I’m not a big fan of parking garages. No, let me rephrase that — I’m actually terrified of driving around endlessly hunting a space, and equally nervous about getting lost on the way to the elevator.
Both these fears coalesced recently, when I visited a dentist in downtown Decatur for the first time.
The garage was jam-packed with cars, so I begged God to help me find a space. Almost instantly, I spotted one.
As I emerged from my car, I realized navigating my way through this concrete edifice would be daunting so I uttered another prayer.
At that precise moment, I spotted a man exiting his car and asked him for directions. He immediately came to my rescue, walking me to the elevator and over to the nearby building.
Now some would say this was all a gigantic coincidence, and God had nothing to do with it. They’d claim God is too busy to handle such trivial matters — but I disagree.
Prayers needn’t be about lofty, super-important matters, although they often are. Our petitions also can be about simple, down-to-earth, everyday needs.
Nothing is impossible for God, so why couldn’t he become involved in mundane matters? Yes, he’s master of the universe, but also a loving father, who surely wouldn’t stand on the sidelines.
When I look back on my life, I can see God answered many of my important requests with a resounding yes.
My dad came through open-heart surgery when I was in high school, and when I was gallivanting around in my 20s, my more traditional-minded sister delivered three healthy babies.
Often, we get angry with God when he doesn’t give us what we want. That’s a perfectly understandable reaction, but it helps to reflect on all the times he’s said “yes.”
Think of all the tests you prayed you would pass, all the times you returned safely home from a trip, all the successes at work and the happy events in your family.
Mother Teresa’s motto was “Do small things with great love” — which can mean helping an elderly person carry a package, smiling at a child at the pool and complimenting a friend on her dress.
If we can do tiny things out of love for others, why couldn’t God do the same for us?
Mother Teresa began her ministry by tending to one dying person on the streets of Calcutta.
In “Heart of Joy,” she writes about the work she and her sisters undertake: “What we do is less than a drop in the ocean. But if that drop were missing, the ocean would lack something.”
Jesus said anyone who gave a cup of cold water to one of his disciples would be rewarded in heaven. How simple a gesture that is — and yet how vital to a thirsty person.
He also reminded us God sees the sparrow fall, which suggests the ruler of the universe is a hands-on sort of fellow.
I’m still grieving over my husband’s death — and some days I feel like a sparrow that’s crashed to earth.
Last Sunday was one of those days, when I cast a critical glance at the sad lady in the mirror and then trudged off to church in a blue mood.
I attended Divine Liturgy at St. John Chrysostom Melkite Catholic church, and during the service, there’s a moment when people greet each other and affirm, “Christ is among us.”
As I turned to the little girl behind me, she looked at me with big, shining eyes and thoroughly surprised me by exclaiming, “You’re beautiful!”
Later, I thanked God for this little, ordinary reminder of his endlessly generous, unfailing love. That comment, you see, was truly a cup of water for a thirsty soul.
About the Author
