Distracted or Meditating

There's a simple pleasure that I take in life, and that's burning a fire. I love to start, maintain, and extinguish fires. There's something so relaxing about it. About a year ago I decommissioned a grill because someone gave us a much nicer used one. So I took the propane off the old one and the grates out, and now I burn controlled fires in an enclosed container. It's also nice because I have the largest tree in the world in my back yard. It produces a never ending supply of sticks to burn. So at least a couple times a month I walk around my back yard picking up sticks, starting and maintaining fires and praying. Yup, praying.

I think that I've shared before that my prayer strategy is pretty simple, but I find it effective. I have a stack of 3x5 cards that I carry during prayer. The cards have a heading at the top, and I write notes underneath for prayer and answered prayer. These cards list categories of needs like financial support for the church and I pray for our supporters, to individuals names and needs. I might pray for you. I definately pray for you if you have a card. If you ever wonder, feel free to ask.

(I'll show you mine, so I won't disclose anyones privacy.)

Now am I burning a fire or praying? I've been thinking about this because I think my wife thinks I'm burning a fire. I mean, that is what I'm doing, and it appears to be all I'm getting done. But if you ask me, I'm praying. Doing an outdoor activity like that helps me feel close to God, and I take my time not just reading words off a card, but thinking about the person or need I'm praying for meditating on how I want God to bless them.

I'm no spiritual giant. In fact, when you stack all the great pastors of the world on top of each other, all of them are glad I don't qualify to add my weight to the pile. I just enjoy spending time like this in prayer. Maybe you need to seek a new prayer method?

--Ben