good vibes and my girl

in the last few years i have been an observer of some phrasing that has made me go, "hmmmm....".  i have observed peeps who have mentioned, "send good vibes for me", and heard peeps say, "fingers crossed" or "peop" (positive energy only please).  people talk about karma and joo joo and mallery.  it has confused me.  not because i don't want to understand, but because i just don't really know where "vibes" go or how "energy" controls things.

a few months ago, d and i were in the car together going somewhere.  we were mid-conversation about something and in an effort to express her hopefulness, she said, "knock on wood".

i silently cringed.

d, maybe having sensed my "energy" asked me if i believed in luck.

"no, girlie.  not so much.  i don't know what luck really means.  it feels fake and pie-in-the-sky and placing your hope in something that isn't real or tangible or true."

d, without skipping a beat, said, "mom!  i agree!  everyone says, good luck and knock on wood and good vibes and all sorts of other things that don't make sense."

"girlie.  this is a hard one.  i mean, i get what the intent is.  it's to ward off the bad that could be around the bend or to keep the positive rolling.  but i don't believe that comes from 'knocking on wood'.  i think that is from Jesus. and prayer."

d replied, "i agree mom, but it is a hard habit to break. and everybody else says it.  but i don't like saying it because it is silly.  from now on, let's just say, 'knock on Jesus'.  and it will be like a reminder to pray."

and so for the better part of the summer, every time d would have a hope or anticipation for something good, she'd say, 'knock on Jesus' and then she and i would quickly pray about whatever the situation was.

it might sound just as silly as "knocking on wood" or "sending good vibes" (to whom and why?), but it has reminded d and i to pray.  it has been a good moment to declare where our hope comes from and how His plans are made perfect.

because i am a curious person, i looked up some of these phrases with hopes that "knocking on wood" and "fingers crossed" might have a spiritual connection to the cross (fingers crossed...  wood... you know related to the cross...).

turns out.  they don't

they all have a connection to spirits, and universal energy (that doesn't come from god) and evil spirits.

not a fan.

not who i want in my corner.

not who i believe controls my hope or my future...

and so as for me, d and my peeps... we are going to "knock on jesus".  bringing our cares before him and welcoming no others.

d's heart makes me smile.  she thinks in such a fun creative way.  never ever would  i have thought of "knock on jesus" but from this point forward, i will smile every time i am reminded of luck or vibes or good thoughts.  and every time, i will turn my thoughts into prayer.