I did some rearranging in my office this past weekend.  Connie was gone on Saturday so I needed something to do.  But with the size of my office, there are not a lot of options.  You see, I have a very small office.  I have seen broom closets bigger (maybe a slight exaggeration, but not by much).  So rearranging did not take long.

My former office arrangement wasted a lot of space.  Now my office looks so much bigger.  The biggest change was moving my desk parallel along the wall so I can look out my window.  Before it was lined up perpendicular to my window.  When I looked out my window I was looking at an angle directly at the south wall of my house.  Nothing to exciting.  Now I look out and I can see the school play ground and beyond to the main highway.  When the leaves fall I will be able to see the grocery story along the main road.  Basically, I can see more of the world.

It is amazing how a small change can affect your outlook on things.  For some people it takes a much bigger change.  But who knew?  My world looks so much different.  I walk into my office and I feel more free.  I could do jumping jacks in here without hurting myself (now that might be a bigger exaggeration because I am not as young as I used to be; but you get the point).  I sit down, grab my devotional book and read.  I then put my book down and pray; all the while looking out on the world.

We need to do more of that…praying while looking at the world.  There is so much going on out there.  As I watch the kids playing some how I start thinking about some of their families.  Some of those kids are from broken families.  Some of those kids are hurting.  Some of those kids are struggling.  I watch those kids as I pray and they seep into my prayers.  Hoping that I can somehow make a difference.  I see the main highway and wonder who is driving into and out of Jackson.  Where are they going?  What are they doing?  Are they visiting friends or family?  Maybe they are going to or from work.  Then I hear a siren and my heart skips a beat.  Is someone seriously hurt? I want to help but I don’t know how.  All of a sudden they seep into my prayers and I feel like I have done something; even though it doesn’t feel like much.

I stare out my window and I see trees; lots and lots of trees.  Being in a river valley that is not unusual.  I see these trees and my mind drifts to God’s creation.  I think about the major fire out in California right now.  I think about the men and women fighting the blaze.  Will they return home to their families today or will the fire claim them?  Will someone lose a home?  How many trees will be destroyed.  All of a sudden, it seeps into my prayers.  I find myself thinking and praying for someone thousands of miles away.  I feel I have done something even though I know nothing about fire fighting.

My window is a window onto God’s creation; big and small.  My window reminds me that the world is bigger than my small little office (which doesn’t take much).  It reminds me to reach beyond my little world with my prayers.  My window reminds me to not be afraid of what may seep into my prayers because it is God that is directing that seeping.  God is opening my heart to see beyond myself.  Will God intervene for creation without my prayer?  Sure God will.  So why bother?  I guess it is because prayer changes more than other people, but prayer changes me and prayer changes you.

Look out your window; think about others; dare to day dream; allow God to change your outlook on life.  It is a big world out there and it needs you to pray.  Thanks be to God and Amen! -EDH-