James 1:19 – Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

Often while writing, I get "stuck" or "frustrated". I can't think of or find the right word or phraseology. Sometimes I say a little prayer and often resort to a game or two of electronic solitaire.

It clears my mind, forces me to be more observant and focus on something different. Sometimes things work out copacetically, sometimes not so well. A lot of times I click on a move and immediately realize I was a bit too quick and missed a move. Sometimes I see a move that was there all the time; I just wasn't paying close enough attention.

This exercise can be an example of our relationship with God. Sometimes our lives roll along just fine, things seem to "click" or "meld" quite beautifully. Sometimes things don't "fall into place", or in "the right order". Sometimes we rush into things, drive past things, don't listen to things, and actually miss a lot. Sometimes the answer we are seeking is right in front of our eyes; we just weren't paying close enough attention.

To some, it may seem sacrilegious to compare our relationship with God to a game of cards, and this is by no means meant to condone gambling. I do, however, vaguely remember a song of the fifties by Wink Martindale (or Ned Miller) in which the singer tells of a man who was berated for bringing a deck of cards to church. He tells how he relates each card to something to do with the Lord. I do not remember all of it now. I do remember that the 3 is for the Trinity; the King, of course, stands for Christ, who is the King of all of us.

It is a beautiful song and it is simply titled: "The Deck of Cards".

Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, help us to be less judgmental, especially in those times we may be "too quick to judge", those times when things may not be exactly as they seem to be. Let us try to be more compassionate to those who seem to have been "dealt a hard hand". In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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