Sunday morning, I sat down and opened up my Bible app to read, and, as I always do before I start reading, I prayed, “God, give me something.” I always pray that He will give me some little nugget, some takeaway, from each day’s reading.
Some days, God gives me a gold mine. Some days it’s more like a single freshly picked flower. Some days it’s a toe-squishing.
Sunday, I prayed, “God, give me something,” and never even made it into the first line of my reading. Because what He gave me was a thought, a phrase, an idea that spewed out onto the pages of my word processor.
Some writing ideas simmer for a long time before they make it to the pages. Others show up out of nowhere and have to be let out RIGHT NOW.
But they all stem from that simple prayer, “God, give me something.”
There’s a lot I don’t know. I don’t know the square root of pi. I don’t know what’s at either the edge or the center of the universe. I don’t know exactly how old the earth is. I don’t know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie pop. I don’t know the answer to how to achieve world peace, outside of Jesus. I don’t know if dinosaurs more closely resembled lizards or chickens. I don’t know how to do open heart surgery, or any surgery for that matter. I don’t know how to argue a legal case in a court of law. I don’t know why my shoelaces won’t stay tied. I don’t know exactly how my car engine works. I don’t know why some people are okay with the existence of inequity. But what I do know? How wonderful that first sip of coffee is every morning. How precious it is to snuggle a newborn baby and breathe in their scent. The satisfaction found in closing the last pages of a really good book. The relief of having an idea in your head (and your heart) and finally getting it out onto paper and it actually makes sense. The comfort in the hug of someone you love and trust. The peacefulness in the quiet either before everyone else gets up, or after everyone else goes to bed. The calm that is brought by taking an outdoor walk alone with God. The joy that is brought by listening to good music, and singing along. How delightful it is to sit around a “bondfire” late at night, having meaningful conversation with friends. The relaxing feeling of stepping into the shower after a long, hard day’s work, and teh refreshed feeling that comes from stepping back out. The comforting love of family, friends, and a gracious, merciful God.
