Magic Jewball

Do you remember that Sex and the City where Carrie gets broken up with on a post-it note? Tragic, just tragic. It could have been worse, though. She could have found out she was getting laid off by receiving an invitation to her own going away party. You think that sort of thing doesn’t really happen, don’t you? But, my friends, it does, and I know it because it happened to me. In fact, my going away party was earlier this week. Luckily, I received a thoughtful invitation. The best part was, and by that I mean the most bitterly ironic, was that the party was simply “lunch with cupcakes and a few thank you words.” Then there was no food for me and there were no cupcakes. Inside, I sort of laughed at this, but later, I managed to corner the other woman who had gotten laid off and our conversation went like this:

Me: Did you know before that email that we were finishing this week?
She: No! I couldn’t believe it! I thought we were staying through the Summer. Then I get this email about a lunch with cupcakes… and to top it all off, there were NO CUPCAKES!

I think “there were no cupcakes” might be my go-to phrase from now on for all of life’s unfair moments.

I mention all this because I couldn’t decide how to handle some aspects of the situation and solicited advice from some friends. One of them, my friend Tami whose faith I very much admire, told me she would advise her own daughters to pray about it. This is the second time I’ve heard this phrase this week and it’s led me to ponder. Jews don’t really pray for guidance or to ask a question. There are three kinds of Jewish prayer: praise for God, requests for things (like rain or peace or a child), and thanks. Usually in that order. Makes sense, right? But sometimes I do want guidance and so I write this as a reverse of my usual Jew&A. If anyone would like to comment and talk about praying about things, I’d be very interested. Not so that I can do that too, really, but more to better understand it. You’ve all been so kind and interested in my religion and I am in yours, too.

I know the temptation is to comment, “So sorry, Bec” or “What? No cupcakes?” and you can do that too but I would really like to hear about what it means to pray about things. But let me ask that in the Jewish way.

You guys are the greatest, most wonderful readers a blogger could have. I praise your very awesomeness! I am nothing compared to your loftiness.
Could you tell me something about praying about things and maybe experiences you would feel comfortable sharing?
I appreciate it so much! I thank you for all you do.

Love,
Becca

Edited late Thursday to add: Today is the National Day of Prayer which I did not know when I wrote this. ~cue Twilight Zone music~

Title comes from:
The Doors – The Soft Parade