“I’ve done it this time! I’ve been found out!” So began my friend, Cheryl’s, phone call to me. By the time she finished telling me her story, I was hysterical, not to mention in total agreement that she truly had “done it this time.”
Cheryl heads a Bible study in a large city on the east coast. Two years ago, she and her husband moved there and soon after found a church they loved. For years, Cheryl has wanted to lead a women’s Bible study, and when she presented her idea to the pastor’s wife, it was full-speed-ahead.
Twenty women signed up, and within a few weeks, women were telling my friend that they wanted to be just like her. They loved her spirituality and her sense of humor, but mostly, they loved how she prayed—so sincere and so God-centered. I, however, know her well; I know of her frustrations leading this study, and how…sometimes at least, she is not as spiritual as she would like to be. Amongst many things, we have that in common.
Today, two serious prayer requests came through her texts. “Please pray” they began, and then two dire situations were presented. Cheryl immediately sent back a beautiful text filled with scripture and intercessory words. Three others on the chain texted back that her words were so powerful, and reiterated that they loved how she prayed.
Soon, there came an urgent request for more prayer. Cheryl and her husband, Tim, were driving around, running errands, and my friend assured the text partners that she would double down on her prayers. You can imagine her surprise when, a few minutes later, she started getting responses, questioning what she was doing.
Apparently, Cheryl’s phone playlist of oldies was coming across the car radio, and “I’m Henery the 8th, I Am” was playing, followed by “White Rabbit,” a psychedelic rock song of the 1960s that deals with hallucinations and a woman named Alice who is ten-feet tall. Cheryl was singing along, unaware that the others on the prayer chain could hear her as well as the music. When she told Tim, “When you get to a restroom, pull over; I have to pee,” everyone was listening. Praying was what she was not doing.
“Why couldn’t I have been singing to the Christian station?” she asked me. “My phone was down in my purse. How did this happen? These ladies think I’m so spiritual, but right after I told them I would double down on my prayers, I am singing along with Oldies but Goodies. I’m not even praying. Now they know the real me! How can I possibly lead this Saturday’s Bible study and look all those women in the face?”
And yes, I know that I, being her supportive friend, should have thought of a Bible passage or said a prayer to comfort her, but I couldn’t. All I could do was laugh…and silently thank God it was Cheryl and not me. Yes, that crossed my mind. I’m a good friend like that.