No Time Like the Present

Armageddon!
Apocalypse!
A fiery end!

These are some of the descriptors the TV folks are using to describe the terrible, terrible devastation being caused in Southern California by the wildfires, aided and abetted by the extremely dry and strong Santa Ana winds.

And indeed, it almost seems to be like the language used in the Bible about the end days.

One family loses everything, the next family interviewed managed to save all that was valuable. The wind blows embers on to one house causing a fire that completely destroys that house, while neighboring houses are spared, and are still standing. People are literally fleeing for their lives, turning to sports arenas for housing, to strangers for assistance, to outsiders for help. And the scenes at night show fires burning out of control, while firefighters battle fatigue as well as flames.

Armageddon!
Apocalypse!
A fiery end!

But rather than some folks being left behind, people are risking their lives to make sure everyone is evacuated. Rather than armies waging war against one another, people that might not speak on the street are reaching out to one another with food, with shelter, with water, with hope. Instead of some folks mysteriously disappearing in an instant, people are appearing from all over the country to offer their gifts, their talents, their lives to others.

Maybe we are being reminded that when the end times come, they will provide the opportunity, not to pat ourselves on the back because we are Christian, but to break our backs in serving those whose lives, whose hearts, whose spirits have been broken by life.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Without a Prayer

It's one of those things we know we should do, but which many of us have trouble practicing. It's one of those things that some folks seem to have a gift for, while others of us run to hide when asked to do it. It's probably the thing pastors are asked to do most often, and asked about most often by parishioners, strangers, children.

Prayer.

Other than commentaries on the Bible, I probably have more books on prayer than anything else. I probably have gone to more seminars on prayer than any other topic. I probably have talked about prayer with people more than any other subject. I probably spend more time working on prayers than sermons. And I still feel like a kindergartner when it comes to prayer!

I struggle with finding the time for prayer; with the place for prayer; with the words for prayer; with the proper attitude for prayer. There are times when I feel like I need to impress God with my verbal prowess, and so use the prayers of some of the great wordsmiths of the church, only to wonder, 'were they saying what I was trying to say?"

I've tried all sorts of 'postures' for prayer, from my nose pressed into the carpet, to my knees aching from wooden floors, to arms that grow weary stretched out to the heavens. There are those days when I just don't seem to have the energy, or wisdom, or belief to sustain my prayers, and I have to rely on those simple little ones I learned as a child, including, 'now I lay me down to sleep."

But I've decided I am going to keep trying, and hoping I will make it to the first grade. I will struggle with words, and trust that the Word that became flesh will whisper them into God's ear. I will try to find the time, even when I don't want to or even think I have any, and remain confident that the One who created every moment will take the time to hear my soul. I will use my body, my heart, my hands, my feet, my lips, my eyes, my spirit to bring my hopes and dreams, my fears and joys, to the One who created me out of dust and breathed the Spirit of God into me.

I will, as Jesus says, pray without giving up . . .

. . .because if I give up, I don't have a prayer.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman