A Personal Note to 2017 & 2018

Dear 2017,

Thanks and it was good to know you. You were good to me for the most part.

You certainly brought highs and lows; but overall, the highs were higher than the lows were low. Once in a while I will look back upon you with fondness; and hopefully, very little regret.

Honestly though, it will not be often. I'd rather keep my eyes forward - and in a bit, you will be behind.

You'll have to see yourself out. I plan to sleep through your retirement. So I'll say goodnight old friend. I hope the brotherhood of past years welcomes you to their fraternity and treats you kindly. (Though I'd keep an eye out for 1350 and 1918 (both anno domini), the Dark Ages, and most of the BC years - they can be a bit grumpy and old fashioned.)


Dear 2018,

Welcome. I'm excited to meet you. Forgive me that I'm not up when you arrive. I'd rather have coffee with you after sunrise, than shots with you tonight. Besides, you are going to be meeting a lot of new faces in the next few hours and if you're anything like me with names... well...

I look forward to exploring all you have in store. There will be joys as well as pains, but I have a good feeling about you. I think we will be friends. As a matter of fact, I might make it my resolution.


You know, I just realized something: 2017, like age, you are just a number. You were what I made of you.

And 2018, you are the same; a perfectly clean whiteboard awaiting my squeaky marker. I won't write neatly. There will be misspellings. But I hope to fill you to the borders with love, joy, purpose, family, friends... and a host of passionate pursuits.

It's kind of funny; I wrap up this note in a limbo time between the two of you. And yet here I am. One of you is on the way out, the other coming. And yet I have now. Maybe that is the lesson from all the years past and for those upcoming... I have now. Now is all I have. So now is what I will make the most of.
(And 2018, I promise to try to stop ending sentences with prepositions. Another resolution? Nah.)

So, goodbye and hello.
Your friend,
D

A Stumbler's Walk | BEAUTIFUL PRAYERS

A while ago I was asked to pray at a (non-family*) gathering. I don't specifically recall the occasion or setting. As often happens, the host gathered everyone together and said we were going to have a prayer. Again, as often happens, being the former "professional" in the group, the spinning bottle pointed to me. (I'm being a bit tongue-in-cheek. I certainly don't mind and actually am honored to lead.)

At some point afterward a nice woman approached me and said, "That was a beautiful prayer." I thanked her, appreciating the comment; but not thinking much about it... Until recently. 

That was a beautiful prayer. Was it? Why? Was it eloquent? Did I speak nice flowery words? Was my prayer meant to be beautiful? And if so, to whom? (You should be way ahead of me at this point.)  

If my beautiful prayer is intended for those around me, but not the One to whom prayer-offerings should be made, then it is not a beautiful prayer. It is words - a sermonette at best. If my beautiful prayer is directed toward others, it is not a beautiful prayer. In fact, it is not prayer at all - no matter how tingly we may feel.   

"God is great, God is good... thank you for the food... Amen," can be a beautiful prayer when spoken from a childlike heart. And the most theologically accurate and dramatically eloquent prayer makes it no higher than the ceiling insulation when spoken for the purpose of theological and dramatic self-aggrandizement. 

"Help!" can be a beautiful prayer. 

"Thank you..." can be a beautiful prayer. 

Focused silence can be a beautiful prayer. 

Yet, the most eloquent of words that may move a stadium filled to capacity, dully die-out having not reached heaven if they are spoken to move the masses rather than to reach the ears of God.** 

So what is a beautiful prayer?  I am not a prayer expert, but here are a couple thoughts... the list certainly can be expanded, but you get the idea:

• A prayer of thanks. We see this again and again in Jesus' prayers. (Note: I've often wanted, when asked to pray at a gathering, to say (in my most Billy Graham voice), "Let us pray... (pause)... Thanks." Then I'd watch as people slowly opened one squinting eye to look around, checking if they were going deaf, or if the prayer was over.)
• A prayer of desperation. I love this prayer from Mark's gospel, "I believe; help my unbelief!" God, that's me! Or there is the unspoken desperation of a woman reaching out to simply touch the dust-rubbing hem of Jesus' coat. 
• A prayer of hope. Note the woman above (Matthew 9:19-21).
• A prayer of trust. Peter to Jesus: "To whom else will we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)
• A prayer love. Who doesn't cherish being told by their children, "I love you"?

Ultimately, a beautiful prayer is any prayer offered from a seeking and honest heart to a God we hope is listening.

He is.

God, thanks... and help!

For now...

D

*Most family-gathering prayers involve food, and usually prepared by my sister. These prayers are very short, as I am hungry and the food is incredible. Long prayers over food are not beautiful prayers!

**Thank God for grace; that he sees our hearts when our minds and motives get in the way. And he hears what is unknown and unspoken when we are honest with him. Therefore, take what I have written as overstatement. But we should all inspect our hearts when dealing with the most powerful and precious resource available to us... that of personal and intimate communication with the God of the universe; and the opportunity to invite him into our, and others', lives, situations and circumstances.