Glory to you, Creator God,

As it was in the beginning, and now is, and forever will be,

World without end.

Creator God,

Abba,

Loving Parent:

Around here we have the custom of asking,

“How are you?”

But we do not expect an answer,

We ask the question with not enough time available to hear an honest answer.

We know that when we are asked that question that the asker does not want the truth.

You, Abba God, ask humanity the questions,

     “Where are you?”

     “What do you want?”

“How are you?”

You have the time to listen,

You want to know our answers.

And you listen to our answers.

Today we have people in our physical and on-line lives who need us to ask,

“How are you?”

Then they need us

     to wait for a real answer,

     to have focused time to hear how they truly are,

     to be a safe place for them to be honest,

     to listen.

Afraid,

Confused,

Angry,

Tired.

God, please

      A crying or angry emoji is not sufficient.

     Open my heart if I am tempted walk or scroll away from their pain.

Open my mind to hear the the depth of their words and experience.

     I pray for a mind and heart that seeks to understand.

May my prayer humbly be the words of the Psalm, (Psalm 139:23-24)

     Search me, O God, and know my heart;
     Try me and know my thoughts;

     And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
     And lead me in the everlasting way.

May I authentically ask, “How are you?”

I really want to know.

Amen.

Note- featured image from Google Pexel Photos.