The Power of Prayer

In the last year or so, Candi and I have asked several things of God. We hoped to be stationed in South Dakota to be near family - he said "No." We prayed that I would be stationed anywhere but Korea (because Candi and the kids could not come with) - he said "No." I've prayed (for the last two years) that a friend's coworker would be healed of cancer and turn to Jesus as savior - "No." and "No." We prayed for our friend's newborn to live despite difficult circumstances. This one seemed like a no brainer for God, but he said "No."

Why in the world do we keep praying? There's seemingly no stopping the disappointments. Do I continue to pray because the "Yes" responses outnumber the "No"? It seems "good" things happen regardless of whether we pray or not.

I have plenty of reasons for continuing to pray daily, bringing things to God that are important to me and to others. The biggest cause for continued prayer is corrected spiritual vision. We usually suffer from myopia (near-sightedness). We see the bad and the good, and call the event bad or good. Then we move on. However, God says that if we hang around long enough we'll see Him use the bad to bring good in the end. For example, Candi and I are hanging in there to see what God does after this Korea event is over.

I say "corrected" vision, because if we're all honest our vision is messed up. God has to fix it and we have to be patient enough for Him to make us some good glasses. As I get more comfortable wearing them, I keep them on more often and so I have better "vision" more often.

You could also say that we need to have a "bigger picture" on life, but that just doesn't sound quite right.

I wonder if the glasses that I have will be replaced with even better ones down the road.

I wonder if those new glasses are covered under the new Health Care bill.

We've Got to See the Smaller Picture

I often hear, "You've got to see the Bigger Picture." 

We're encouraged to have a Big Picture when dealing with investing,  when wondering why we have to file TPS reports, when completing household chores, or trying to solve Health Care problems.  We everyday citizens are told we don't understand the complexity of situations in Washington, so we can't form good opinions on issues - alas, we have no Big Picture.

I'd like to throw a thought out about all of this.  I believe our pursuit of the Big Picture is killing us.

Television, radio, and the internet can give us a very Big Picture.  I can know of heartache and suffering, and "evils" done, by literally people all over the world.  And, I don't know about you, but I react to it all with outrage, frustration, or despair.  And I think something should be done about it all. 

But what do I do about it?  What can I do about it?  Most of the time, the answer is "very little" to both questions.  So, what good is my Big Picture doing me?

All the while, other questions - full of more possibilities - go unnoticed.  What do I do about the suffering in my neighborhood?  What can I be doing about heartache in my own house - if I notice it at all?  What should I be doing about the evil in me?  I can do very much about these, but first I need a Smaller Picture - to see what's going on around and in me.

Unfortunately (or not), I don't think we can have both.  I believe the picture we have grows from our priorities.  I've found if I love the goings on of the world, my picture will be Big; my time will be spent making it Big.  And I've found that if I love my family, love God, and love those I actually interact with daily, I will want a small picture; my time will be spent making it Small.

Which picture do you want?

"Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,

     But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth."
                    Proverbs 17:24

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 
     And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
                    Proverbs 9:10

I'll give you this.  There is one Guy that does well with the Big Picture.

The 12th Day of Mustache March, in the Year of Our Lord 2010

It's been a tough nine days and several others have fallen by the wayside, succumbing to the desire to "quench the moustache's fire".  I've grown an odd attachment to it - haven't come up with a name yet.  Can you help me out Eskue?

Me and my moustache hangin' out.

Adios Amigo

In the news is a suspended tower controller from Kennedy Airport.  He brought his kids to work with him, one each of two days and let them issue take-off and frequency switch instructions.  He and the supervisor at the time are now suspended.  Should they be?  I don't know the answer to that, but frankly I'm impressed with his son.  He sounded as confident as any controller I've ever heard.  The pilots obviously didn't sound upset.  What do you think?

You can read the story and listen to the transmissions here.

It's Just You and Me, Pal

We will fight.  You will lose.  My Kung Fu is good.