumpy ancient face.

“Something bothering you?” I asked, hoping she would say, no, or better yet, not hear me.

But she turned so she could see me out of her good eye, and hear me out of her good ear, and asked, “Would you know a Taylor Swift song if you heard one?”

I laughed because…how random is that?

I suppose, with the recent US election, and the talk of Swifties in the air, Mom must have heard about Taylor Swift on the radio.

It was then I noticed they were playing one of her songs on CBC. “That’s her,” I said, pointing to the radio.

“Oh, is it?” she asked. “I don’t know her.”

To me, that is hilarious.

So, I believe I can throw Mom’s name out of the God box, because more often than not, she makes me giggle.

Let’s move on, shall we?

The next one is another annoying woman who disappeared from my life. Ditto the following guy. Uh-oh, two yellow slips for that guy. And he’s really gone. The next one is the fella who just won the US election! (I’m not entirely sure this God box is in working order.)

That’s it. That’s all of them. I settle the lid back on the box where it fits so nicely and place the God box back on the bookshelf where it belongs.

I didn’t keep score, but it seems that when I put someone or something in the God box, they are either removed completely from my life, or I just stop caring, and that is divine leveling, if you ask me. There is no reason to waste my time worrying over a problem. I have faith that the God box and time will figure everything out.

How do you deal with pesky problems?

One time a friend told me she writes troublemakers’ names on slips of paper, puts them in a jar, and sticks them in the back of her freezer. I like it! But there is too much other stuff in the freezer. How about you? I’d love to know. Hit reply to this email, or leave a comment.

Podcast News

I was recently interviewed by Kevin T. Johns about the release of my latest book, Head on Backwards, Chest Full of Sand. We ended up talking about so much more. When my mom heard the podcast, she said, “You sure don’t run out of things to say, do you?” Yea, Ma, I’m a recovering chatterbox, what can I say? I think you’ll like it. Click below to listen.

Click below to leave a tip in the Tip Jar!

This month I am thrilled to take part in the Thoughtful Women’s Fiction Giveaway. Click on the link or the picture above to discover a treasure trove of Women’s Fiction titles, all FREE for the month of November, including my newest book, Head on Backwards, Chest Full of Sand.

Women’s Fiction dives deep into the lives of women (and men)—their friendships, families, and the big moments that shape who they are. They are the kinds of books that feel like spending time with a good friend: honest, relatable, sometimes heart-wrenching, and sometimes funny. If you love stories that make you laugh, cry, and feel seen, you’ll definitely want to check out the books in this giveaway!

Below are just some of the books featured… Enjoy!