It might sound a bit weird, but I had a chat to God today.
I won’t say a chat “with” God, because let’s face it, he doesn’t really tend to talk back much (or if he does, I don’t hear him. Or maybe it’s just that selective hearing loss kicking in again?!).
I must confess: it’s not something I do all that much these days (you can read more about my midlife crisis of faith here).
But when it comes to tough times, or things I’m really concerned about – particularly with regard to my kids – I find myself falling back into old habits.
So what inspired my little chat to God?
Mr 24 has applied for (another) job. It’s really hard to see your kid struggling in the extremely competitive job market – so on my walk, I started telling God about it.
It seems so unfair – my boy has almost completed his uni course. He’s interned at a local company. He’s worked part time in fast food for years and is one of their best workers. He’s got everything going for him and yet … is not having any success in getting a paid position in his field. He even got knocked back for a role recently, because he’d interned and they preferred somebody with no experience. Are you freakin’ kidding me? Way to punish a kid for showing drive and initiative!
So a little divine help, certainly wouldn’t go astray …
But then I got thinking about HOW I should ask God for what I want.
- Do I come over all bold and order him to do it in Jesus’ name (as I was taught to do during my years in church)? It just feels wrong though, y’know? Who am I to boss God around?
- Do I humbly and nervously put in a request along the lines of … Sorry God, it’s just me, and well, if you wouldn’t mind, please … but I don’t want to bother you, sorry … but it would be awesome if … sorry, I know I have no right to ask and it’s probably not all that important in the scheme of things … and I know it’s been a while since we chatted but please …
- Or do I just lay out the facts: This is what we want. This is why we want it. And in the manner of Captain Picard from Star Trek, tell God to “make it so”.
As if that’s not enough, then my head starts spinning as I consider further: What’s the point? Maybe I’m just talking to myself. Maybe it’s not God’s plan. Will my little chat to God today actually do any good? (Can you tell I’m a bit of an over thinker?!).
I might be a bit of a “lapsed Christian” (rather than a “lapsed Catholic”), but I actually had a bit of a chat to God today. I’ll let you know if anything comes of it …
Do you ever chat to God? What sort of things cause you to become a “God-botherer”?