At Wit’s End

“I simply don’t have any more to give!” the young woman sitting across from me put her head in her hands.

“There is nothing more I can do — and I can’t stand it!” the middle-aged man got up from his chair and walked over to stare out the window.

“I’m tired all the time ... but I can’t sleep; I lie awake at night and worry.” the great-grandmother said with a weary sigh.

On several different occasions over the past week I’ve been engaged in discussions with distressed and frustrated Christians. They are at their wits’ ends.

These are good people who have given selflessly of their time, their talents, and their money — but nothing changes. The problems they’ve been working to solve, the relationships they’ve tried to mend, the troubles they’ve tried to address .... despite all they have done, despite all of their striving and all their best efforts, the situations remain as steadfastly awful as ever.

In some cases things have gotten worse.

And that stinks.

Patience, Patience .... Phooey!

We are a people programmed to “get results” — and quickly. If those regular strength aspirins don’t knock out our headaches pronto, we’re down at the drug store buying a bottle of Extra-Strength Excedrin within the hour. An oil change in 20 minutes or it’s free. Streaming video and instant messaging.

That’s how the world works: that’s what we expect. We want to see the change we’re working for, and we want to see it soon.

Beyond that, we want some assurance. A sign, as it were.

Now, nobody is asking for a miracle: we aren’t scanning the skies for a pillar of smoke or looking for water to turn into wine. It’s just that we’ve been working really, really hard. And we’d really, really like some encouragement. Some progress would serve as a kind of holy pep-talk so we can be sure we’re headed in the right direction.

Don’t Just Sit There!

We’re also programmed theologically; the fine old tradition of “muscular Christianity” insists upon the value of an active faith. In following our Lord’s footsteps we are called to be at work in the world, building up His kingdom; changing things for the better: feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, speaking out for the poor and the vulnerable.

That’s all very true.

But that wasn’t all that Jesus did. Sometimes he “went away by himself to pray.”

Sometimes we have to stop, and rest, and breathe, and pray. Sometimes we have to listen for the Voice that spoke to the psalmist and said, “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10).

That’s what I’ve been advising the folks I’ve been talking to of late: take a break from the striving and struggling to simply “be.” Take some time to sit with God and just enjoy life as it is — in its manifold and chaotic glory.

Oh, Really?

Then this scripture pops up in the lectionary: a parable in which Jesus appears to be lauding effort and action and condemning those who simply sit. Oh dear. My first thought was that perhaps God was sending me a message. Was I mis-directing my directees?

But then I took my own advice and read the passage over several times, with quiet and prayerful attention. (Or, as one of my seminary professors used to say: “Shut up and listen.”)

It wasn’t long before I realized I had fallen into the very trap from which I was trying to extricate my friends. I was treating prayer as unimportant; as though praying was the same as “doing nothing.” It isn’t.

Ultimate Value

The Lord used money in his story because it was readily understood to be “valuable.” The employer was entrusting his company to his staff: giving over to their care the lifeblood of the business; asking them to tend to its success. If they had failed, all might have been lost.

We’ve been asked by the Beloved to tend to the earth; to care for our precious blue-green planet and all that dwell upon it. We’ve been given gifts far more precious than gold. Love, health, happiness, friendships, compassion, peace of mind. Those blessings cannot be purchased with any amount of money. Money is not what matters.

The Work of Prayer

Above all other causes for joyful celebration is the grace we have received by being called into relationship with the Radiant Lord Christ. We have been invited follow his path, to set our course by his teachings; to love, to heal, to bless, and to pray.

Jesus prayed. Always. It was an essential aspect of all his work, shining forth over all he said and did. He prayed because his prayers were heard. He prayed because it made a difference. And we, who hope to imitate his life, can do nothing that is of greater value.

Prayer is the most important work you can do.

Virtual hugs and real-time blessings,

Deborah +

This Week's Suggested Spiritual Exercise

Reflect on this passage:

“Be still and know that I am God.”
    ~ Psalm 46:10