The devil’s parking lot.
Posted on 8 Dec 2007
A friend had this response to my recent frustration with prayer–specifically my disdain towards those who: ask God for good parking spots at the airport, get their spot, and declare such provision as God’s goodness (true story, and while extreme, I must admit it revealed my distaste for heavenly petitions).
“Doesn’t it make a lot more sense that God would take care of the people who have enough faith to accept life as it comes, whereas Satan (if such a being existed) would be the one who would bend and manipulate things to meet the needs of people who stroked his ego by petitioning for every little thing?”
Prayer, response, recognition as ego massage. Creepy.
Certainly God wants intimacy with each of us and prayer can be such a place. If it were just petition and bending though, God would be no more than a celestial prostitute (didn’t the Greeks have a few of those layin’ around). Do I trust God more by not asking for a thing, confident that God provides what I need; you know the birds and the fields bit we find in Luke 12. But if I learn to ‘accept life as it comes’ does that lead to isolation from God and indifference? Prayer and intimacy and knowing God’s goodness are so intertwined that having one in order to find the other isn’t really the point. The point is not to worry.
Still, I don’t know how to thank God for providing in one moment without blaming him for his absence in another.
Heather
8 Dec 2007 (18:16)
like your new look. i like your writing and honesty as always. have a merry christmas.
Brian
6 Feb 2008 (08:40)
Wow. Thanks for your honesty. I love that!