Friends with God
The new series “God Friended Me” is pretty cute. I’ve been trying to watch it regularly to remove myself from the daily barrage of hate, anger and sadness that permeates the news and social media.
I actually experienced a little “unfriending” by God on my last trip to Phoenix.
October was a very busy month. I was hired to decorate a “giving” tree for a resort in Scottsdale. Three charities would be spotlighted, one in October, one in November and the final one in December. The tree would need to be redecorated each month to represent the charity.
The first tree went up October 1st. Upon completion I drove back to Anaheim and we flew to Denver for four days to visit our daughter and boyfriend. After returning to Anaheim I left for a 10 day trip to Chicago. Five days later I headed back to Phoenix to decorate for the second charity!
Needless to say I was starting to get a little punchy. I tried to psych myself up to put together a tree topper that I had only envisioned. It had to be awesome to entice people to donate to this charity. No pressure… It’s 6:15pm, it should only take me about an hour. I got this!
In walks God…
A friend, who is helping, stops by my son’s condo and we decide I’ll follow her to the resort – my car is loaded with supplies. She leaves and when I try to start my car, it won’t turn over. It does that clicking thing and I quickly call her. I know if I need the engine rebuilt, she’s my gal. She makes a U-turn and heads back. She agrees – battery. We transfer all my crap to her car and head out.
My mind is now racing. I have to be to the resort before the room is locked. I need to figure out how to get a new battery before leaving at 6:00am tomorrow. And I HAVE to leave tomorrow because we’re having friends visit that will be arriving in Anaheim late afternoon…
We arrive on time, unload the supplies, sign in at security and start to take down the previous decorations. I need to be creative like — NOW.
Here’s where God unfriended me…
Not sure what your specialties in life might be, but I’m pretty artistic. Before I start any new project I acknowledge to God that it’s not me doing it, rather he’s doing it through me. Well this night all that praying and acknowledging went straight out the window, I didn’t have time.
A tree topper that should have taken me ONE hour took THREE. My anger, and worry and self-centeredness didn’t leave any room for my creativeness via God. The sweet friend working with me tried many times to assure me things were going to be ok and we’d work it out and all I heard was
yada yada yada…
At some point into the tree I realized that “I” was the only one responsible for the delays, the swearing at butterflies I was trying to mount and the disconnect from God. I was getting in my own way and wasn’t letting God work through me. As soon as that realization occurred, which could have been like 2.5 hours earlier, the topper came together! It’s now 10:30pm and we’re waiting for the AAA man. Guess what, that nice man with a battery showed up 45 minutes earlier than projected and my sweet car once again started like a champ. Coincidence – I think not.
Charity Tree Topper
During the five hour drive home the next morning, I did a lot of reflecting on the month and the previous evening. I recognized that I didn’t like it when God unfriends me. I’m pretty much miserable. I need to recognize more quickly when I’m standing in my own way or when I’m too busy to reconnect.
After returning home the mid-term elections were held and I thought… Perhaps the reason things don’t get done in Congress is because they are all so angry and full of hatred for one another. There is no room in their hearts to allow God in to help them think logically and do what is best for the country and not for their party or for their political gain.
I think we ALL need to recognize those friend requests from God more frequently. Perhaps Thanksgiving is a good time to click ‘ACCEPT’.
Grateful for you, my new battery and being friends with God again,
Sheree