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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Someone IS Listening
February 16, 2007
I was sitting in one of those places where all the major questions for the
future of Norwich, our state and even our nation are discussed and
debated. Will Utopia and Preston come to terms? Is Governor Rell's
income tax increase going to pass? Will Congress be able to block
President Bush's efforts to send more troops into Iraq? Every morning the
banter flies across the aisle as various participants share their point of view
as they try to come to some consensus that will allow them to decide the
questions once and for all.
I am talking about my mornings at Dixie Donuts of course. You can laugh
but the discussions are real and everyone has a good time. And when
things get out of hand, Kathy let's us know it. Anyway, I was in there the
other morning reading my paper when the Coach looked at me and said,
"Nice job." I wasn't sure what he was referring to until he continued, "I
heard you on the radio yesterday. Nice job."
I thanked him and then had to think twice about his comment. I guess I
didn't really believe that anyone would hear what I said on the radio the
day before. I traveled up to Putnam to be a guest on the Morning Show
with Gary O at WINY. For an hour on a Wednesday morning we chatted
about how I play hide and seek with God each week and retell the stories
in the Norwich Bulletin. Gary is very easy to talk to and we hit it off at the
outset. We talked about our common connections with the Rotary club,
the Pierce Baptist Home, our love of sports and the hour went by very
quickly.
The truth is that I could have been sitting in his living room. It felt that
comfortable. It was almost as if we were simply meeting over coffee and
talking about the important things in our lives. Even though I saw all that
radio equipment, the thought that people were actually listening in didn't
occur to me. I would have been a lot more nervous if I knew. It wasn't
until I was back there at Dixie Donuts that it became real. Sitting there
where all the big decisions were being made, I realized through the
Coach's comments that I was heard that day.
All of a sudden it occurred to me that some of us feel the same way about
our prayers being heard. We look at prayer as devotional exercise. We
pray because we think we are supposed to but not necessarily because we
believe it can make a difference. How many times have you prayed for a
sick friend or relative and then confessed that you didn't really know if it
would do any good?
Well, here is the good news. Someone sitting in a place of power and
authority is listening and I'm not talking about the donut shop. God hears
your prayers. Just because they are not answered in a flash or in the way
you imagine, doesn't mean that you are not being heard. When you talk to
God, when you sit down and share your hopes and fears, you may think
you are just shooting the breeze with an old friend, but God can hear you
and He is more powerful than even those guys at Dixie Donuts. So keep
the faith. Keep talking to God and then give thanks when you find out first
hand that He has heard you and sent a blessing your way.
God bless. See you in Church. Cal
February 16, 2007
I was sitting in one of those places where all the major questions for the
future of Norwich, our state and even our nation are discussed and
debated. Will Utopia and Preston come to terms? Is Governor Rell's
income tax increase going to pass? Will Congress be able to block
President Bush's efforts to send more troops into Iraq? Every morning the
banter flies across the aisle as various participants share their point of view
as they try to come to some consensus that will allow them to decide the
questions once and for all.
I am talking about my mornings at Dixie Donuts of course. You can laugh
but the discussions are real and everyone has a good time. And when
things get out of hand, Kathy let's us know it. Anyway, I was in there the
other morning reading my paper when the Coach looked at me and said,
"Nice job." I wasn't sure what he was referring to until he continued, "I
heard you on the radio yesterday. Nice job."
I thanked him and then had to think twice about his comment. I guess I
didn't really believe that anyone would hear what I said on the radio the
day before. I traveled up to Putnam to be a guest on the Morning Show
with Gary O at WINY. For an hour on a Wednesday morning we chatted
about how I play hide and seek with God each week and retell the stories
in the Norwich Bulletin. Gary is very easy to talk to and we hit it off at the
outset. We talked about our common connections with the Rotary club,
the Pierce Baptist Home, our love of sports and the hour went by very
quickly.
The truth is that I could have been sitting in his living room. It felt that
comfortable. It was almost as if we were simply meeting over coffee and
talking about the important things in our lives. Even though I saw all that
radio equipment, the thought that people were actually listening in didn't
occur to me. I would have been a lot more nervous if I knew. It wasn't
until I was back there at Dixie Donuts that it became real. Sitting there
where all the big decisions were being made, I realized through the
Coach's comments that I was heard that day.
All of a sudden it occurred to me that some of us feel the same way about
our prayers being heard. We look at prayer as devotional exercise. We
pray because we think we are supposed to but not necessarily because we
believe it can make a difference. How many times have you prayed for a
sick friend or relative and then confessed that you didn't really know if it
would do any good?
Well, here is the good news. Someone sitting in a place of power and
authority is listening and I'm not talking about the donut shop. God hears
your prayers. Just because they are not answered in a flash or in the way
you imagine, doesn't mean that you are not being heard. When you talk to
God, when you sit down and share your hopes and fears, you may think
you are just shooting the breeze with an old friend, but God can hear you
and He is more powerful than even those guys at Dixie Donuts. So keep
the faith. Keep talking to God and then give thanks when you find out first
hand that He has heard you and sent a blessing your way.
God bless. See you in Church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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