CONVERSATION
Now picture this: I am sitting at my desk. With my iPad on the desk. Using the computer, I am “finger talking”
with a Facebook friend in England. Then
the iPad sounds off. It is our son. So I “finger talk” with him also.
Now how cool is that? Son is only 20 miles away but England is over
the pond and I am having a conversation with both of them at the same
time. Doesn’t that just beat all?
Conversation: 1. an informal talk
involving two people or a small group of people, 2. oral exchange of sentiments, observations,
opinions, or ideas, 3. an exchange
similar to conversation
Now anyone that knows me will
attest to my ability to have a conversation.
I strike up conversations with strangers while standing in a line, riding
in an elevator or eating in a restaurant.
Longer conversations take place over a cup of coffee. Really long exchanges of ideas can last for
hours at our discussion group. My hubby
will tell you I am very proficient in having conversations with him where he
never utters a word.
“Mary.”
“Yes, God.”
“So you talk to strangers,
friends and your husband?”
“Yes, God.”
“What about me, Mary? When was the last time you spoke to me?”
“What? I talked to you this morning as I was getting
out of bed.”
“Yes, but that did not last long
because you … well you were in a hurry to get to the little room.”
“I know. I drank coffee last night… Hey, you are the
one who created me and you know how coffee…...”
“Mary, you are missing the
point. You said you talked to
strangers. You have longer conversations
over coffee and, if I remember right, that one discussion group lasted for
three and a half hours. I can also have
compassion for Bill because many of our conversations are very one sided. My question is this: have you ever talked to me for three and a
half hours?”
“No. But..Well..Honestly? You expect me to talk to you for that
long? And besides, I was not the only
one talking at the discussion group!”
“Mary, you are not supposed to be
the only one talking when we are having a conversation either.”
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Oh, drat. Hate it when God does that, but He does have
a very good point. It seems I have time
to have real live conversations, “finger talk” conversations and back and forth
conversations on Facebook. Why is it so
hard to set time to talk with God?
After all, as busy as Jesus was
he sure found time. He went to the
mountainside (Luke 6:12), he went alone (Matthew 14:23), he took Peter, John
and James with him (Luke 9:28-29) and he prayed that if it was God’s will that
the cup be taken from him (Luke 22:40-42).
Jesus ask God to give his
disciples the Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17) and he prayed them right into
God’s hands. Then Jesus prayed for all
who will believe in him through the messages they hear (John 17:6-9).
My favorite image is from Mark
1:35-38. Jesus’ alarm clock must not
have a snooze button, because he even got up very early, while it was still
dark, quietly slipped out of the house so as not to wake the disciples and
found a place where he could be alone.
Old Testament to New Testament,
Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, there is just a whole lot of praying
going on. Men. Women.
Jews. Gentiles. Children.
Old. Young. Jesus. Disciples.
You would think God would enjoy some peace and quiet. But no!
There are 108 verses on prayer, plus those on praise, shout, proclaim
and witness. Although there are a number
of instructions on what we are not to do with our voice, it seems God rather
enjoys hearing from us.
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“God?”
“Yes, Mary.”
“I have been thinking about our
earlier discussion and wondered if you have a minute.”
“My child, I always have
time. My clock not only lacks a snooze
button, it does not even have hands on it.”
“Well, I have this idea but I
want to kick it around a bit. Make sure
it has your stamp of approval. Yes, I
know, that means I will have to wait and listen, not just talk. And by the way, the sunrise this morning…………………….”
