Prayer Prompt

The Touch of God

The man whispered, "God, speak to me."
And a meadowlark sang.
But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me!"
And, the thunder rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you."
And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle!"
And, a life was born.
But, the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and Let me know you are here!"
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

from Christopher Ian Chenoweth's
Daily Inspiration, 4/25/2009

RSVP? Never "Regrets"

Whenever I invite God to be with me for anything, I never receive an RSVP with "regretfully, I cannot attend..."

I got into my Too Competitive Mode playing racquetball the other day. Yeah, for me "too competitive" is when I'm more intent on yelling at myself for a bad shot than on enjoying the chance to play the game. I missed a shot and I yelled at me.

So then I botched another shot. I really yelled.

And the little voice in my head whispered the reminder not to do that. I have a practiced how-to-get-out-of-the-too-competitive-mindset method. It works. I applied it right then.

I smile. I quietly say my fave affirmation: God is within me. God is around me. Everything is of God. I remind myself God is in the racquetball box with us.

Next morning I thought about that game, a game that ended well whether I won or not. The combo of smiling and inviting God to the game returned me to my Enjoy the Game Mode. Much better than the TCM.

I wrote about that in my morning pages. I realized I can always invite God to join me, to be with me no matter what I am doing. Seemed a bit ironic at first, since I've finally come to know that God is always with me (and with me all ways).

But, no, it is different when I consciously ask God to join me. First of all (see the title), God never says, "No, I can't make it today." Second, it makes me actively aware that I have God's company. Third, that makes whatever is happening a heck of a lot more pleasant (or secure or comforting or happy or simply better).

I remember my disappointment 50+ years ago whenever I knocked on next-door-neighbor Mark's door and he'd tell me he couldn't come out and play.

It's so nice that God never says that.