Answered (un)prayers

Reflecting on prayer leads me to share a true story from last week. While it is a fact that countless people have spent countless hours "knocking at heaven's door" with some heartfelt need or other, it is equally true that there are times when interventions seem to occur when no prayer has been uttered.

We were in Bible study last Thursday and the sweet lady who sits next to me was gone. She has had a bad diagnosis and is suffering greatly. All the more difficult in light of how well she had been feeling prior. She went out last weekend, suddenly began to feel ill, and is now in great need.

After Bible study we celebrate eucharist. About four minutes before the end of class a woman walked in. She is new to the church and did not remember about the class until she walked in. She had been headed to the kitchen to pick up a bowl she left at a recent dinner. "May I join you?" she cheerfully asked as she walked into the hall and sat at table. We literally had four minutes to go! So afterwards we celebrated eucharist for which she stayed. At one point the parish administrator slipped me a note, which I held off until the blessing at the end.

The little lady who is ill needed information about nursing facilities. When I asked everyone present if anyone had a suggestion, our visitor said, "Oh, that is what I do for a living!" Everyone, of course, recognized a divine hand at work. A kindness of God in our midst.

This is what I mean by those who have eyes to see. It is a choice. One can acknowledge God or not. One can say it was a freak coincidence that someone wandered in and stayed with the exact skill set we needed. Or one can say that little pushes and pulls occured to make it happen. One can question why prayers go unanswered while unsolicited acts of grace occur. In the end, there are dozens of options to ponder and question. But the fundamental response, to believe or not, includes an act of will. It is a decision to see and believe, to thank and worship. I am not saying that it is easy for everyone. I am saying it is possible. In the end, it is the willingness to enter relationship with God which determines our life.