I remember playing in cardboard boxes as a kid. There’s something comforting about being inside a cardboard box. The high sides felt protective. I could hide inside from the prying eyes of the outside world. It was private. And I felt safe. The proximity of the sides pressing against me felt like an embrace. It was calming. Inhabiting the box reduced my world down to a smaller more manageable space. 

Now with the stage 3 restrictions we are all contained in our own houses. But what about those who are homeless? They have no high sided box to comfort them. I wonder what I [and friends who want to join me] can do for the homeless in our local community. One thing we can do is give money to pay for something a bit better than a cardboard box. I’m looking into how I can be more present personally. 

That being said, I know I’m not alone in feeling in need of some calming and comforting. Cardboard boxes can still work until I have to get out of them to cook or work or connect with others in my family or using technology.. the general business of being human. 

In fact, I know I’m not alone in sometimes having had to deal with anxiety before being able to get to sleep. The worst possible thing I can do is catch up on the news on my phone before bedtime. 

I came across an old prayer song that I found really comforting. 

It describes God as being a bit like a cardboard box. It was this bit of Ps [Psalm, not Playstation] 3 that I found brought some peace to my soul – knowing that God’s got my back. 

Now you might think that I’m living in a fairytale. But the reality is that nothing else has helped me deal with my anxiety except knowing that God is still God and He genuinely cares about us and listens when we pray to Him. In short, that He’s active on our behalf. Which is cool. 

On the other hand, there’s so much that’s out of my control and I don’t really like that. I don’t like that some people in this world get born into really crappy life circumstances. How is God protecting them? 

With  such questions in my mind around the Easter holidays I was reflecting that Jesus really was in the long game on our behalf. He was the first person to break the curse of death by rising to a life that death could never kill again. 

Jesus said to the guy being crucified on the cross next to his ‘today you’ll be with me in paradise’. 

He also promised those who followed his example of life and faith that they would find true life now and forever. 

He doesn’t promise that this life will be easy but He also demonstrates he keeps his promises. So….. I guess I can trust Jesus has my back. He certainly seems to have figured out a way of living that kicks death and disease in the teeth. This all gives me hope and calms me down A LOT. 

If you’d like to check this out more you might find these links helpful:

Check out the Breathing Prayer I wrote based on the Prayer Song

Learn more about the Easter story

Learn more about Back Pack Beds for Homeless in Australia or Donate