The Prayer Box Destroyed, and I’m Fighting it Forward
2010
You know what I don’t like?
Killjoys. Hopelessness. And the Negative Nancys of the world.
But you know what I really love?
Killjoys. Hopelessness. And the Negative Nancys of the world.
Here’s why: For every accomplishment in mai life, those naysayers had my panties so wadded into a bunch that standing around moping certainly didn’t straighten em out. Without these wonderful lil doom and gloomers, I would have never experienced what true joy, success, and faith feels like.
Which is why last week when Freddy and I decided to head up my routine hike up Runyon Canyon to fill my Prayer Box with paper and leave prayers for friends, this beautiful nightmare you’re about to watch occurred and has kicked my @$$ into high gear for the next few weeks.
Today marks the birthday of Prayer Box 3.0. The brainstorm begins.This has happened to me before, and it only gets better each and every time. So I’m looking for designers, carpenters, anyone with brilliant ideas, and of course prayers for the person that did this. Are you with me?? Bring it.
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Prayer Box 4.0 Officially Up | I Heart Jeannie Mai
[...] came the day that this box was destroyed, as I blogged about it here. I was devastated at first, ...
When i watched this I felt such a bad feeling in my stomach at the bitterness of some people. But you’re right, there is no need to dwell on the negativity that these individuals wished to evoke.
I think the new box should simply reflect the resilience of people and the hopes, dreams and faith that we posses. Even more so than before.
Keep fighting the good fight, girl.
xo. Ems.
Could it have been the work of an animal? A pet or a wild something that was left loose? I’ve never seen the box myself (still don’t know where it was
or where the new one will be), but if it’s in an area where people and animals can get to it, you never know what could have destroyed it.
But I concur with what Emmerl said already.
Jeannie, please post where the new box will be. I’d love to go take a prayer and leave one myself.
Thanks, Jeannie and Freddy, for the good work! Keep on truckin’!!
xoxo Jo
Wow, Jeannie! I almost started crying when everyone started helping pick up the prayers. King David said he also wanted to build a house where God could dwell, because the temple had been taken down too. So you’re not alone. You have a David heart! Keep going girl! It’s an inspiration.:)
That’s sad. IT took some hard work to get 2.0 up there! It sucks that someone would want to destroy that. Was it the parks & recs department removing it?
It’s so sad Jeannie; but everyone is right, it just makes you stronger, better and more resilient!!! I’m here to help with anything at all!!! I have a friend working on designs and a call into a couple of carpenter friends!! You’re absolutely right, it will be better than ever!!!!
OMG! I just saw the video – this is awful!
Amazing the people helping.
Thanks so much for the shared compassion friends! Not worried at all, and brainstorming new box already. Will post all info and blog the steps of course. Stand by and believe
Hi Jeannie…
I’m sure you don’t remember me… but you came to Maureen Browne’s hosting class as a guest speaker and I was the girl that welded Maureen’s dog out of nuts, bolts… bla bla bla! I don’t know maybe a metal box would help… but maybe somethig could be welded together to make it more permanent?! Email me back if you’d like to discuss
Jennifer
I was heartbroken to go to Runyon a couple of weeks ago to find that the Prayer Box was not there. About three weeks or so ago I went up to put some supplies there and part of the top and the whole part of the top where the supplies are usually kept was missing. The front door had also been removed as well. I tried to reach you through the direct message on twitter to let you know about the damage to the box, but I have to assume that you did not see it.
When I went there last week the box was gone and now I know why. I looked for it but did not see it. This is definately the work of a malicious person or persons. No animal would do the damage I saw. This was the work of someone who has no respect for his or her fellow man(or himself)….. Sad, really…. I will pray for them whoever they may be.
I think the writer above, Jennifer Duran, has the right idea. Maybe a metal box would be better. I think the doors should be made differently so that they are not so susceptible to breakage. Maybe stainless steel……
Anyway, hope to see the box again in its new incarnation soon!!!! I have been keeping the prayers I’ve collected in my prayer book and would like to collect more and leave more. There is something very liberating about praying for others and not just for yourself. I miss it…
I hope that who ever did this has really bad luck cause all those prayers inside that box ment a lot to people and i read some of them when i was picking them up and it was touching to me to c how people really believe in the prayer box…..i no personally that when i put a prayer in there i wanted it to really come true cause it was important to me….i hope ever prayer in the prayer box comes true……i hope the person who did this at least says their sorry they dont have to say it live or use their real name just to make them seem like they did a stupid thing and it was wrong of them….we dont have to forgive him/her but it would just be a kind thing to do…..
-Mia
Hi Jeannie:
I have someone who is really excited about building a new prayer box and also has some great ideas as far as securing it etc. Let me know if you have found someone or are still looking for a carpenter. I know it is going to be wonderful 3.0 is on it’s way
Hmm…how about encouraging others to do the same in their cities? Starting their own prayer boxes? They can try and destroy one, but if we multiply with each one destroyed, we’ve definitely concerned.
Have you also thought of a digital prayer box? Now that would be interesting
Can you get a set designer to help you?
Yes! and wait till you see WHO may be doing it. Pray it up
This totally brought a tear to my eye…but not that it was destroyed, but that all the people pitched in to help. The physical box was destroyed, but not the prayers and not the answers to those prayers xoxo
Jeannie, I am friends with the person who will be making your new box. You were brought together with Divine hands. I do hope you blog about the story. Every time I tell someone about how he was looking for you and you were looking for him, and it was the breaking of this box that brought you together… we all get goose bumps! The ending of one beautiful thing has brought a story that will inspire countless people, and the next evolution of the prayer box is already blessed. Release one thing, something greater that you could never have imagined comes to take its place. That’s the grace of God. Thank you for shining your light in a way that touches so many. ~Crystal*
Crystal! This is SUCH a tremendously beautiful story about how I came to discover James is it not??? Actually.. more like how He brought us together. I’m so incredibly excited to share this story as well with my readers and fans of the box. Working on a blog now, thank you Crystal for praying us up!
Jeannie, I’m just catching up on your blog and when I saw the video it brought tears to my eyes. What a senseless act of a hurting person…they probably needed the Prayer Box more than they even knew.
God is going to bless you for your relentless pursuit of bringing blessings to the people of Runyon.
XOXO,
Jen
Babe, thanks so much for following along, especially with this unbelievable incident. I WILL tell you this though, I’m ELATED it happened now. You are GOING TO DIE when you read about how this situation turned into the biggest blessing for me, the followers of the Prayer Box, and a very special new person I’ve met who’s taking Prayer Box 3.0 on. No really, you’re going to DIE when you read this…!!
This should only be leverage to build something bigger! Keep thriving!
(Oklahoma City, Ok.)—Messiah Lutheran Church has begun a pray-it-forward prayer effort that is changing their community. As reported in The Oklahoman, Teresa Laudermilk was credited with coming up with the idea after reading about something similar in California, where a woman placed a prayer box on a hilltop of a canyon for hikers to share their prayers……I copied that from my (CBN) Christian Breaking News newsletter….that’s the first I heard about the prayer box in Runyon Canyon so I did a search only to find that someone destroyed the box. It sounds like the box will return better than it was before…Thank God!! I like what Sarah said…I live in Corona & it would be great to put a prayer box up in Skyline our local hiking area.
This is wonderful!! Please do continue sending me anything you hear- I’d love to connect with them and support!
I will Jeannie. God Bless You!!!!!!
OMG. I went to Runyon just yesterday just to visit the prayer box and it wasn’t there! I asked around and no one knew what I was talking about! I cant believe its gone. I’m pretty new to Runyon so my first trip there , the box was there. I am so sorry to hear that someone or something may have destroyed the box. This is just a reason to make something bigger and stronger. There is a reason behind everything!
Thank you so much for making a trip there- and totally join us Oct 2 to put the new one up
Hi Jeannie, we live in Sydney, Australia. My daughter and i love “how do i look”…… it didnt take long for us to realise that you are a gorgeous person who clearly cares about helping others reach their potential and feel good about themselves……….. so much so that i just had to Google you – and not surprisingly i found that you are even more amazing than we realised……… i LOVE. the idea of the Prayer box and would love to make one here but im not sure of the “logistics”? ……. i.e do i leave pens and paper etc. …… my only concern would be that as we live in a highly Chinese populated suburb, i have no idea how a prayer box would be recieved? i SO dont want to offend anyone!! i would love someone to please let me know how to set a prayer box up please………… and Jeannie – i read that you want to talk to school children……………… – PLEASE PLEASE do -……………… then come to Australia and talk to our kids – you are perfect for the job – you are glamorous and i have noticed you have tatoos and colour your hair – children will love you,,,……….., i would be more than happy to organise for you to come here………… MOVE OVER OPRAH – Jeannie Mai is “in the house”!!!!!! kindest regards – Joce
Hi Joce again!!! i probably didnt sound serious before – I would really love for you to come to Australia and talk to our school children – they NEED you! i will organise the whole thing if you would just say YES! …….. Kindest regards and thanks Joce
Joce, hello down under! Thank you so much for getting your daughter to cuddle up with you to watch my show. And to also want to do so much in your own community! I’ll tell you this, it’s quite easy to build a prayer box. Know that you’re doing this for any others like yourself who just feel the need to pray. Build a box, allow people to give a prayer and take a prayer, and the rest is faith in works
I’d LOVE to do this! Lets pray on it!
I first came across you while watching your show “How Do I Look?” and while watching your videos on YouTube, you mentioned your prayer box. I really do look up to you and thank God for people like you. You are such an inspiration in my life, & I’m so blessed to ever come across this video. God is using you in the most beautiful way ever. I do plan on visiting this so called Runyon Canyon one day to help pray with everyone.
I first came across you while watching your show “How Do I Look?” and as I was watching your videos on YouTube, you mentioned your prayer box. I really do look up to people like you thank God for what you’re doing. You are such an inspiration in my life, & I’m so blessed to ever come across this video. God is using you in the most beautiful way ever. I do plan on visiting this so called Runyon Canyon one day to help pray with everyone.
I first came across you while watching your show “How Do I Look?” and as I was watching your videos on YouTube, you mentioned your prayer box. I really do look up to people like you thank God for what you’re doing. You are such an inspiration in my life, & I’m so blessed to ever come across this video. You’ve inspired me to become a more prayerful person
God is using you in the most beautiful way ever so don’t ever give up. I do plan on visiting this so called Runyon Canyon one day to help pray with everyone.
I hope you do make it up Chelsea. Thanks for this!