Tag: Psalm 139

How are you?

On By ablefaithIn prayers2 Comments

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.

Advertisement

The Works of God

On By ablefaithIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The New Testament Gosepl of John, chapter 9 is the account of the interaction between Jesus and a man who was born blind. The first sentence of the narrative is: As he [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

What I love about this opening sentence is that Jesus saw the man! The narrrative continues as Jesus’ disciples discuss probable causes for his blindness, for they saw the blindness, not the man. Jesus not only saw the man but he entered into a relationship with him and then later Jesus sought him out for a deeper conversation (John 9:35). Jesus’ answer about the man and his blindness illustrates Jesus’ belief in the value of all people, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day….” 

Jesus countered that the presence of a disability in a person presents an opportunity to do the work of God.  Disability presents the opportunity for people to see the humanity, the marvelousness (Psalm 139) of another person. In an earlier conversation with his disciples they said to Jesus, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:28-29). Belief influences action. The actions of those who believe in “Him whom He has sent” should mirror his actions. In our conversation about people with disabilities that would mean seeing their humanity and entering into a relationship with them, just like Jesus did.