Stepping into a New Year

It was like most other days…nothing happening that would catch their attention. They were working, watching, and thinking. There seemed to be a lot of time to think. Others who worked in the daytime were sleeping, at home with loved ones; he and the other on the night shift had to work. Because they were outside, they were chilled from the night air. They were aware that danger might be lurking nearby, but that thought alone helped them stay awake, when they really wanted to nod off for a while. Gazing into the night skies often caused them to wonder if they were really as satisfied with life as they pretended to be. But such star-gazing was one way to help them to overcome the sheer boredom of their night-shift job. An occasional shooting star, or the brightness of a full moon, would catch their attention, but such occasions often stirred something deep within them. The monotony of their usually quiet life sometimes thrust them into darkened moods that disturbed them. Whenever that happened, they were glad to hear the sounds of their startled sheep, because it jerked them out of their discouragement, thrusting them back into the reality of their present life with its mundane responsibilities. Could anything ever happen that would fulfill that longing that they felt when they were quiet enough and willing enough to acknowledge the emptiness of soul.
          Then it happened. It was the brightest light that they had ever seen. Stunned into silence, they heard the message: “I bring you tidings of great joy,” the heavenly messenger said, after he spoke to assure them that they should not be afraid of him or of the message.  “The Messiah, the Savior of the world, has been born.” The instructions about how the shepherds could find this “Source of great joy” was quickly followed by an angelic chorus, filling the heavens with glory and praise to the God who loved His creation enough to bring about the way of true joy. The Son of God Himself had come to win His creation back.
         The shepherds were jubilant, or course, praising God and sharing their joy with everyone who would listen. But, then they went back to their sheep. But this time, the night shift seemed different. Their perspective on life, and on its difficulties or mundaneness, was different. Their hearts were filled with joy and praise, with wonder and excitement. They were told the message, and they responded. They saw for themselves, and they were changed. They praised, and the joy of hope welled up in their hearts. They were loved. They were important after all. Their lives could be filled with the true meaning for which God had created them.
         No matter how life is treating us, whether it is good or bad, there is a message that we must believe, if we want to experience the joy that both God and we want. There is meaning in life and joy unspeakable when we believe the message and “go see for ourselves. When we go and then spread the message of praise to others, our lives take on new meaning. What will you do as you face a new and unknown year? “Come and see…then go and tell.”

                                                                                             -Alice Cullinan

Do I Really Believe in Prayer?

I don’t think that I was in a hurry. I had about 30 minutes before the online Bible class that I teach each Sunday morning via zoom would begin. The pandemic has forced us all to make many adjustments in our lives. I approached the sunporch on the back of my house, a screened-in porch that I had enclosed some years ago. It is where I have my devotions each morning and the place where I do most of my studying. In my left hand was a cup of hot tea, as I descended the short flight of steps from the kitchen into the sun room. I wanted to spend a few moments in worship and study before I opened up the zoom room to those who meet with me there for study.
I didn’t feel hurried. I had awakened earlier than usual that morning. I made sure to hold onto the railing as I descended the steps, a practice I decided upon some years ago. What happened next, I am not sure. Before I knew it, I had lost my balance on the bottom of the steps and was flailing across the room trying to keep from falling. I was not successful in staying upright, and found myself falling onto the concrete floor. I hit my head on the arm of the couch, barely missing a wooden end table beside it. There I lay, stunned and hurting. Thankfully, I had my cell phone on my belt. I could immediately tell that the fall was a serious one. I hurt everywhere and felt my heart beating very fast as it skipped beats.
           I reached for the cellphone and called Carolyn, who was in her bedroom; I asked her to come out to the sunporch. Before she had time to even get there, as an almost automatic reaction to what had just occurred, I managed to text a couple of ‘praying friends’ this short message: “Fell; need prayer.” I could hardly move, and I could not get up…I was still on the floor lying in the position where I landed. My head was resting beside the end table that I had barely missed when I fell. But I could text…and did…even before I had given it any thought. I had talked with Jesus, of course, even in the fraction of time that I had been flying through the air…and upon landing. But I also knew that I needed the prayers of others. I didn’t have to think about who those prayer supporters might be. I knew already. These friends are on ‘praying ground,’ and I am glad. I knew that they would immediately pray.
I contemplated whether to call the rescue squad, but needed a few minutes to see if I would recuperate if I just laid there for a few minutes. After about 10 minutes, during which time I was asking the Lord for wisdom to know what to do, Carolyn helped me sit up…and then stand up. I had read that it is always a good idea for the elderly to be checked out after a fall, and although I hate to admit that I fit into that category, I told her that I probably should go. I added that I preferred not to ride in the back of an emergency vehicle, since I remembered from a past experience how unpleasant that ride can be.
      While I sat with icepacks on various places on my body, I asked her to open up my zoom meeting and tell them that we would have to postpone our class. I knew that they would join the others in praying for me, too. By then, I had decided to go to the emergency room, but remembered that people with Covid 19 would be there, too! So, I asked the Lord for direction. Later I went, and after x-rays and a CT scan, I learned that nothing was broken! There were prayers of praise at that moment!
         As I write this, it is only the day after my flying-dive onto the concrete floor. Yes, icepacks are still my friend, as are Tylenol tablets.
        Can you answer my original question about prayer? Do I believe in it? The obvious answer is “yes.” Not only have I written two books on the topic, I know personally that prayer is my joyful lifeline to the Lord. I don’t have to even give it a thought…talking with Him is a vital part of my life, on good days as well as when I experience a trauma. I also realize the importance of praying for each other, and am grateful that I have friends upon whom I can rely. My decision to reach out to them for support as I lay on the floor was an automatic reaction. I didn’t have to ponder it for a moment!
        How about you? Do you realize the joy of walking with the Lord, talking with and listening to the very God of the universe? It doesn’t matter if you are sitting out on the beach or lying prone on a concrete floor, the best thing you will ever do is to fellowship with the Lord through prayer.

Alice R. Cullinan