Bruce Williams "loaned" me a copy of the one book on prayer that he would read while at camp last week. ( he didn't think we need to read about prayer, we just needed to pray) I discovered it in my briefcase when I arrived home, told Bruce I might mail it back, and he said he found another, I should keep it.
So I started it this morning, reading only the introduction. ( Bruce said he found it helpful to read it really slowly.) Now understand, I have gone through seasons in my life when my conversations with God were rich, rewarding, and seriously regular, but like most of you I find myself beginning the days in a state of distraction, getting ready for work, checking bank statements, updating Words with Friends ;-), checking facebook, emails, twitter,....
The introduction inspired me this Saturday morn to start fresh, to reconnect with the God that I love, and see what He may have in store for me now that camp is over. So I put on my favorite Skecher sandals, and began my morning prayer walk. Well, within the first fifty feet, I got a rock in my sandal, and I could not shake it out. So I had to stop, remove the sandal, dump the rock, tiny little thing that it was, put my sandal back on, and resume my prayer walk.
Now, I do enjoy walking with my Father, and He always brings scriptures to mind and kinda helps me think more clearly about them. This morning, it was Psalm 37 ( one of my all-time favorites), and we discussed the first 5 verses. ( You really should read them for yourself.)
In a little while, my sandal picked up another little stone, even smaller than the first. It wouldn't shake out, I couldn't ignore it, so I had to stop, again, take off my sandal, dump the little offender, restore my sandal to my foot, and finish my walk.
You know how Jesus so often told stories (parables) to His followers. He still does that. He said, " You notice how we can be walking along together, having a good time, and all of a sudden, some little thing going on with some little part of your body interrupts everything, demanding your immediate attention, refusing to leave you alone until you use another part of your body to help it?"
Yeah?
I started to think. His body is like that. I get wrapped up in what I think I am supposed to do, and sometimes, some other part of the body demands my attention, and I have to stop and take care of him first, before I do the next thing. If I ignore the other one, eventually I will be walking with a limp, possibly get a stone bruise, and it will take some time to get back to what He planned for me.
Or maybe this was His plan all along.
