That Thing You Do: Prayer In The Treasure Box

4/6/2016

Important lessons in a place you probably didn't see them.

We don't see Oliver pray much, nor is it a frequent topic of discussion. So when it's referenced twice in The Treasure Box, it demands our attention, and what its inclusion reminds us are some important lessons about prayer and how we choose to use it.

"I Already Have."

Spoken confidently, but barely above a whisper in an effort to comfort Shane, Oliver's simple statement about prayer reminds us that prayer should not be a last resort, but a first line of defense. Prayer is our direct line to God, who loves nothing more than to shower His children with "peace that passes all understanding" (Phil 4:7) allowing us to live above our circumstances and life's trials.

Notice how steady and calm Oliver appears throughout the episode. Even as he determines that thirteen hours of air amounts to three hours, twenty minutes breathing time for each of them, he finds "a certain clarity" in his circumstances to not only write a letter to Holly, but repeatedly calm Shane's anxious spirit by directing her attention away from the looming circumstances and towards the letters at hand.

Abiding peace.

Even as Shane begins to finally spiral when Katherine's fate seems to mirror her own, Oliver calmly appeals to Shane by using her name. When he realizes it won't work, he assumes a posture of comfort, gathering her up into a hug. It seems it's at this junction that Shane sees prayer as the only thing left to do, so when Oliver declares he has already prayed, it sends a message---both to her, and to the audience---that prayer should be our first thought, not our last. And Oliver's conduct throughout this trial clearly demonstrates why prayer should be our first choice. Just imagine how things might have progressed if Oliver had descended into the same hopelessness Shane seemed to in the vault.

I also find it interesting that we never see Oliver pray the prayer that provided him such peace in the vault, and I think the message one can extract from this point is that prayer doesn't have to take place in complete silence, isolated from other people. Of course, there are times for that kind of prayer, but in this case it reminds us that calling out to God for help can happen anywhere, at any time, and we can fully expect that He will hear our petitions---even when that place is in the middle of a packed auditorium...

"...That Thing You Do..."

I almost had to laugh when Shane grabbed Oliver's hand during that critical moment when Rita needed to remember that thirteenth unique mode of transportation. Did you notice that Shane appealed to Oliver to pray even before Rita began answering the question? Granted, it was also right after Norman alerted them to the fact Rita only memorized twelve unique modes of transportation, but it's clear Shane's time in the vault taught her that valuable lesson about prayer as a first line of defense like we just discussed. Oliver had a chance to pray before Rita even needed that answer.

Besides a lesson internalized, there is another important message to be extracted from this scene. I think we could all agree that praying for Rita to remember an answer, and subsequently win the Miss Special Delivery Pageant, might seem trivial in comparison to praying for deliverance from a life or death situation. Yet I think it reminds us that God is a Father, and He cares about everything that impacts us, even if that thing is remembering a test answer or winning a pageant. And how can we know this is true? Well, Rita remembers that critical answer, doesn't she?

So whether you just need a little extra grace to deal with that co-worker that rubs you the wrong way, or you're praying diligently for that invitation to the set of Signed, Sealed, Delivered, "let all your petitions be made known to God" (Phil 4:6). He cares about all things---big or small---and we should always remember that!

Now we could have a whole discussion about what it means when God doesn't answer us right away, or things we pray for don't go the way we hoped--- but that discussion will have to wait.

For today, just remember that prayer should be our first course of action in all things, big or small, because it's our direct line to God, and no matter what we ask, He hears all our petitions.

Making My Requests Known,
~C

7 Comments

Marybeth link

4/6/2016 01:29:41 pm

Great reminder of how simple it is to incorporate prayer into our everyday lives, and how comforting it is when we do so. Another great lesson subtly embedded in one the most entertaining episodes in this series! I also recall another time Oliver prayed for God's help in Dark of Night when Michael needed to persevere when talking to his daughter's "father" and that same prisoner needed the nudge to agree to donate his kidney. Oliver's prayer helped both men find the right path, and calmed Oliver as well. Thanks also for the link to "the Perfect Dad", gleaned from events in Truth Be Told, which was anther powerful post reminding us of the spiritual truths that we can find in SSD if we are open to them.

Jen

4/7/2016 09:37:26 am

I can attest to the power of prayer in so many many instances and I can also attest to the fact that those who do not understand it or have any firsthand experience with it can be so receptive to learning about it or believing in it. Just like Shane, my friend has long been separate from God and from prayer. She asked me to pray for a sick friend and somewhat magically, that friend got well much sooner than expected. I was nervous but happy! I wasn't sure what I'd say if the next request weren't so quickly and happily answered. But since then, she asks me to pray for her needs and the needs of her friends. I did tell her that prayer is just talking to God and she can do it when ever she wants to. It made me think of Jennifer Fulwiler who was an atheist but is now converted. Her first prayers were awkward and almost daring God to answer her. I am sure those are some of the sweetest prayers He hears.

Tina at Mommynificent link

4/11/2016 10:47:33 am

This is a really lovely post. I love how you've taken a part of this beautiful show and used it to point us to our Father. Thank you!
Tina

Jocelyn

4/13/2016 04:59:55 pm

I wanted to thank you for this reminder. My daughter reads your blog & after reading this one encouraged me to read it as well. It was a great reminder to keep praying on a day that began days we needed it. I've watched SSD a few times but now I'm going to watch again and try and see the important messages and lessons I've missed. It's nice to see such a talented young woman using her talents & wisdom to bless others. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

Chandel link

6/9/2016 07:21:07 pm

That means the world to me. Thank you so much for the kind words, the opportunity to be an encouragement to others is an honor and a privilege.

Bubbette link

8/28/2016 12:29:47 am

I just want to sake Shane when she says she doesn't know how to pray. I have a feeling she does it all the time, but doesn't realize it's what she is doing. Prayers don't have to be formal or said in a certain place. We all pray without realizing it. "Thank God its Friday", "God/Lord help us", are two instances I can think of off hand. Even when you say, "thank you", to what seems to be open air it's God.
Thank you for the reminder that God is our first and best defender.

Beth

10/6/2016 04:26:10 pm

I feel like this has been posted before. I remember reading it. I absolutely Love this take on it! Anyway. I have noticed that some people are complaining that Shane's whole prayer was cut out of LWY. I didn't see it that way. For one maybe the whole out loud prayer wasn't in there to begin with and in that case How could it have been cut out. An observation I have after watching that scene several times was Shane looking up at the sky and her breathing was sharp and panicked and the sobs were shaking her body but the moment she closed her eyes in prayer you could see the peace covering her like a blanket VERY clearly written on her face! That's how you can tell she actually DID pray. And if nobody noticed from all the other SSD's even Oliver never prays out loud. His prayers are always silent. Why should it be any different with Shane?

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