Saturday, September 03, 2016

The Secret Power of Innocent Questions






One exceptionally busy year, Ash Wednesday sneaked up on me utterly unprepared.  I woke up that morning, suddenly realizing what day it was.

Being too early - Before Coffee - my brain was still in the mushy pre-caffeine state.

What should I be fasting from?.... What should I be fasting from?

Since nothing was coming to my mind, I had enough sense to throw the question at God, asking Him if there might be something - anything He would like me to give up for Lent that year...

Then I jumped out of bed – by now we were already running late for school – quickly forgetting all about the Lent and my question, until I got back home to the peace and quiet and the second cup of coffee to enjoy...  

That’s when I noticed that my beautiful lima-green iPod earbuds were… gone!

With them, gone was my peace, quiet, and the anticipated enjoyment of the second cup of java, which sat abandoned on the kitchen counter, turning cold and bitter.

It wasn’t until late that afternoon, having circled my bike route on foot three times, that I finally conceded. 

I was both resentful and mystified….

I felt my earbuds were taken from me without my consent. I definitely do not like my things taken from me without my consent. It’s called stealing. But, it's hard to pin that on God, since I am quick to profess that He owns it all anyway.

But, even more than that, I was baffled.

Why in the world would God – GOD?!!?!! - need my favorite EAR BUDS???

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