St. Teresa of Calcutta reminds us, “If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon Our Lady, just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’ I must admit, this prayer has never failed me.”
I will often pray the Rosary on my commute to work in the mornings. I have a rosary bracelet that is a constant reminder of Mother Mary’s presence and invitation to pray. My fingers run over the smooth stone and wooden beads as I meditate on the mysteries. My breath comes in and out as it regulates my inhale and exhale.
On lunch breaks I take walks in the surrounding parks either on my own or with friends. This helps me to stop, look and thank God. I have been enjoying garden walks and floral videos on Instagram. There is one account called @NotestotheWild that has been inspiring me lately. Each film is a view of a field of flowers blowing in the wind with instrumental music that tugs at the heart. I made my own videos of waving tulips, a rushing waterfall and a golden sunset inspired by this woman’s account.
Being outdoors in nature soothes the body and lowers blood pressure. And for me praying the Rosary does this too. This is necessary for me to stay at an even keel and keep the symptoms of bipolar disorder away. Each day I take inventory of how my mood is and adjust my activity to stay healthy. If I need a break, I take one. If I need more exercise, I fit that in too. If I need more sleep, I get to bed early.
Some days getting out of bed is harder than others. Eight hours of sleep feels like the least that I need. When tired, I remember that hydration, nutrition, and exercise will help me feel my best.
During May I made a pilgrimage with my friend Fernanda and sister Monica. We prayed the Rosary as we walked to a shrine of Mary in the city. Sun shone on us as we peeled off our sweaters and put on our sunglasses. We took turns leading a mystery and prayed for specific intentions that we held close to our hearts. Cars swished by birds flew around us and dog walkers meandered past.
Once seated in front of the shrine we noticed ants and spiders making their way across our legs and purses. We brushed them off and continued to pray. Shadows from the trees lining the street created patterns on the image of Mary and Jesus. Bouquets of fresh flowers were gifts left to honour Mary and brighten the shrine.
Sometimes I get preoccupied thinking that I will get sick again. Especially if I only had a couple of nights of poor sleep or my mood seems more elevated than usual. But then I remember that this too will pass. My mood goes up and down like the waves. I need not fret too much as it follows my monthly hormone changes. Knowing that comforts me and helps me to remain calm in whatever mood I’m in.
Prayer and the sacraments bring gifts of healing and wholeness to me when I take part in them. It draws me near to the force of love – God himself.
Rainn Wilson in an interview with Lewis Howes on the School of Greatness said, “I do believe in God. There is an incredible divine force for us to tap into. That is the source of love itself. I would equate God much more than the force of love that is synonymous with the force of gravity.”
He then describes the three essential prayers as written in the book Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lammott.
“When you are connecting with that great Spirit. [You can pray] ‘Help, I could really use help with this. I’m struggling with this. And that’s okay. Thank you for what I have and wow, the miracle of being alive.’”
The best part of my life is spending acts of love and kindness on my loved ones. Growing in knowledge of what they enjoy and how they receive love is a pleasure. It is a messy and enjoyable process of learning that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Offering prayers for them allows me to trust God’s plan for all their needs and desires. This nurtures my relationship with God. And brings peace to my relationships with others.
I am thankful that Jesus gave us his Mother Mary to guide us, nature to calm us and the sacraments to bring us a grace-filled life.
Lisa Rumpel’s podcast The Will to Thrive: Stories of Resilience is available on popular streaming services.