There was a flying squirrel in my son and daughter-in-law’s hotel room.
Yes—a flying squirrel. In Kennebunkport (which is just fun to say). At 1 a.m., they heard scratching, flipped on the light, and watched this tiny acrobat sprint up the drapes, across the floor, then back up the wall.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“Simple,” Ben said. “We opened the door, shewed him out, and called the manager.”
I laughed—and then I thought, what a picture of our minds when life gets loud.
When your brain feels like a room full of squirrels
On the flight home from Tampa, my sister described her thoughts the way Ben described that squirrel—lists, tasks, worries, and what-ifs ricocheting off the walls. The more they ran, the more she wanted to control everything. Maybe you know that feeling: the cycle that drives you (and everyone around you) a little crazy.
So—what do we do when fear and frenzy start sprinting up the drapes?
Ben’s late-night solution is a surprisingly wise framework.
The 4-Step Reset
1) OPEN THE DOOR (to your intuitive mind)
Hit pause. Breathe. Create a quiet opening where you can notice what’s really happening inside. Step back from the swirl and look with curiosity, not judgment.
Try this: Put your hand on your heart and ask, What’s actually going on with me right now? What am I feeling?
2) LAY IT OUT (name the squirrels)
Bring the chaos into the light. Name the specific worries, fears, and “shoulds”: the email you’re avoiding, the decision you’re dreading, the story you’re telling yourself about not being enough.
Try this: Write a quick list—no editing. Get the squirrels onto paper so they stop sprinting in your head.
3) CALL THE MANAGER (ask God)
Invite God into the room you just cleared. Ask:
What do You want me to know about this?
What’s the one next thing You want me to do?
Wait long enough to hear the nudge—a thought, an idea, a settling peace. It might take a few moments. Stay until you sense that small, quiet yes.
4) DO IT (return to the rational and act)
Take the next right step—make the call, set the boundary, schedule the appointment, delete the thing that doesn’t belong. Small obedience breaks big spirals.
Remember: in the Kingdom, even the flying squirrels are working for you.
A 5-Minute “Squirrel Sweep”
When you feel the scramble starting, try this quick reset:
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Open – 3 slow breaths. “God, I’m here.”
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Lay Out – Jot 3 squirrels.
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Ask – “What do You want me to know/do?” Listen.
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Do – One doable action in the next 24 hours.
Tiny steps restore big peace.