Prayers

 


It was still dark, but I couldn’t miss this statement written in chalk on the still sleeping sidewalk on this early morning. I had to stop for a few minutes to contemplate the deep meaning: “God loves you - maybe”. Now that grabs your attention! I must admit, I wasn’t prepared for the “maybe”. Of course, it is good to know that, since love seems to be so up in the air, we are prayed for by the artist.
We live in a world of “maybe”. Maybe the weather will be nice for our weekend plans. Maybe we make it through the pandemic without our family getting sick. Maybe everything gets back to normal soon. Maybe my team wins it all this year. Maybe we get a dog. Maybe. From the simplest things to matters of life and death, we live with “maybe”.
That is why the constants mean so much, why they are essential to our sense of well being. These “non-maybes” may be few, but they are powerful. The sun will come up, and we have another chance at this wonderful gift called life. We are able to choose the person we will be, regardless of the circumstances. Those who really love us will love us, period. These make a difference. These ARE the difference.
The scripture says that “there is no shadow of turning” with God. The moon and planets spin through their orbits around the sun, we spin through the hectic pace of our existence, life unfolds around us moment by fleeting moment. But my sidewalk artist neighbor got this one wrong. There is no “maybe” about our being loved by God. That is the foundational constant of life. It is true whether we believe it or not. It is true, whether at any particular moment, we feel it or not. It is true whether we understand it or not. And it is true for all people everywhere, whether we like it or not. God’s love is one thing about which there is no “maybe”.
But, whoever you are, I still welcome your prayers. There is also no “maybe” about my need for them, or for your need to pray.
Peace.


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